new to american applicationsr-references due?

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deepbluesea

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I think it's too late to purchase the MSAR at this point. So, I have been going to the individual websites of the schools to find out about requirements and such.
For some schools it doesn't say anything about requiring references.
So, I know that most schools (i not all) require atleast 3 ref letters.

Just wondering though when do we need to send these letters out by? Do we send them when we get the secondary applications or do they have the same deadline as the amcas application?

Secondly,
Do all american medical schools mail out secondary applications?


thnks
 
deepbluesea said:
I think it's too late to purchase the MSAR at this point. So, I have been going to the individual websites of the schools to find out about requirements and such.
For some schools it doesn't say anything about requiring references.
So, I know that most schools (i not all) require atleast 3 ref letters.

Just wondering though when do we need to send these letters out by? Do we send them when we get the secondary applications or do they have the same deadline as the amcas application?

Secondly,
Do all american medical schools mail out secondary applications?


thnks

hi and welcome,

all schools require letters of reference (sometimes denoted LOR). However, the minimum and nature of the letters varies according to the school. For instance, some schools require 2 letters, but in general, having three letters from classroom instructors (preferably 2 science and 1 nonscience) with an additional letter from a non-academic source/endeavor is the way to go. Once you submit the AMCAS (www.aamc.org), which is the "primary" part of your application, you will recieve additional requests for "secondary" material. This supplemental portion of the process is where you will find information on letters of reference and directions for submitting.

finally, yes, if you meet their initial requirements and/or qualifications, all american schools require a secondary application, although in some cases this may consist of just the letters and a fee.
 
I heard somewhere that if one applies late (fills in the AAMC application late, closer to scholld deadlines) then they would have so much lower chance of getting in. Is that true? I guess I'm just a little worried since my AAMC application still doesn't say that it's processed (status is:Active) and I keep seeing people who are almost done sending their secondaries!! I"m kind of freaking out a little since I applied to 20 schools (lots of US money, I'm from Canada) 🙂

Any information would be so much appreciated! 🙂

M.dreamer
 
It is true that it is more difficult to get in later in the cycle. Most (if not all) of these medical schools use a rolling admissions policy. Therefore, you chances are best when there are the most spots available (at the very beginning of the cycle) and decrease significantly at the end of the cycle (when there are a lot of applicants for five or six spots). Regardless, you have submitted your application so good luck.

Since you are "later" (not too late) in the process, arrange all of your letters of reccomendation now and send in your secondaries asap.

Good luck.
 
thanks for your help & encouragment. It helps to know that it's not yet too too late 🙂

Can I submit my secondaries before my AAMC is processes (just use the website I found on SDN?)

Another q. is about LORs, is there a special form for the Referees to fill in (usually that is the case in Canada) or not? And do the LORs have to be profs or they can be co-workers, supervisors? I have been out of school for a while so I can maybe manage getting one or 2 profs to write me one, but not more. Would it be bad?

thanks 🙂
 
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