Letters of Recommendation Recentness?

[1070752]

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Hi!

I'm gathering all the necessary stuff for my application, and I was wondering if there is a certain "date" that LOR's will be accepted? Meaning, if I intend to apply in 2017 and I get my LOR's now, is that a problem? Or do they need to be more recent?

Thanks!

 

[FutureJawBreaker]

Great question. Anyone?

 

[kholley25]

Because you can't submit LoR's on AADSAS for the 2017 application cycle until the app opens in June, you can use an online LoR collection service called Interfolio to collect your LoRs before AADSAS opens. It is a professional service and is 100% compatible with the AADSAS app.

Here's a summary/breakdown of Interfolio if you're interested.

 

[plusalpha]

I have a similar question to yours, OP, in term's of the recentness of LOR's so I'll bump this thread up.

Do all LOR's have to come from your undergraduate professors (or even one of them?) only? My fault for not doing so, but I didn't make robust connections with my undergrad professors, so I was planning to get ALL my LOR's from my grad school professors + dentist..... Is it okay to do so?

 

[fogorvostan]

I have a similar question to yours, OP, in term's of the recentness of LOR's so I'll bump this thread up.

Do all LOR's have to come from your undergraduate professors (or even one of them?) only? My fault for not doing so, but I didn't make robust connections with my undergrad professors, so I was planning to get ALL my LOR's from my grad school professors + dentist..... Is it okay to do so?

Mine were! And I have two acceptances so far.

 

[1070752]

Because you can't submit LoR's on AADSAS for the 2017 application cycle until the app opens in June, you can use an online LoR collection service called Interfolio to collect your LoRs before AADSAS opens. It is a professional service and is 100% compatible with the AADSAS app.

Here's a summary/breakdown of Interfolio if you're interested.

Wait, so the professors/dentists themselves have to submit the letters when you apply? You can't submit them yourself?

 

[kholley25]

Wait, so the professors/dentists themselves have to submit the letters when you apply? You can't submit them yourself?

Correct.

 

[1070752]

Correct.

Thanks! One last question. I'm currently finishing up my last semester of third year. Will I need to apply this summer for possible entry in the fall of 2017 after I finish my fourth year? Secondly, will my fourth year marks be considered or no?

 

[kholley25]

Thanks! One last question. I'm currently finishing up my last semester of third year. Will I need to apply this summer for possible entry in the fall of 2017 after I finish my fourth year? Secondly, will my fourth year marks be considered or no?

Correct, most traditional students apply the summer before their senior (or 4th) year of undergrad. After submitting your app, you will be given an opportunity to do an academic update (starting mid-November) to your app to add your grades from your fall semester. Then, you will be required to turn in final transcripts before matriculation (should you be accepted). The grades do matter and can be the difference between acceptance, wait list, and denial, so it's best to take them seriously.

 

[1070752]

Correct, most traditional students apply the summer before their senior (or 4th) year of undergrad. After submitting your app, you will be given an opportunity to do an academic update (starting mid-November) to your app to add your grades from your fall semester. Then, you will be required to turn in final transcripts before matriculation (should you be accepted). The grades do matter and can be the difference between acceptance, wait list, and denial, so it's best to take them seriously.

Thanks a lot for the responses! And I'm assuming if you have a pre-requisite you still need to complete in your fourth year (Physics & English in my case) you list them as "In-Progress" when you apply?

 

[kholley25]

Thanks a lot for the responses! And I'm assuming if you have a pre-requisite you still need to complete in your fourth year (Physics & English in my case) you list them as "In-Progress" when you apply?

Yes. And as I'm sure you know, your acceptance is likely contingent on your completion of those courses.

 

[Typical Average Student]

Unless you have a committee letter from your school you don't have to go through the hassle of asking the writer to submit it online. Secondly, LoR's must be no more than 1 year from the application date. Some schools allow older letters and would typically say so on their website.

 

[1070752]

Unless you have a committee letter from your school you don't have to go through the hassle of asking the writer to submit it online.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm trying to gather as much information before applying. How else can we submit the LoR's if they're not submitted online?

 

[Typical Average Student]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm trying to gather as much information before applying. How else can we submit the LoR's if they're not submitted online?

The committee at your school sends it. You have two options when filling out your application: submit personally or submit using a committee. That is, if your school even has a committee.