Hard copy of pharmacist's recommendation

[Pharmacist2]

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I have a recommender (pharmacist) who wants to write me a letter and sign and seal it and then give it to me. And then I guess I should mail it to Pharmcas. Can I do that if I want to apply electronically to institutions?

P.S. If this is too messy, I can have them do it online (although they prefer the traditional way), but I'm afraid that if I open my pharmcas account now and let them do it like this month then when the new cycle starts (May right?) then my information might be erased...is this correct thinking? Because I'm applying for the Fall '11 cycle.

 

[busyizzy]

Don't make an account now. Whatever you put in now will, as you say, be erased for next year.

Why not just wait until next June? I ask for LORs early (even a year in advance), and when the time comes, I remind them that they agreed to write me a letter, and they happily agree to do it. This also gives you plenty of time to ask EARLY, which is important in case your LOR person is especially busy ... or forgetful or lazy ... (let's not forget, they're human too!).

They can send a paper LOR to PharmCAS if they prefer it. I'm not sure of the details, since all 4 of mine did the electronic version, but it is available. Check for more info on PharmCAS.

 

[phathead]

I thought there was some unwritten rules that LORs are preferred not to be seen by the applicant

 

[Pharmgrlnxdor]

I thought there was some unwritten rules that LORs are preferred not to be seen by the applicant

Whether or not an applicant is able to see what is in their LOR is really up to the recommender who writes it. I have written my fair share of recommendations for accounting interns over the years and generally will show them a copy of the recommendation after I have submitted it. As I know it, there are two modes of thinking regarding this.

The old school thinking is that the recommendation is kept confidential. My older A&P professor thinks this is the way it should be done. However, my Gen Chem professor emailed me the recommendation so I could see what she wrote. I think she did it for the same reason I would show my interns their LOR, because it is nice to see that great letter and erase any doubt in your mind about the content of the letter when you are jumping through hoops of fire during the application process.

Regardless, the final choice is in the hands of the recommender.

 

[silvervln]

OP, if you're applying for the Fall 2011 cycle, wait until the PharmCAS application opens up in June. Right now they're only taking applications for the 2010 cycle.

Per PharmCAS, there's a box you check to waive your right to see the recommendations, so I guess technically you shouldn't. I waived all of mine, and I had one reference ask if I wanted to read her letter (which I declined 😛). I was also under the impression that schools prefer that you don't see the letters as well. If your recommender chooses to do it via snail mail, they probably send it directly to PharmCAS without passing through your hands, which is my guess. However, you would probably have to double-check with PharmCAS.

 

[busyizzy]

..... nevermind that whether the applicant can/should read the LOR or not is TOTALLY a moot point in this situation because if you guys read the initial post, it says the LOR person would SEAL the letter before handing it over, meaning that the LOR person doesn't WANT the applicant to see it - or at least give that impression to the school/PharmCAS service.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Have the writer send them directly to PharmCAS, either on paper or electronically.

Any other way is begging for trouble, and trouble is not something you want when you're applying to pharmacy school.