LORs

[BKelly734]

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Hey guys, I was wondering if any of you could give me some advice on LORs. I plan on applying when this upcoming cycle opens up on June 1st, 2012. I plan on applying to my in-state dent schools. This, however, is a stretch because I do not think I will get in. Because of this I will also be applying to Master's programs. I need help trying to get my LORs in order.

If I need letters for both dental school and master's (at about the same time)...
1. Should I ask the same prof's for letters to both programs?
2. Would this be a hassle for the 3 prof's I want to ask?
3. Has anyone used Interfolio? Would you suggest it in my case?
4. I know when applying to dental school, prof's submit LORs online. Does that mean that they would have to write two different letters for me?

I'm just not exactly sure how I should go about doing this so any help you guys can give me would surely be amazing.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

My school offered a LOR service where you paid them an annual fee for using it... 65$ or so.

They stored it there and sent it out to where ever you wanted and how ever many times you wanted. See if your school does the same?

 

[SEAirLand]

Hey guys, I was wondering if any of you could give me some advice on LORs. I plan on applying when this upcoming cycle opens up on June 1st, 2012. I plan on applying to my in-state dent schools. This, however, is a stretch because I do not think I will get in. Because of this I will also be applying to Master's programs. I need help trying to get my LORs in order.

If I need letters for both dental school and master's (at about the same time)...
1. Should I ask the same prof's for letters to both programs?
2. Would this be a hassle for the 3 prof's I want to ask?
3. Has anyone used Interfolio? Would you suggest it in my case?
4. I know when applying to dental school, prof's submit LORs online. Does that mean that they would have to write two different letters for me?

I'm just not exactly sure how I should go about doing this so any help you guys can give me would surely be amazing.

First question I have is why are you only applying to in-state schools? I would apply to as many as possible that fit your stats. I applied to 12, got 4 interview invites and accepted to 2. One was in-state, the other was OOS. It also happened that the OOS school has great residency "exceptions" which is allowing me to get in-state immediately. Something to look into...

Second, I used interfolio. But only for dentist LOR's. My school has a pretty hardcore rule that we don't get copies and the letter is not utilized by the student, but by the pre-health committee.

Granted, with that being said, I did request a committee letter (carries more weight) so I was not allowed to see any of it. Maybe if you go to the professors and you do it all yourself, maybe different situation.

As for them submitting the letters to AADSAS, you can actually have them submit to inter-folio, if you can work with them directly on this, and then you send it to AADSAS via inter-folio. You still will not see the letters, but will allow you to have control of the letter.

You obviously want to stay in their good graces and not totally inconvenience them. I would weigh your choices and go in a route that suits your desires and while being respectful to your profs.

 

[GoBucks32]

Hey guys, I was wondering if any of you could give me some advice on LORs. I plan on applying when this upcoming cycle opens up on June 1st, 2012. I plan on applying to my in-state dent schools. This, however, is a stretch because I do not think I will get in. Because of this I will also be applying to Master's programs. I need help trying to get my LORs in order.

If I need letters for both dental school and master's (at about the same time)...
1. Should I ask the same prof's for letters to both programs?
2. Would this be a hassle for the 3 prof's I want to ask?
3. Has anyone used Interfolio? Would you suggest it in my case?
4. I know when applying to dental school, prof's submit LORs online. Does that mean that they would have to write two different letters for me?

I'm just not exactly sure how I should go about doing this so any help you guys can give me would surely be amazing.

Some schools prefer a pre-health committee letter if your school has a committee-- mine did not, so I can't weigh in on how that works..

You could always ask your professors to save a copy of your letter and tell them your intentions to apply to grad school..ask if they'd be willing to use that same letter with some minor tweaks later on.

You can also ask the master's program adcom if it'll accept the exact same letters. If the program you're applying to is geared toward pre-professionals, they likely will.

You won't be sending out grad apps in June too, will you? I'd wait until the end of summer/autumn...until the next year's application cycle opens up


One more question...Why don't you think you have a shot at D-school acceptance? I had the same worries this summer while applying but have received 2 acceptances...PM me if you'd like!

 

[BKelly734]

My school does have a committee. My problem is that I only have a 3.1cGPA and sGPA. I'm afraid my committee won't write me a very good letter, and I have a few teachers who know me very well and would write me great LORs.

This is also why I was applying mainly to my instate schools, because I feel like I would have the best chances of maybe getting an interview there than anywhere else. I may apply to a few more but I'm not sure yet.

But thanks for the help anyone, and the more input people give me the better!

Thanks Again 🙂

 

[BKelly734]

That 3.1 will be an improvement since this semester's GPA will be around a 3.85 with 15 credits (had a rough time when I began my college career). Would that help me look better to my school's committee do you think?

 

[GoBucks32]

That 3.1 will be an improvement since this semester's GPA will be around a 3.85 with 15 credits (had a rough time when I began my college career). Would that help me look better to my school's committee do you think?

Yes if you show a strong, consistent upward trend. I graduated and applied with a 3.38, but had consecutive quarters of 3.8, 4.0, 4.0....I had Cs and a D+ on my transcript. Received 2 acceptances so far..
I harped on my improvement and called attention to the fact that I was earning top grades in my highest-level coursework while balancing volunteering, observing, working, and self-studying for the DAT....If you can back up your bad grades with some kind of reasoning, focus their attention on what you've done to improve, and continue to challenge yourself with upper-level classes, they'll respect that and have a lot of positive things to say on your behalf