Logistics of recommendation letters

[texasm]

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I will be enrolling at Harvard Extension in the Fall. The syllabus for the class I plan to enroll in says "If you're not using the Health Careers Program at 51 Brattle Street of Harvard Extension, include a stamped envelope addressed to the home institution handling your letters."

a - What does the home institution handling recommendation letters normally do? Do they open the letter, xerox it and send it to all the medical schools I am applying? How does the process work?

b - Now I won't be using the Health Careers Program of Harvard University and my {current} institution does not handle recommendation letters. So what am I to do?

 

[235788]

There is a lot of methods for uploading letters. Personally, my LOR writers wrote the letters and submitted virtual copies through the AMCAS letter service. Many writers have virtual signatures that they can place on the LOR. Others may choose the option to print it, sign it, and scan it. They can use other services such as EFOLIO as a medium. It's all the same. I would suggest giving your home institution a friendly phone call and ask for information. They are typically very friendly.

 

[LizzyM]

If youf home institution doesn't handle letters, then you might want to set up an interfolio account and use the address provided by Interfolio on the stamped addressed letters. Talk to the professor (or send an email) to be sure this is ok.

 

[texasm]

If youf home institution doesn't handle letters, then you might want to set up an interfolio account and use the address provided by Interfolio on the stamped addressed letters. Talk to the professor (or send an email) to be sure this is ok.

Thanks!

 

[NickNaylor]

Can a LOR writer always be confident that the letters will not be seen by the student if a student is not applying without a committee letter and is using Interfolio? Should a LOR writer be wary when a student asks for a LOR and indicates that he/she is applying by himself/herself without a committee letter?

Yes, no.

 

[mauberley]

Can a LOR writer always be confident that the letters will not be seen by the student if a student is not applying without a committee letter and is using Interfolio? Should a LOR writer be wary when a student asks for a LOR and indicates that he/she is applying by himself/herself without a committee letter?

With respect to Interfolio, the company states that they take the steps they can to ensure someone cannot deliver a confidential letter (one can request confidential or nonconfidential letters) to themselves.