LOR 101

[Mars41]

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Non-trad looking for LOR advice. Unfamiliar with the med school application process.

I have lor's from former professors, employers etc. but I am unaware of how to use them when I actually apply to medical school.

I literally have a folder in my night stand full of letters. I have lost contact with many of the people who originally wrote them.

I have heard people mention the use of interfolio. Can I just upload the old letters I have there and those can be sent to AMCAS in the future?

I have several physicians who are willing to write lor's for me now but I am confused about the process. I don't want them to write a letter now, write letters on interfolio, and then have to write more letters when I actually apply.

Should I just get a generic letter and use interfolio later? Do I need interfolio now? Is there another system that works better?

I am two years away from applying and have no idea how this process actually works.

Somebody please enlighten me.

 

[Pacna]

First, none of the letters in your night stand will be accepted. They have to be submitted from the letter writer either to a service like Interfolio or submitted directly to AMCAS, also by the letter writer. This is so you can't see what they wrote (not sure why, but there it is).

Second, have the letters written as general endorsement of your good character and experiences.

Third, have 2 from science professors, one from a nonscience professor, one from a DO (if you plan to apply DO, you'll need this, and MD schools accept DO letters while DO schools do not accept MD letters), and one from an employer/volunteer coordinator, etc.

Wait until you are 1 year out from applying as some schools like the letters to be written within the last calendar year.

AMCAS will NOT store your letters for more than the 1 application cycle, so I strongly encourage you to use Interfolio, then upload to AMCAS from that service.

Good luck!