Letters of Rec Question

[molarseeker]

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I had a question about how to GET the letter and have it sent. So say I wanted to get a letter of rec from a professor this quarter, however I am not applying to medical school till June. If I asked him/her now for the letter and they wrote it, would they give me a hard copy that I send in at the correct time? Or would they have to wait and then send it to the online letter service? How does this work because I am sure some students got letters from their second year of college and didnt apply till a year later.

 

[sinombre]

I had a question about how to GET the letter and have it sent. So say I wanted to get a letter of rec from a professor this quarter, however I am not applying to medical school till June. If I asked him/her now for the letter and they wrote it, would they give me a hard copy that I send in at the correct time? Or would they have to wait and then send it to the online letter service? How does this work because I am sure some students got letters from their second year of college and didnt apply till a year later.

Look in to Interfolio. It allows your letter writers to submit letters electronically, which you can submit to AMCAS at a later date. It also saves them in the event that you need to reapply. Technically you're never supposed to see a professor's letter, and they submit them directly themselves to Interfolio, another comparable service, or AMCAS.

By the way, be aware that some schools are extremely picky about the following things: the date on the letter (some schools want the letter to be dated with the year that you apply), the "official" letterhead of the institution of the letter writer, and a signature from the letter writer.

 

[molarseeker]

Look in to Interfolio. It allows your letter writers to submit letters electronically, which you can submit to AMCAS at a later date. It also saves them in the event that you need to reapply. Technically you're never supposed to see a professor's letter, and they submit them directly themselves to Interfolio, another comparable service, or AMCAS.

By the way, be aware that some schools are extremely picky about the following things: the date on the letter (some schools want the letter to be dated with the year that you apply), the "official" letterhead of the institution of the letter writer, and a signature from the letter writer.

Can you pick and choose which letters to send to which schools?

 

[sinombre]

Can you pick and choose which letters to send to which schools?

Yep, and you can have up to 10 letters.

https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/faqs/147734/amcas_2010_faqs-17.5.html

 

[molarseeker]

What about for DO schools?

 

[molarseeker]

anyone?

 

[marinehrnt]

What about for DO schools?

Yes you can pick and choose which letters you want to send via Interfolio. Although you won't be able to view the letter unless your professor sends you a hard copy as well. And beware that not all colleges and professors will use an online service. My o-chem professor would only agree to write me a letter if he mailed them out to the schools personally. So depending on the school and the professor make sure you get on it early, I had several secondary applications that were delayed because my professor was very slow at getting the letters in the mail.