LOR Dilemma - Upload it myself....?

[CommSNTS]

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I have an LOR that was written from a place I volunteered at, but instead of sending it to interfolio, my writer sent it in an e-mail to me. I repeatedly contacted them, but nothing came through and now I haven't talked to 'em for a while. So, I was wondering, can I upload it myself? Will med schools see who has uploaded it?

It's also dated a while back (January of this year), but I wanna use it as something new to present because I'm a reapplicant.

 

[iduwanna]

I have an LOR that was written from a place I volunteered at, but instead of sending it to interfolio, my writer sent it in an e-mail to me. I repeatedly contacted them, but nothing came through and now I haven't talked to 'em for a while. So, I was wondering, can I upload it myself? Will med schools see who has uploaded it?

It's also dated a while back (January of this year), but I wanna use it as something new to present because I'm a reapplicant.

Is it on the organization's letter head with the writer's contact info?

If not, it might get dicey.

 

[TheRealMD]

I thought official letters usually had a letterhead?

 

[Raryn]

Needs letterhead and a signature...

 

[CommSNTS]

No, it's not on the official letterhead, my writer said she wasn't able to obtain one/probably didn't know how to do it.

Hmmmmmmm, I guess I should leave it out altogether because it lacks an official sig/header? Damn, it was a good letter too........

 

[kittyloaf1]

Wait doesn't the letter need to be uploaded by someone else, as in a completely different account? I've ran into the same problem, one of my letter writers is overseas and they don't have very good internet service and are unable to upload it to interfolio.

My letter does have a letter head and contact info - how would I go about upload that myself?

 

[CommSNTS]

Wait doesn't the letter need to be uploaded by someone else, as in a completely different account? I've ran into the same problem, one of my letter writers is overseas and they don't have very good internet service and are unable to upload it to interfolio.

My letter does have a letter head and contact info - how would I go about upload that myself?

I think if you use the code from interfolio, you should be able to upload it. I think? That was the method I was thinking of using.

Also, the sticky situation is whether to label it as a "confidential" letter or not =\

 

[Alvarez13]

I'm in this same predicament right now. I have a great letter from a few months ago and can't get in contact with the writer. Can I just make up an account and upload it? What's the worst that could happen?

Also, could I just print out the AMCAS form, attach it to the letter, and then mail it in under the doctor's practice address?

 

[student1799]

Wait doesn't the letter need to be uploaded by someone else, as in a completely different account? I've ran into the same problem, one of my letter writers is overseas and they don't have very good internet service and are unable to upload it to interfolio.

Why don't you suggest (in an email) that they physically send the letter to Interfolio via Fedex or DHL? I'm sure that Interfolio can handle that kind of thing (look on their website for instructions: http://www.interfolio.com/help/index.cfm/lw), and it would preserve the confidentiality of your letter.

I don't know if anyone told you, but waiving your right to see your LORs is VERY important. Each LOR is supposed to be accompanied by a standard waiver form that you sign and give to the writer, stating that you give up your legal right to ever see the letter. In theory, you can send out an LOR which you have the right to see, but med schools never take such LORs seriously. They believe that unless the LOR writer knows their letter is confidential, they won't be honest in their assessment of you.

My letter does have a letter head and contact info - how would I go about upload that myself?

I really don't think you're allowed to do this for a confidential LOR, unless you are the person who wrote the letter. And you really want your LORs to be confidential (see above).

 

[student1799]

I'm in this same predicament right now. I have a great letter from a few months ago and can't get in contact with the writer. Can I just make up an account and upload it? What's the worst that could happen?

Also, could I just print out the AMCAS form, attach it to the letter, and then mail it in under the doctor's practice address?

I think you could potentially get into a lot of trouble for doing either of these things, because:

1. You would be impersonating the letter writer [by creating an Interfolio account in their name], or taking an action in their name [mailing in the letter yourself] without their permission.

2. If your LOR is confidential (which it should be, or med schools won't take it seriously), you aren't supposed to ever have it in your possession. It is supposed to go straight from the letter writer to one of three places:

a. Your's school's premed office (if you are getting a committee letter, or if they provide a dossier service for students).

b. A letter service like Interfolio. (The writer can send electronically or in paper form.)

c. An individual med school's admissions office. (Very few people use this option anymore.)

I really don't think it would be wise to try to mess around with this. You need to get hold of your LOR writer somehow and have them send another copy of the letter directly to one of the third-party destinations above, or you won't be able to use it.