Letters

[pineapplehead]

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Sorry if this has been asked a million times, but I can't access these forums often. I just wanted to know what the deal is with Letters of Recommendation? I am currently a sophomore, and people have been telling me to start getting letters from my professors and people I work at a hospital with NOW. But some other people are saying to wait till I start applying or get close to it. So what's the deal? Do you have to send in a certain number of letters with your application? And does it matter how old the letter is? Will the schools tell you what the person should put in the letter (work ethic, etc) or is it just a general letter?
Also, I am thinking about applying to the HPSP program with the military, and they say that they invesitgate people who knew you up to 10 years prior to your application - does anybody know if that means you're supposed to start collecting letters from people who know you?? If anybody's applying to HPSP please feel free to advise me on this.
Sorry about all the questions, but thank you for your time!
😎

 

[ATPase]

I would ask the premed advisor at your school when to request LORs from professors. It would probably help to get them as soon as you finish that professor's class because you'll be fresh on his/her mind. Check with your premed guru just to be sure.

As for HPSP - you will have to fill out endless forms stating where you've lived, gone to school, who knew you at each address or school, etc. for the past 7 years. You do not need letters from each of these people, only contact information (current address and phone number.) These people will be contacted for your background check.

You will need letters of recommendation for HPSP. I can only speak for the Army and Air Force. The Army has a standard form that you give to three professors or personal references. They simply fill out the form. The Air Force requires five letters, and they encourage you to use the same ones you send to the med schools.

 

[jlee9531]

5 is a safe number to have if you dont have a premed committee that just writes one letter for you.

most schools want a range from 3-5 letters. Each school will ask for a specific number usually so you dont have to go out and memorize that kind of stuff. just have enough in your arsenal so that you can send them out without feeling worried if you didnt send the maximum number possible each school allows you to send.

Yeah if you like the class or volunteering you did and the people you worked for or taught you know you well enough to write you a nice letter then by all means ask.

You could probably ask for volunteer letters closer to when you apply because im assuming you are going to work there till you graduate at least.

For classes, it is safer to get them at the end of the class term because they have less of a chance to forget who you are such. I didn't do this but the people I asked I was really close with so it was all good. Another reason to ask at the end of the term is that the you give the professors ample time to write them. They never liked to be rushed because they are busy people.

You don't want to wait till the last minute to get them cause its just more stressful on your part to wait for letters, especially if they are busy and can't write you them while you are applying. Some of my professors are pretty well known in their field so i gave them at least 9 months to write my letter since i know they would be busy with research, teaching and travel.....

but yeah. i hope that helps a little.