LOR Q

[Jameson]

Just a quick one concerning LORs. 1- how early should they be sent in to our pre-med advisor? 2- how many is too many? For instance I will have about six , three from docs (MD,DO,ND) and three from profs. Is this too many? Thanks everyone

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[Doctora Foxy]

I had 6 also, I think that is a good max.

BTW for anyone who doesn't know, since I figured this out last week, LOR stands for letters of recommendation.

I would have them sent in ASAP, but you should give your recommendors around 3-4 weeks, so as not to pressure them. So I would ASK them as soon as you can. One of my teachers forgot, and since I had asked late, she ended up turning it in in August.

Foxy <img src="http://www.theunholytrinity.org/cracks_smileys/contrib/legionxs/wavey.gif" alt="" />

 

[Jameson]

Hey thx Doc Foxy for the speedy reply. Perhaps you can clearify yet one more issue. Our LORs are sent in to the schools AFTER we have received our secondary's, correct?

 

[PMPMD]

3-4 weeks is cutting it a little close. I asked my profs for recs last May, for applications that were due last fall. Most professors are busy, especially if they're involved in research. Another thing I didn't know before starting this process, the thank you note you send is really just a reminder. So ask, then send a thank you a month later. I think 6 is plenty, but do you really want an LOR from a DO if you're applying to a MD school? Sorry for using 3 abbreviations in 1 sentence.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

OK, for clarification, I would say 3-4 weeks minimum to ask for rec.s in advance.

Some people have different advice regarding when to send them. I sent mine the day after I submitted amcas. This way, as soon as the schools received my secondaries, my application became complete. My premed board took care of sending them.

Other med schools will request that you not send anything before your secondary b/c they will discard it (i.e. UMiami). So my advice is to send them early, but to check w/ each school first (like on their website). I wrote a long respinse about rec.s on another thread, so I'll look for it now and post the link.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Try this link: <a href="http://www.studentdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=008527" target="_blank">web page</a>

 

[EpiII]

1. All of the CA schools ask for the LOR at the time you send in your secondary. Some actually state vehemently to not send in the LOR before asked to do so.

2. 6 LOR might be too many for some schools. I am a non traditional app (29) and so felt that I had to have letters from my various activities over the years (undergrad, grad, work, etc.). But, I was limitted by some schools who asked that no more than 4 or 5 be sent in.

3. There were several schools that had particularly specific requests regarding LOR. For instance, USC required that you have two from your undergrad institution (not a problem for many, but I was only planning on one because it had been 6 years since I had attended there), others want the recommmender to fill out a little waiver form that you have signed, etc. All in all, I would have the letters lined up and waiting (in your premed office, etc.), but wait until each school requests them so that you can meet their individual requests.