Importance of Composite Letter

[Iapyx]

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My school offers a composite service for letters in which it simply combines your letters into one document. However, one of my professor's may not be able to get my letter in until a few days after the deadline due to an upcoming publication 🙄

This thread http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=609336 makes it seem like its a big deal, but I'm under the impression that the composite that is being referred to is more than a mere synthesis of letters (i.e includes advisor comments, etc)

Here's my question... If I fail to get the composite (all letters synthesized into one document) my school's recommendation service will instead send a letter packet (all 3 of my letters sent in a singling mailing to AMCAS, but not in a combined document). Will this hurt my application?

I wouldn't think so, but wanted to be sure...

 

[Doctor Strange]

If your school offers a composite letter, then you should send the composite letter. Medical schools know which institutions use a composite letter, and if you don't have one, it looks very bad. You should probably clarify with your pre-med adviser to find out if this is the case with your school.

 

[WorldChanger36]

If your school offers a composite letter, then you should send the composite letter. Medical schools know which institutions use a composite letter, and if you don't have one, it looks very bad. You should probably clarify with your pre-med adviser to find out if this is the case with your school.

I disagree. A composite letter is different from a committee letter. If you have a pre-medical committee you need to get this committee letter, if you don't then you will need strong justification as to why you did not. A composite letter is similar to a letter packet, some composite contain a brief summary of your recommendations plus a few evaluations. A letter packet is the combonation of three letters into one document for easy of uploading to AMCAS, interfolio or whatever letter service.

If you have a committee you need their letter otherwise... Composite= packet= individual 2 science and 1 non science recommendation.

Good luck.

 

[BigBlueBear]

Yeah I think OP is confusing composite with committee. Every school and their mom has a service that gathers your LOR's together into a bundle, that's not the same as a committee letter.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I always thought they were the same thing. Huh, well, you learn something every day!

 

[Iapyx]

Yeah I think OP is confusing composite with committee. Every school and their mom has a service that gathers your LOR's together into a bundle, that's not the same as a committee letter.

I actually think the thread I quoted was confused. They were discussing the importance of a "composite letter", but I assumed they meant "committee letter". Just wanted to be sure though...

Thanks for the responses.