LOR from former professor...

[scotchyscotchscotch]

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Quick (and probably neurotic) question about LORs. My school doesn't have a committee for the letter packet, so I'll be submitting individual letters. The non-science professor I plan on asking is actually no longer at my university. I can't find anything on any of the med schools' admissions sites specifying that it has to be a current professor, but I figured I'd ask here anyway. Better safe and overthinking it than sorry, right?

So do LORs have to come from current professors, or is a letter from a former prof alright as long as they taught you?

 

[HybridEarth]

My understanding is that a former professor is totally fine (as long as it's not from high school or anything 😉). Just make sure the letter has been written recently (i.e., 2015). I would recommend this because my pre-health committee will only accept letters that are dated 2015, so it would probably be beneficial for you to do the same.

 

[sephora89]

Wait, so what happens if you ask a professor after a class ends and have it on file until you apply? I was thinking about asking a professor after this semester ends but will not be applying until 2016.

 

[mcatjelly]

Wait, so what happens if you ask a professor after a class ends and have it on file until you apply? I was thinking about asking a professor after this semester ends but will not be applying until 2016.

You can buy a subscription to Interfolio. It holds documents for you until you apply.

 

[sephora89]

You can buy a subscription to Interfolio. It holds documents for you until you apply.

No, that's not the problem. My school's committee can hold it for me. My concern is if it's required that all letters have to be dated the same year one applies. For example, if one is applying in 2016, does it have to dated in 2016?

 

[scotchyscotchscotch]

My understanding is that a former professor is totally fine (as long as it's not from high school or anything 😉). Just make sure the letter has been written recently (i.e., 2015). I would recommend this because my pre-health committee will only accept letters that are dated 2015, so it would probably be beneficial for you to do the same.

Thanks so much for your reply! The letter will be written this year, so the timeline shouldn't be a problem.

No, that's not the problem. My school's committee can hold it for me. My concern is if it's required that all letters have to be dated the same year one applies. For example, if one is applying in 2016, does it have to dated in 2016?

Maybe you could ask your letter writer to update the letter? I'm not sure how that would work since this will be my first application cycle, and I'm not sure if that's against some unspoken LOR etiquette or not.

Perhaps an older letter is alright if you also have newer letters to balance it?

 

[tiedyeddog]

No, that's not the problem. My school's committee can hold it for me. My concern is if it's required that all letters have to be dated the same year one applies. For example, if one is applying in 2016, does it have to dated in 2016?

No, a letter from 2015 for the 2016 application cycle will be fine. Just don't use one multiple years old.