Letters of Recommendation

[jonesj]

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I am trying to figure out how the LOR process works. I know they are submitted through AAMCAS, but beyond that I am kind of lost. It seems that each school has a different LOR requirement. For example, some want committee recommendations, and others want a letter from a professor in your major, a science professor, and a character reference. And others want all science professors. So, how does that work? Is there a limited number of letters that can be submitted to AAMCAS and then those are sent to the schools you choose, or is there a letter request for each school that is just mediated through AAMCAS?

One more question. My school has a committee that does recommendations. However, they dont meet until late September or even October. I want to get in early, so should I just ask individuals to get complete and then add the committee recommendation later? Should I just wait for the committee recommendation? Or just go without it all together? I know some schools prefer committee recommendations, so if I applied early without it, how would that affect things?

Sorry, I know there are a lot of questions in there, and it may be borderline rambling, Im just trying to figure things out. Thanks!

 

[jonesj]

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[AH3]

Set up a meeting with your school's pre-med advisor and see what he or she says. My school gave me surveys to give to my letter writers in addition to asking for their letters. The pre-med committee will then compile those surveys into a report about me and send that with the 3 letters to AMCAS.

I'm getting 2 science and 1 nonscience professors to write my letters. I'm also getting my boss to write a 4th one, but that goes straight to AMCAS and not through my pre-med committee.

Most medical schools want at least 3 letters, usually 2 science and 1 nonscience. I think a lot of them accept up to 5. Get writers who know you well. If you do research in a lab or a lot of shadowing with a doctor you should definitely ask for a letter from them.

Hope that helps some!

 

[jonesj]

Set up a meeting with your school's pre-med advisor and see what he or she says. My school gave me surveys to give to my letter writers in addition to asking for their letters. The pre-med committee will then compile those surveys into a report about me and send that with the 3 letters to AMCAS.

I'm getting 2 science and 1 nonscience professors to write my letters. I'm also getting my boss to write a 4th one, but that goes straight to AMCAS and not through my pre-med committee.

Most medical schools want at least 3 letters, usually 2 science and 1 nonscience. I think a lot of them accept up to 5. Get writers who know you well. If you do research in a lab or a lot of shadowing with a doctor you should definitely ask for a letter from them.

Hope that helps some!

Thanks for the reply. It was helpful! I did meet with my pre-med advisor yesterday and he wasnt super helpful regarding this. He said he didnt really know alot about AAMCAS. So, thats where I am stuck. So, do all the letters go directly to AAMCAS and then to all the schools from there? Or do I send certain letters to certain schools on AAMCAS?

Also, what are your thoughts about waiting for the committee? I seems like if I wait till October that is super late. So, should I just go with individual letters and add the committee one later?

 

[AH3]

Thanks for the reply. It was helpful! I did meet with my pre-med advisor yesterday and he wasnt super helpful regarding this. He said he didnt really know alot about AAMCAS. So, thats where I am stuck. So, do all the letters go directly to AAMCAS and then to all the schools from there? Or do I send certain letters to certain schools on AAMCAS?

Also, what are your thoughts about waiting for the committee? I seems like if I wait till October that is super late. So, should I just go with individual letters and add the committee one later?

I'll try to break it up and tackle each one at a time.

That stinks about the adviser not helping too much. I'm guessing you're from a smaller school? My undergrad has 20,000+ so we have a lot of pre-meds all the time so I guess they have to be informed and organized.

I believe the letters go to AMCAS and then to the universities from there, but I'm not certain. This is my first time applying so I don't know. Hopefully my pre-med committee will handle that.

I wouldn't wait for that committee. If your adviser doesn't know much about AMCAS then I doubt that committee will do anything to hugely help your chances of getting in. And it definitely helps to apply early- I plan on applying early in June. I guess it wouldn't hurt to add the committee letter, but I'm not sure how much it will help, especially if you turn it in significantly later than the rest of your application.

 

[MB333999]

hey im actually confused about the process too.

okay say i have the ppl lined up to write my letters

they type them up, print them, and sign them,

where do they send them??? orrr what do they do with them???

or do they just type them up and email to someone??

wtf is interfolio??

 

[jonesj]

Thanks for the posts! They have been helpful, and cleared things up some. Does anyone who has already been through the process care to elaborate? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Morsetlis]

hey im actually confused about the process too.

okay say i have the ppl lined up to write my letters

they type them up, print them, and sign them,

where do they send them??? orrr what do they do with them???

or do they just type them up and email to someone??

wtf is interfolio??

www.interfolio.com