Letters of Recommendation

[mountainmed]

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I've tried to find the info about this, but apparently my search skills are not as strong as I thought. I have a few questions about letters and such.

1. For the sending process, I was planning on using my school's equivalent of Interfolio. I have about 4-5 letters that I'm planning on. However, some schools that I've looked at say they only want a max of 3. If they all get sent in one packet, how will the three get chosen? Or will they all get sent?

2. I've seen the rule of thumb is 2 science, 1 non-science professor. I have one science prof that I took a lecture and a lab class from. I also have my research adviser that I have credits from. Would those two count for my science? Also, one of my volunteer coordinators is a professor for psychology here, but I have not taken a university class from him, but I did take one of his classes for his outside company/work. Would that be an acceptable letter for non-science? I'm not sure what the rules are for having a faculty that you took a class from write the letter.

Thank you for your help!

 

[mk04447]

I can't comment on your school specific system, but Interfolio sends each letter where you want it to go, that's the point.

 

[PNWDOCTOR1221]

I've tried to find the info about this, but apparently my search skills are not as strong as I thought. I have a few questions about letters and such.

1. For the sending process, I was planning on using my school's equivalent of Interfolio. I have about 4-5 letters that I'm planning on. However, some schools that I've looked at say they only want a max of 3. If they all get sent in one packet, how will the three get chosen? Or will they all get sent?

2. I've seen the rule of thumb is 2 science, 1 non-science professor. I have one science prof that I took a lecture and a lab class from. I also have my research adviser that I have credits from. Would those two count for my science? Also, one of my volunteer coordinators is a professor for psychology here, but I have not taken a university class from him, but I did take one of his classes for his outside company/work. Would that be an acceptable letter for non-science? I'm not sure what the rules are for having a faculty that you took a class from write the letter.

Thank you for your help!

My school has a similar system as your school and I asked our premed advisors this same question. They told me that they have never had an issue with sending more than 3 letters in one packet together. I wish that I could have broken it up but I did it through their system because it was free! I applied this cycle that is closing up right now and I did not have any issues with my letters.

 

[futurexray]

Anything you can do to make it easier on the school is best. Sending out individual letters one at a time is much more work for the admissions office and will delay your application. Sending it as one packet means they look at everything at one time and can make a decision. Can not even begin to imagine having to check applications with three letters and then check again and then again. Some schools get thousands and thousands of applications.

 

[Shafwa]

I highly recommend using Interfolio - it does cost ~$50, but I think it's absolutely worth it. I currently have 6 letters confidentially stored on there right now and am able to pick and choose which ones I want to send based on the school's requirements (I usually send all 6 because I've had positive feedback on that strategy). Every school I've worked with so far accepts Interfolio as a credited source of letters (even via email) and it allows you the flexibility to send it to DO and MD schools without hassling your letter writers. As a separate thought, you might want to consider how long your school allows you to use their letter system. I'm not sure of your situation, but it might take you a couple of tries to get accepted and you may run into a situation in which you have to transfer systems anyways.

P.s. - I promise I'm not sponsored.

 

[workaholic181]

Adcoms are going to want to see letters from professors who had you in graded classes.