LOR question

[Reader19]

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I apologize if this was answered somewhere else--I have searched through many LOR forums...

I was just wondering whether more than 3 letters of recommendation are acceptable on the VMCAS. Some schools allow more than 3, but I'm not sure if it is a bad idea to provide these extra ones to all of my schools or just on a particular supplemental application. Do schools with a 3 max ignore the extras or frown upon them? Or does this vary among schools (in which case, I should call and ask)?

 

[squirrelsrule]

Most schools want three, but some take more. You can put up to 6 on VMCAS I think and then choose which ones you want to send to which schools. I know that Ohio's website says you can send more than 3 but it isn't recommended because then they will just randomly select 3. Different schools have different requirements for who the letters can be from. At Ohio you need at least 2 from a vet and one from a non-relative, could be another vet. Wisconsin wants 3 and strongly encourages vet recommendations, but there is no set amount that must be from vets. So, I have 2 vet eLORs and an academic eLOR for Ohio and might do two academic and 1 vet eLOR for Wisconsin.

So, I'd check out the websites of the schools you are applying to and see what they say about eLORs.

 

[CurrySpice]

Most schools want three, but some take more. You can put up to 6 on VMCAS I think and then choose which ones you want to send to which schools. I know that Ohio's website says you can send more than 3 but it isn't recommended because then they will just randomly select 3. Different schools have different requirements for who the letters can be from. At Ohio you need at least 2 from a vet and one from a non-relative, could be another vet. Wisconsin wants 3 and strongly encourages vet recommendations, but there is no set amount that must be from vets. So, I have 2 vet eLORs and an academic eLOR for Ohio and might do two academic and 1 vet eLOR for Wisconsin.

So, I'd check out the websites of the schools you are applying to and see what they say about eLORs.

I'm confused as to how you're doing this...

Vmcas will send all 4 (2 academics & 2 vets) to each of your schools. Then the schools will randomly select which ones to use. This may end up being what you would like, or it may not be.

Is there a way to circumvent this randomizing policy?

 

[squirrelsrule]

On Ohio's Supplemental, they ask which 3 references you would like them to look at. Not sure if it is the same for other schools or not?

 

[jmo1012]

On Ohio's Supplemental, they ask which 3 references you would like them to look at. Not sure if it is the same for other schools or not?

if you're not asked in the supplemental, usually you can notify admissions of which ones you'd like them to use

 

[Tator17]

I wonder if this is different at different schools? I know that Purdue required one letter from a veterinarian, one letter from an academic reference, etc. They only requested three, but I asked about the VMCAS taking six letters. Purdue responded that all letters of recommendation submitted would be accepted, but only three would "count."

I figured that if the other three were glowing, and they were in my file, there was a good chance they would get read. Even if they didn't "count." I say, if you've got six good letters, submit six good letters. Just make sure you fulfill all the requirements for the school you're applying to.