If a school doesn't state a maximum number of letters, how many should I send?

[Albucasis]

---

Members do not see this ad.

A lot of schools require a minimum of 2 letters, but don't indicate a maximum. I have 5 letters that I believe will be good. Is this too many to send?

 

[Keladry]

If there's no maximum, that's fine.

 

[hnk3]

I agree- that's fine.

 

[phunky]

5 sounds fine to me. If you expect that any of them are less stellar than the rest, maybe skip it.

 

[Teleologist]

As many good ones as you can get.

 

[snowflakes]

5 is fine. More than 5 is pushing it. Make sure they're all very strong or represent a different aspect of you (academics vs service vs research etc), otherwise drop some.

 

[Bin Rushd]

I heard that the Letter requirements on the MSAR are for those who are sending individual letters to the schools (e.g not using letter packets). Is this true?

So, if a school has a maximum of 4 letters, but you have a letter packet that includes 5 letters, is that OK to submit?

Please Clarify.

 

[felixbyu]

I heard that the Letter requirements on the MSAR are for those who are sending individual letters to the schools (e.g not using letter packets). Is this true?

So, if a school has a maximum of 4 letters, but you have a letter packet that includes 5 letters, is that OK to submit?

Please Clarify.

Does anyone know the answer? My school is doing letter packet as well, and I'm in the same situation.

 

[DoctorWhoo]

Does anyone know the answer? My school is doing letter packet as well, and I'm in the same situation.

Through a string of awkward events I had 5 letters in my letter packet (professors/university employees) and 2 individual letters (physicians)... I just sent them all to the schools and things turned out fine for me. It is possible that a handful of schools perceived this negatively, but all of these letters were voluntarily written and submitted to my pre-med committee so I had a hard time "throwing them out". One thing I would say is that 3 strong positive letters says more than 6 letters (5 good, 1 bleh).

Best of luck!

 

[Ismet]

I heard that the Letter requirements on the MSAR are for those who are sending individual letters to the schools (e.g not using letter packets). Is this true?

So, if a school has a maximum of 4 letters, but you have a letter packet that includes 5 letters, is that OK to submit?

Please Clarify.

If it's an official letter packet put together by the pre-health committee at your school, it shouldn't matter how many letters are included. You could always contact the school and confirm.

 

[Shazam243]

If you're sending an admissions committee letter, do the medical schools see the original individual letters?

@gyngyn