How long beforehand can one get an LOR from a DO/MD?

[Krisss17]

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If I plan to apply say next Summer 2010, how early can I ask for a LOR? Would now be too early? I work with both a DO and MD for the past year. Also, how about science professors? to soon for that too?

Thank you! I'm just trying to figure out timing.

 

[rddoms]

A year isn't too early at all, I used letters that were a couple of years old.

 

[Mohammed1989]

Would it be looked as regular, if I have 4 years of volunteering with a columbia hospital. I have it in the ER and in the Pharmacy over there. It's only been 2 years but I say four cause when I apply it's going to be 4. Also I will have 4 years of clinical experience with a neurologist.

Will it look too plain that I stayed in only these areas?

 

[JaggerPlate]

If I plan to apply say next Summer 2010, how early can I ask for a LOR? Would now be too early? I work with both a DO and MD for the past year. Also, how about science professors? to soon for that too?

Thank you! I'm just trying to figure out timing.

LORs are one of those things that can trip you up because you rely on someone else taking time out of their life to write you a letter ... nothing wrong with asking a year early at all.

 

[ODorDO]

i agree with above, 1 year isnt actually "too early" I would ask for them now and keep them in a very safe place.

 

[Krisss17]

i agree with above, 1 year isnt actually "too early" I would ask for them now and keep them in a very safe place.

So when you say a safe place, can you elaborate? Should I open an interfolio early? Don't LORs need to be sealed? I"ve read where some schools use interfolio and some don't...how do you handle multiple school requirements? Do you just get one letter or do you ask for multiple letters?

Sorry for all the questions, but I would rather prepare for this now than wait until it is too late.

TIA,
Kris

 

[supras2kracer]

Ask your professors while they still remember you. I asked my physics professor to write one for me last spring and I wasn't planning on applying until 2010 when I had asked. She agreed, wrote it, and has it on file for me.

 

[Doctor Bob]

Would it be looked as regular, if I have 4 years of volunteering with a columbia hospital. I have it in the ER and in the Pharmacy over there. It's only been 2 years but I say four cause when I apply it's going to be 4. Also I will have 4 years of clinical experience with a neurologist.

Will it look too plain that I stayed in only these areas?

It will look better that you stayed put, rather than jumping from place to place to place. The pre-med years are for getting exposure to medicine... not to every field of medicine.

The most valuable place you can get your letters from will be the neurologist, because clinical work trumps everything, then from the ER because it's medical instead of pharmaceutical. But even the pharmacy will be good because it shows interest in medicine in general.

 

[Mohammed1989]

It will look better that you stayed put, rather than jumping from place to place to place. The pre-med years are for getting exposure to medicine... not to every field of medicine.

The most valuable place you can get your letters from will be the neurologist, because clinical work trumps everything, then from the ER because it's medical instead of pharmaceutical. But even the pharmacy will be good because it shows interest in medicine in general.

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!! I did get some experience with my uncle in his clinc. He is a internal med doctor. I don't know if I should get a future LOR from him because he is related to me. I think it might not look so good because its family helping family.

 

[gocatgo]

So when you say a safe place, can you elaborate? Should I open an interfolio early? Don't LORs need to be sealed? I"ve read where some schools use interfolio and some don't...how do you handle multiple school requirements? Do you just get one letter or do you ask for multiple letters?

Sorry for all the questions, but I would rather prepare for this now than wait until it is too late.

TIA,
Kris

In regard to 'safe place', I am guessing that he or she is referring to a LOR file service that some undergrad schools implement for their pre-professional students. At my school, we can keep our LORs in this file for more than a year as long as we pay annual fees. I don't know anything about interfolio services since I'm not using it.

 

[Doctor Bob]

I did get some experience with my uncle in his clinc. He is a internal med doctor. I don't know if I should get a future LOR from him because he is related to me. I think it might not look so good because its family helping family.

No. That would be bad. Assistance from blood relatives (or those by marriage) should always be kept behind the scenes. Maybe he knows someone on the admissions board and can give them a call (which would actually help a lot more than a well written LOR). But he shouldn't write you a LOR.

 

[Mohammed1989]

No. That would be bad. Assistance from blood relatives (or those by marriage) should always be kept behind the scenes. Maybe he knows someone on the admissions board and can give them a call (which would actually help a lot more than a well written LOR). But he shouldn't write you a LOR.

That's perfect then, I was trying to avoid using him anyway since he has a MD. I might use him in a line or two in my personal statement. Like how medicine has affected my family before they came to america and such. Hopefully that won't look as a bad, just need to phrase it right.

 

[ODorDO]

So when you say a safe place, can you elaborate? Should I open an interfolio early? Don't LORs need to be sealed? I"ve read where some schools use interfolio and some don't...how do you handle multiple school requirements? Do you just get one letter or do you ask for multiple letters?

Sorry for all the questions, but I would rather prepare for this now than wait until it is too late.

TIA,
Kris

sorry for the late reply! The "safe place" i was referring to is indeed the undergrad pre-health profession office. They are good with keeping LORs and other important documents; I was told that they can keep those LORs for years 🙂

 

[Krisss17]

sorry for the late reply! The "safe place" i was referring to is indeed the undergrad pre-health profession office. They are good with keeping LORs and other important documents; I was told that they can keep those LORs for years 🙂

Don't have a prehealth office. I'm going to have to get individual letters from my professors. Any other suggestions? Do most places (i.e. LECOM, NYCOM, TOUROCOM, etc.) use interfolio...would that be a wise choice for me?

 

[Semicolon]

Don't have a prehealth office. I'm going to have to get individual letters from my professors. Any other suggestions? Do most places (i.e. LECOM, NYCOM, TOUROCOM, etc.) use interfolio...would that be a wise choice for me?

I don't think NYCOM uses Interfolio or VirtualEvals.

 

[Krisss17]

I don't think NYCOM uses Interfolio or VirtualEvals.

Okay...so I have two questions.
Do you ask your letter writers to provide X number of letters?

Also, are letters usually written in a general way? Do the letter writers do a kind of "to whom it may concern" letter with specifics about the applicant? Would I then ask them to make a certain amount of copies and provide them with envelopes?

Appreciate any answers.

Kris

 

[BruceBanner]

As far as I know everyone accepts Interfolio these days.

Re: the OP's question, a year is not too early. It would be better for them to write you a letter when you are fresh out of school (or still in school) than to wait and have them forget about you and your attributes. Professors have tons of students.

 

[Semicolon]

Okay...so I have two questions.
Do you ask your letter writers to provide X number of letters?

Also, are letters usually written in a general way? Do the letter writers do a kind of "to whom it may concern" letter with specifics about the applicant? Would I then ask them to make a certain amount of copies and provide them with envelopes?

Appreciate any answers.

Kris

I honestly personally haven't been in this situation. I had a premed office, so they just sent it off to NYCOM by mail. I would suggest you use Interfolio for the schools that do accept it and simply mail a paper copy of the letter to those that don't.

As far as I know everyone accepts Interfolio these days.

Re: the OP's question, a year is not too early. It would be better for them to write you a letter when you are fresh out of school (or still in school) than to wait and have them forget about you and your attributes. Professors have tons of students.

I am positive that NYCOM doesn't participate in Interfolio; most others probably do. Not sure why NYCOM's so stubborn. 😛

 

[Krisss17]

I honestly personally haven't been in this situation. I had a premed office, so they just sent it off to NYCOM by mail. I would suggest you use Interfolio for the schools that do accept it and simply mail a paper copy of the letter to those that don't.



I am positive that NYCOM doesn't participate in Interfolio; most others probably do. Not sure why NYCOM's so stubborn. 😛

I was just looking through the AACOMAS website and it stated the NYCOM does use interfolio as well as the virtual one (sorry, forgot the exact name).

Having seen all the schools that I am interested in use interfolio, I will probably go that route.

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Semicolon]

I was just looking through the AACOMAS website and it stated the NYCOM does use interfolio as well as the virtual one (sorry, forgot the exact name).

Having seen all the schools that I am interested in use interfolio, I will probably go that route.

Thanks for all of your help!

http://www.interfolio.com/about/clients/partners/Interfolio-MedicalSchoolReceivers.cfm

That is a list of schools that receive from Interfolio. As you can see, NYCOM's not on it. However, while they won't accept the electronic submission, Interfolio states they would mail your LORs to schools that aren't on that list, so you should be fine either way.

 

[Krisss17]

http://www.interfolio.com/about/clients/partners/Interfolio-MedicalSchoolReceivers.cfm

That is a list of schools that receive from Interfolio. As you can see, NYCOM's not on it. However, while they won't accept the electronic submission, Interfolio states they would mail your LORs to schools that aren't on that list, so you should be fine either way.

Thanks, Semicolon. As long as Interfolio will mail out the LORs, that should work for me.