LOR older than 12 months

[lucybug]

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I was planning on applying to medical schools last year, but decide to wait and apply this year instead. I have LOR from my basic science professors that will be over 1 year old. Do I need to ask them to update the letters or will this not be a problem? Thanks for all your help.

 

[iheartsnow]

I had letters that were 3 years old. I got plenty of interviews and a couple acceptances. My strategy was to ask the prof immediately after the class so I would be fresh in his/her memory. Maybe the date is a little older, but I think the content of the letter was probably more genuine. Unless something significant has happened that they need to add to the letter, updating seems like a waste of time.

 

[mtnman12]

I had two like this also, but I would make sure they changed the date at least before submitting.

 

[rocketbooster]

I had two like this also, but I would make sure they changed the date at least before submitting.

hmmm is that ethical?

 

[lucybug]

Since I am using Interfolio, would that require me to contact the professors and have them write a new letter or would they be able to change the date. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[Stratego]

If the professor still has the old letter, it is pretty easy for them to reprint with a new date. Since this isn't an uncommon problem, I expect most teachers keep such letters for awhile. It won't hurt to ask. If the letters are about a year old, I wouldn't bother, especially considering iheartsnow's response above.

 

[phospho]

I had two like this also, but I would make sure they changed the date at least before submitting.

how would you change the date of the original letter? Are you talking about forging it?

I had letters that were 3 years old. I got plenty of interviews and a couple acceptances. My strategy was to ask the prof immediately after the class so I would be fresh in his/her memory. Maybe the date is a little older, but I think the content of the letter was probably more genuine. Unless something significant has happened that they need to add to the letter, updating seems like a waste of time.

👍

same here, one of my letters was since 2005, no one asked any questions...

 

[nick_carraway]

hmmm is that ethical?

It's not unethical. Med school advisors told me to do the same and it's apparently common practice when you ask a professor to update it. Changing the date simply means that you're still in communication with the letter writer and that the writer still agrees with everything in the letter.

The way a med school advisor said it, when you ask someone to update a letter, it's not your fault if they just change the date and leave the content the same. It's just the personal preference of some writers.

 

[witness23]

when you read a letter out of a few hundred in a row, you will probably go right into the body of the note