How long are Letters of Recommendations(LOR) good for?

[htorres89]

Hey guys!

So I applied last summer with zero acceptances. The dates on my LOR are dated 2017. How many more years does one have before those LOR's are no longer valid? Do schools even care about the date(provided it's not something too long like 10 years ago)

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[Life of Pablo]

You should get new letters of recommendation for a new cycle because schools do care.

 

[SmileswithKammy]

Hey guys!

So I applied last summer with zero acceptances. The dates on my LOR are dated 2017. How many more years does one have before those LOR's are no longer valid? Do schools even care about the date(provided it's not something too long like 10 years ago)

You need new LOR's for every cycle.

 

[ssdent18]

I used the same letters of rec twice in a row. the advice i was given is that if you are applying the cycle immediately after, that is fine. but if you're skipping 2018 and applying in 2019, get new ones

But also:::: Consider if any of your letters could have been more positive or from a better professor or something. If they are just "ok" in quality and you have the chance to get better ones, do that.

 

[yamach]

I'm applying in June for the first time but I have 2 letters from my science professors (one is from May 2016 and the other is from May 2017). Is that fine? or should I get new letters?

 

[SmileswithKammy]

I'm applying in June for the first time but I have 2 letters from my science professors (one is from May 2016 and the other is from May 2017). Is that fine? or should I get new letters?

ehhh.. i've heard most dental schools want LOR's that are within a year at least

 

[Jueves]

ehhh.. i've heard most dental schools want LOR's that are within a year at least

Not true, 2 of my 3 letters were from 2-3 years ago, and still got 4 acceptances with below average gpa/dat. Never got mentioned during my interviews.
Newer is obv better, but don’t sweat it OP, you’re fine.

 

[yamach]

Should I ask the professor to re-write the letter for me? because he told me it was the best letter he ever wrote and I did really well on that class. Or should I just send it as it is from 2016?

 

[Jueves]

Should I ask the professor to re-write the letter for me? because he told me it was the best letter he ever wrote and I did really well on that class. Or should I just send it as it is from 2016?

If it’s the best letter he wrote, don’t change it. If you’re incredibly gung-ho about making it as recent as possible, ask him to resubmit it so that it’s more ‘recent’.