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How soon is too soon?
LOR - When To Ask
- Thread starter Ad2b
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Ask when you feel comfortable to ask. You should have an idea if the LOR writer know you more than in passing.
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Two are ones from last cycle (from which I withdrew) - both know me very well and have for almost 6 years.
3rd from last cycle am not reasking ... so I need to replace that one (CFO of former client)
Want to ask the professor from fall, who knows me well, just not like the other 2; I talk to him all the time... given people might know me (and him) prefer not to say more but he was the ray of hope I needed this semester - and has encouraged me 100% to keep going. Told me not to stop, not to give up...
Just not sure when to ask as ... the first two always knew I'd ask. Actually, the one almost insisted 🙂 As I don't have an AMCAS ID for him ... or the package put together that I give... do I wait? do I ask now before spring term is over?
As an aside for others seeing this thread:
I print out ALL the AMCAS materials regarding letter writers:
the confidentiality component along with what constitutes a great letter writer, etc.
I print that in color. I also provide my PS, activities, transcripts, resume.
In addition, I also put that into a folder and meet with the professors, if I can, face to face. Given the two live in a state far away, this year, I will FedEx the materials to them.
Despite that I'm almost on a first name basis with the two I've known for years, they are still my authority figure in the classroom and even outside of it. They will ALWAYS be treated that way, thus, they get as professional a package as I can give.
3rd from last cycle am not reasking ... so I need to replace that one (CFO of former client)
Want to ask the professor from fall, who knows me well, just not like the other 2; I talk to him all the time... given people might know me (and him) prefer not to say more but he was the ray of hope I needed this semester - and has encouraged me 100% to keep going. Told me not to stop, not to give up...
Just not sure when to ask as ... the first two always knew I'd ask. Actually, the one almost insisted 🙂 As I don't have an AMCAS ID for him ... or the package put together that I give... do I wait? do I ask now before spring term is over?
As an aside for others seeing this thread:
I print out ALL the AMCAS materials regarding letter writers:
the confidentiality component along with what constitutes a great letter writer, etc.
I print that in color. I also provide my PS, activities, transcripts, resume.
In addition, I also put that into a folder and meet with the professors, if I can, face to face. Given the two live in a state far away, this year, I will FedEx the materials to them.
Despite that I'm almost on a first name basis with the two I've known for years, they are still my authority figure in the classroom and even outside of it. They will ALWAYS be treated that way, thus, they get as professional a package as I can give.
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update: wow... speechless.
He offered. Maybe he reads here. Maybe he knew I was struggling to ask (don't ask me why... just ... was struggling).
And there it was. In an email. The offer. OMG. OVER the moon, probably beyond Pluto by this time.
He offered. Maybe he reads here. Maybe he knew I was struggling to ask (don't ask me why... just ... was struggling).
And there it was. In an email. The offer. OMG. OVER the moon, probably beyond Pluto by this time.
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I'll be applying in Late June and started formally asking for them around March 25th. I just received my first of four via Interfolio this week.
Many professors are incredibly busy, especially towards the end of the semester and finals week, so it's best to get the requests out as early as possible. The latest I would ever ask for a LoR would be 3 weeks prior to deadline, but preferably asking for them ~7-8 weeks prior is always my goal.
When I asked for them, I emailed asking if they'd be comfortable writing one and saying why I believe their letter would be a strong testament of my capabilities, and ended with a request to meet in person at their office if they were willing to write a LoR. If I knew their office hours already or had a closer relationship, I skipped the email part and just asked in person. During the meeting, I took a pre-stamped and pre-labeled manilla envelope (Interfolio's address), and a packet including the Interfolio LoR request form, my unofficial transcript, my CV/resume, and a supplemental sheet with a short blurb of why I want to be an MD, the due dates, and generic instructions. I also took some old assignments I had done for the Prof if I felt it would help them. We talked about my career goals, from what standpoint they could write the letter, and I asked if there was anything else they'd like to know about me before writing the letter.
They all remarked how delighted they were to receive everything in a clean, organized manner and how I approached 2-3 months in advance. The way in which you present your request is going to be the most recent memory/impression writers have of you, so make it a good one.
Many professors are incredibly busy, especially towards the end of the semester and finals week, so it's best to get the requests out as early as possible. The latest I would ever ask for a LoR would be 3 weeks prior to deadline, but preferably asking for them ~7-8 weeks prior is always my goal.
When I asked for them, I emailed asking if they'd be comfortable writing one and saying why I believe their letter would be a strong testament of my capabilities, and ended with a request to meet in person at their office if they were willing to write a LoR. If I knew their office hours already or had a closer relationship, I skipped the email part and just asked in person. During the meeting, I took a pre-stamped and pre-labeled manilla envelope (Interfolio's address), and a packet including the Interfolio LoR request form, my unofficial transcript, my CV/resume, and a supplemental sheet with a short blurb of why I want to be an MD, the due dates, and generic instructions. I also took some old assignments I had done for the Prof if I felt it would help them. We talked about my career goals, from what standpoint they could write the letter, and I asked if there was anything else they'd like to know about me before writing the letter.
They all remarked how delighted they were to receive everything in a clean, organized manner and how I approached 2-3 months in advance. The way in which you present your request is going to be the most recent memory/impression writers have of you, so make it a good one.
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I agree 100%. Last year, everything was printed in color, put in a bound folder and provided in person. The professors - despite knowing me well - deserved no less.
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Oh boy. Have to get there first... and if so, I hope there's a chair around to steady my acutely unstable legs... dare I dream???
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OP what did you mean by "don't have an AMCAS ID for him yet?" Sorry, I overlooked that part of the post. I didn't present anything AMCAS related when asking for letters. I just said it was being addressed to med school adcoms and had the profs store the letters to my Interfolio dossier. When I'm ready in June, I'll just put in MY amcas ID (which I have already) and send the secure letters to AMCAS via Interfolio.
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I am not using Interfolio - I read about it a few years ago but ended up using AMCAS.
If you using AMCAS, it seems to me, that you assign the letter writers in the app, and the AAMC assigns a letter ID to them, which you combine when sending the LOR writers their package; they use that to send the letters in, AAMC coordinates the ID with the applicant ID and finishes that portion up
If you using AMCAS, it seems to me, that you assign the letter writers in the app, and the AAMC assigns a letter ID to them, which you combine when sending the LOR writers their package; they use that to send the letters in, AAMC coordinates the ID with the applicant ID and finishes that portion up
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Ah, gotcha. 👍 Yeah, I thought about that but Interfolio seemed better for me since AMCAS doesn't carry over any LoR's from one application period to another. Just make sure your LoR's aren't being stored in the 2015-2016 application period if you're using it now since they won't carry over to the 2016-2017 application that opens next month.
