Do LOR Expire?

[urface21]

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I'm currently a senior in undergrad and am planning to ask some people for letters of recommendation. However, my main concern is that I will undoubtedly take at least 3-5+ gap years to pursue another avenue prior to committing to the med school route.

Due to this, I wanted to make sure if it was alright that my LORs come from much earlier than my application cycle. I'd want to make my application as strong as possible, but I realistically don't see any other way I'd be able to get LORs from professors except right now, since I wouldn't go back to school unless it was for med school.

I'd appreciate any advice, and thank you

 

[polymerization]

You want your LORs to be dated the same year that you are applying.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

If these are good connections, you should try and stay in touch with the professor. Just a short update once or twice a year to keep them in the loop. That way, if you reach out after it is not as weird and they should still have some recognition of who you are.
LORs are different for non-trads, especially many years out. If you end up taking that much time, do try to get LORs from others you work with whether in volunteer, paid, or non-clinical roles. Looks weird if you take 4 gap years and you only have LORs from professor whose class you took years ago.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You should have at least one letter that reflects what you did in the past year (especially if you haven't been in school for a while). This can be from a supervisor or volunteer coordinator. But try to keep connection with any professors who taught you biomedical science coursework, though after a point you may be well-served to take courses again before starting medical school.

 

[urface21]

You should have at least one letter that reflects what you did in the past year (especially if you haven't been in school for a while). This can be from a supervisor or volunteer coordinator. But try to keep connection with any professors who taught you biomedical science coursework, though after a point you may be well-served to take courses again before starting medical school.

Having at least one letter in the past year is fair, and I think I'll manage somehow. However, does that mean that the LORs from the past of ~5+ years aren't worth sending?

Additionally, this is an aside, but on the topic of retaking courses prior to med school, is it fair to assume that most are fine with coursework from many years in the past as long as the recent MCAT score is good (and assuming that grades in the past were good)?

 

[urface21]

If these are good connections, you should try and stay in touch with the professor. Just a short update once or twice a year to keep them in the loop. That way, if you reach out after it is not as weird and they should still have some recognition of who you are.
LORs are different for non-trads, especially many years out. If you end up taking that much time, do try to get LORs from others you work with whether in volunteer, paid, or non-clinical roles. Looks weird if you take 4 gap years and you only have LORs from professor whose class you took years ago.

I see makes sense. Since you suggested updating my professors, I'm guessing that it's acceptable to have them update my letters and dates? Would that be fine even if the actual experience was so long ago?

 

[LizzyM]

As long as you had good grades, and have a non-expired MCAT score, you are fine in that regard. What you might want to do is ask for letters from faculty who know you well and can speak to your academic prowess, leadership, curiosity, generosity, etc. Drop the letter into Interfolio. The professor, if they're smart (they are all smart) will have kept a copy. Then email the faculty member every 6-9 months with a friendly message of a couple of paragraphs, "hi, just want to update you on what I've been up to in the last several months.... work, research, volunteerism, prepping for MCAT, whatever." Ask how they are doing and what is going on at the school. Then, 5 years later when you are about to apply, ask them to serve as a reference and to send an updated letter to AMCAS. They have what they wrote years ago and can update it to say that they've known you for N years and that you did great in the class and have continued with ....

Essentially, you have to play a long game when you are planning to have several gap years between school and the application cycle.

 

[urface21]

As long as you had good grades, and have a non-expired MCAT score, you are fine in that regard. What you might want to do is ask for letters from faculty who know you well and can speak to your academic prowess, leadership, curiosity, generosity, etc. Drop the letter into Interfolio. The professor, if they're smart (they are all smart) will have kept a copy. Then email the faculty member every 6-9 months with a friendly message of a couple of paragraphs, "hi, just want to update you on what I've been up to in the last several months.... work, research, volunteerism, prepping for MCAT, whatever." Ask how they are doing and what is going on at the school. Then, 5 years later when you are about to apply, ask them to serve as a reference and to send an updated letter to AMCAS. They have what they wrote years ago and can update it to say that they've known you for N years and that you did great in the class and have continued with ....

Essentially, you have to play a long game when you are planning to have several gap years between school and the application cycle.

That makes sense, and thank you! In that case, I'll ask once the semester ends and update them as time goes.

 

[eigen]

As someone writing letters, I will flat out refuse to write generic letters that can be used in perpetuity. I've had several outlier but notable experiences where something came up after the fact that reflected on a student's integrity or performance in a meaningful way. I've also had students ask me to write letters that they never use, and writing letters is a relatively time-consuming process.

I write a letter when someone is applying for a specific thing they're applying for: banking letters is bad practice for a number of different reasons.

It's great if students let me know when they're graduating that they will want a letter in the future so I can jot down some notes, but "pre-writing" letters is bad practice for a lot of reasons.