LORs & Interfolio - Non-trad

[GreyF0X]

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I've been out of school for about 2-3 years. I was wondering how some of you guys asked your professors for LORs after it had been awhile? Do you just send them an email about writing a LOR or try to meet them in person?
I do believe some of my professors remember me, at least i hope so, wanted to know everyones experience getting a LOR as a non-trad student being out of school for a few years.

Second question I had was about interfolio. I know some professors aren't as tech savvy as others and probably wouldn't know how to scan and upload letter as a PDF. Does Interfolio give you directions on how to use their service? I would like to guide my professors just in case they need help with the upload process and to make sure that my letters get in on time.

I also read some stuff about AACOMAS and Interfolio not being friendly with each other but not sure if thats true or not. I prefer to use inter folio just in case I can have the letters up there when I need them. I wish I would have asked for a letter right after the course but I was told that you need to ask professors to re-write letters every year if you're a reapplicant.

Thanks in advance!

 

[drkube]

You can email the professors. One of my professors wrote me a LOR that I had a class with 3+ years ago. Just arrange for a meet in their office and ask them. Be sure to have your materials ready, like personal statement, resume, etc.

Interfolio is pretty easy to use. It sends them a request through email and they just follow the instructions. You can also have them send the LOR through the mail but I'm not too familiar with that as mine were all done electronically.

AACOMAS & Interfolio are friendly with each other. Definitely recommend interfolio

 

[Brawndo2016]

You can email the professors. One of my professors wrote me a LOR that I had a class with 3+ years ago. Just arrange for a meet in their office and ask them. Be sure to have your materials ready, like personal statement, resume, etc.

Interfolio is pretty easy to use. It sends them a request through email and they just follow the instructions. You can also have them send the LOR through the mail but I'm not too familiar with that as mine were all done electronically.

AACOMAS & Interfolio are friendly with each other. Definitely recommend interfolio

Ditto on Interfolio. Requested all three of my letters be sent to aacomas at 1 am this morning and had word from the same that all three had arrived by noon today. I often lament that I miss the "good old days" but am starting to warm up to some of this fancy new fangled tech!

 

[Petrichor1]

Interfolio works for AACOMAS and AMCAS. I used it myself. As a nontrad, I did have trouble reasoning with some of my old mentors but I was very perseverant. I would say get on the bandwagon right now and seek recommendation before they come up with "I don't know you now line". Usually I got this statement after I sought professors who clearly did not value me as a student and had nothing good to say, even quipping that obtaining a B was below their standards 🤢. This just points out that no matter had I asked them right at graduation or 3 years from then, I probably got bailed from having a terrible letter just being out of school for some time because they had more reason to support their stance. On the bright side, one of my professors from 2 years did not really make any excuses. The professor just took me out of a database, saw my grade and actually did remember me 😱. I am sure the letter isn't too lengthy in writing but to fill a requirement, I am going to take what I have.

If you are a nontrad, you can even contact your employer and just ask them to write a letter on your character and whatnot. This is a bit tricky because your employer can either flip out because they will know you may be leaving or they will be supportive. Either way, you will have to tell them that your plan is to go to medical school. I am pretty sure my employer would have supported me but I also knew he was a pretty harsh critic so I kind of stayed away from this and just focused my efforts in contacting academic faculty. Usually a letter from your major is good but from what I see on DO school requirements, they don't usually ask for more than 2 letters in the secondary which is sweeet. Go ahead and send a strong letter and a strong reason for why you specifically chose them. Write it as if they are your last and only choice (because quite frankly this is true).