*~*~*~*Official Letters of Recommendation Questions Thread 2018-2019*~*~*~*

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Hi there,

I will be receiving a joint letter from my place of employment signed off by 2 (recent and previous) managers, 2 colleagues (MPH & RN), and the director of the program.

I wanted to confirm that when generating the Letter Request Form, I should only enter the contact info of the person who is uploading the letter via the AMCAS letter service, right?
 
k.love17 said:
So one of my letter holders is going to mail my letter today. AMCAS said it can take up to 15 days to process, does anyone know of that is how long it usually takes?
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How long did it end up taking? My last writer's letter was delivered on the 11th (two weeks ago today) and hasn't been processed yet. I called AMCAS yesterday and they reiterated "15 business days." Of course, I'm still super anxious.
 
If we are getting a committee letter, do we need our AMCAS ID on all the letters?

Also, I won't have my committee letter for another 3 weeks or so, can I just submit and say "I have no letters to add", or should I say there is a letter incoming? I see that on AMCAS you can add after submission so I'm leaning towards "I have no letters to add"
 
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gonnif said:
2) I would let them know a committee letter is coming
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Would it be bad to just submit so I can get the verification process started? Then I can add this info next week after my committee interview
 
My premed committee used to write a composite letter of rec but now they switched to just submitting letter packets. Does it still count as a premed committee letter since it is coming from the premed office? I'm trying to figure out if schools will accept it or if I should follow each school's individual letter requirements (like 2 science, 1 nonscience).
 
Thank you!

I was concerned about Temple's requirement "LKSOM will consider letters of recommendation from a premedical committee, a packet from a school letter compilation service, or three (3) individual letters. If submitting a compilation packet or individual letters, we prefer two (2) letters from professors with whom you completed course work from the AMCAS course classification of Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

-We welcome letters from research experiences, but prefer them in addition to the requested science letters from professors with whom you completed coursework.
-One (1) additional letter is required from a non-science professor, work experience, or service activity.
-A premedical committee letter does not need a specific number of science/non-science letters."

I'm a nontrad, out of school for a few years. I have letters from my manager, my volunteering supervisor, my undergrad PI and then one science professor.

In this case, would it be acceptable to say that I don't have two science letters since I've been out of school for a few years?
 
@gonnif
Please help!
One of my letter writers only sent their letter to my DO app and not my MD app. I thought they sent it in already but it just was not received so I assigned this letter to schools already. Today I called AMCAS and they said they were caught up on letters so it seems my prof forgot to send this one in. Now my secondaries are in limbo since most schools wait for all letters. I see theres an option on my AMCAS to notify schools when a letter wont be sent. I emailed my professor but she may be on vacation at this time. If I mark this letter as no longer being sent, will all the schools that had this letter assigned get a notification? Also am I able to send in this letter later on? Should I mark this as no longer sent to have my applications go forward and then later send it in once received? I read your warning about assigning letters not received yet but only after I had already assigned it! Any help you could provide would be very appreciated.
 
gonnif said:
1) if you mark a letter no longer being sent, if the professor loads it letter, it will automatically be sent no matter what
2) how important is this letter? Is it a required letter?
3) can you get another writer now?
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2) Currently, I have 2 Science and 1 PI letter without that letter, which is another science letter and would be a fairly good letter. I think my professor is on vacation so I am not sure if it would be the best idea to wait. For schools that wanted 3 letters max, I was planning on using 2 Science and 1 PI letter, I was planning on using this professors because she said it would be a strong letter, but I can switch it out for my other science letter. These are the schools I am worried about the most cause it seems they wont look at my app until all 3 are in. For most of the schools I am applying too, this would not be a required letter.

3) I dont think I can get another letter, I think she will eventually send it when she gets back but I dont know if its worth holding up my application. She already sent the letter to my DO app, but not my MD sadly, so she has it written. I visited this professor and she told me it was going to be very good.
 
Hi, just had a couple questions:
1. Is it correct that a letter from a Psychology professor would be considered a non-Science recommendation letter?
2. The professor I had for Organic Chemistry 1 & 2 agreed to write me a letter, but he says he works "in the industry" now (I'm assuming something to do with engineering rather than teaching), so I'm unsure whether it's still okay for him to write me the letter? And if it is okay, how would that affect the "on official letterhead" requirement for recommendation letters? Would it just be the letterhead for wherever he works now?
 
ScarletFlight18 said:
Hi, just had a couple questions:
1. Is it correct that a letter from a Psychology professor would be considered a non-Science recommendation letter?
2. The professor I had for Organic Chemistry 1 & 2 agreed to write me a letter, but he says he works "in the industry" now (I'm assuming something to do with engineering rather than teaching), so I'm unsure whether it's still okay for him to write me the letter? And if it is okay, how would that affect the "on official letterhead" requirement for recommendation letters? Would it just be the letterhead for wherever he works now?
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1) Yes.

2) Yes, it's still OK for him to write you a letter. He will state the context in which he knew you and the venue where he taught you. He will use the letterhead for his current job.
 
gonnif said:
Its only August 1st so frankly waiting a few weeks for the letter wont impact you very much. Any idea when prof will be back
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Well i checked and she has a class starting Aug 27th so shell be back by then. She still has not emailed me back so I think its safe to say shes gone.
 
@gonnif Do we need to have an AMCAS ID on our letters? I used Interfolio, and none of my letter writers have included my AMCAS ID on their submitted letters. Do I have to ask them to update it?
 
Also, will this be fine for all or most medical schools? 2 science, 1 non-science, 2 research, 1 employment = 6 total letters? I do not have any from community service, another non-science, or physician shadowing letter. If I need those, I'm gonna need to scramble to get them! 🤔
 
I’ve been telling my letter writers to upload by Sept. 1st, assuming that once uploaded electronically that amcas will send to schools fairly quickly and complete my application (secondairies would be in already by then). But my primary will likely verified before Sept. 1st. Can I assume this speedy transmission regardless or does having letters submitted after my primary has been verified mean there’s additional processing time before being sent out, like a week or two later for example?
 
One of my LOR writers said that she uploaded my LOR but realized she only put her address but not her email address on the letter. Should I ask her to re-upload one with her email address on it so that anyone who wants to reach out for more info/to ask questions can easily contact her?
 
acciobutterbeer said:
Thank you!

I was concerned about Temple's requirement "LKSOM will consider letters of recommendation from a premedical committee, a packet from a school letter compilation service, or three (3) individual letters. If submitting a compilation packet or individual letters, we prefer two (2) letters from professors with whom you completed course work from the AMCAS course classification of Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

-We welcome letters from research experiences, but prefer them in addition to the requested science letters from professors with whom you completed coursework.
-One (1) additional letter is required from a non-science professor, work experience, or service activity.
-A premedical committee letter does not need a specific number of science/non-science letters."

I'm a nontrad, out of school for a few years. I have letters from my manager, my volunteering supervisor, my undergrad PI and then one science professor.

In this case, would it be acceptable to say that I don't have two science letters since I've been out of school for a few years?
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Did you have to take an prereqs that you missed in undergrad, or retake any classes? That's what I did for my science letters as a fellow non-trad. They're both community college, but they meet the requirement for science, then I'm counting on my other letters from grad school and professional career to paint a good picture of my academic and work life/dedication/etc.
 
daw05 said:
Did you have to take an prereqs that you missed in undergrad, or retake any classes? That's what I did for my science letters as a fellow non-trad. They're both community college, but they meet the requirement for science, then I'm counting on my other letters from grad school and professional career to paint a good picture of my academic and work life/dedication/etc.
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Yeah I ended up getting two science letters from postbacc classes! I was just worried because I hadn't made as strong of a connection with those profs since I was also working full time and doing other things while taking their classes. But both said they could write strong letters so fingers crossed.

Best of luck to you!
 
acciobutterbeer said:
Yeah I ended up getting two science letters from postbacc classes! I was just worried because I hadn't made as strong of a connection with those profs since I was also working full time and doing other things while taking their classes. But both said they could write strong letters so fingers crossed.

Best of luck to you!
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You as well!
 
Can you assign recommenders on AMCAS after submitting secondaries/being marked complete? My PI recently told me that he has been dealing with some issues at home so he probably won't be able to write/submit my recommendation until the end of August/early September. I have enough recommendations to meet the requirements at all the schools I am applying to so his would just be supplemental. I think it would help but I don't know if it would help enough for me to wait to submit my secondaries for another 3-4 weeks (especially since I got my secondaries 1.5 weeks ago so the 2 week "deadline" is coming up soon). Would it be possible to submit my secondary and then add his recommendation when it comes in even though I would be complete since all the other required recommendations are in?
 
Thanks! In that case, do you think it is worth waiting for his recommendation to submit or submitting the secondaries now and assigning all of the recommendations once his has come in? Or do you think it would be better to just not use his recommendation? I think his recommendation would be helpful but I'm not sure if it outweighs waiting for that long.
 
1. Is it common for medical schools to REQUIRE at least one letter from a nonscience professor?

2. For medical schools that don't REQUIRE at least one nonscience professor, is it advantageous to get one such letter anyway so as to round out my application?

3. For students planning 2 gap years, what's the best way to preserve undergrad mentors' impression of me?

4. How do I get confidential letters now?

5. If I do get them now, doesn't it become a burden on them to update them a year hence?
 
I told all my letter writers to put their letters on official letterhead and to sign the bottom but if one of them forgot to do that would schools tell me my app isn’t complete? Also to fix it they would just upload another letter correct?
 
gonnif said:
1. yes
2. yes, I advise so
3. get letters now and store in interfolio
4. see #3
5. Maybe, but you should get them and ask for update later
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Thanks!

Once letters are stored in Interfolio, do I have to use them all if I choose to use any? Is it an all or nothing proposition?
 
MyOdyssey said:
Thanks!

Once letters are stored in Interfolio, do I have to use them all if I choose to use any? Is it an all or nothing proposition?
Click to expand...

No they are stored in interfolio. From interfolio you select the letters to send to AMCAS individually so you don’t have to send them all of you don’t want to.
 
jordij94 said:
I have 6 letters (2 sci, 1 nonsci, 1 MD, 1 from a work manager I supervised under, and 1 from a coordinator that I volunteered with URM for 4 years).

For schools that have a maximum of 5 LOR (ie the UCs) would it be better to trim off a prof LOR, the volunteer LOR or the work LOR? I wrote a lot about my experiences volunteering in secondaries but had limited contact with the coordinator that wrote my letter. Conversely my non-medical related work LOR is written by a manager I had a pretty close relationship with but I didn't write about the job in secondaries and only mentioned it as most meaningful in my primary because of leadership experience.. Any thoughts?
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What is the MD letter about?
 
jordij94 said:
I've scribed/medical assisted a doctor for > 2000 clinical hours over the past 1.5 years. I wrote a draft of the letter for him so I already know it's likely stronger than the others and we also have a pretty close mentorship/relationship.
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In that case, I'd take out the letter from the volunteer coordinator with whom you've had limited contact. It seems least likely to strongly advocate for you.
 
Hi! First time poster here so bear with me. I submitted all of my LORs through the AMCAS letter service long ago. However, I started a new clinical position in the mean time and, last week, my boss offered to and subsequently wrote me a new LOR to add to my application. Seeing as I've already completed and submitted all secondaries, what is the best way to go about sending this letter to my schools? Should I still use the AMCAS letter service or upload it as an update to the schools that accept such a thing? Thanks for your expertise!
 
Hi
I have 4 individual letters; 1 sci prof / 1 PI who is also a science dept faculty / 1 non-sci / 1 volunteer coordinator. As for the content, I feel they've written me a strong ones.
My school does have a pre-health office and offers a committee letter service. But my advisor whom i have known for 4 years have left the school shortly before the application cycle started. Even more, my file was gone with him too :nailbiting:
The new advisor doesn't know me at all and seeing how they've just tossed out my file like that i wasn't sure if they were the right place to get a committee letter. So i just sent out the individual letters to the amcas.
but most of the schools that i'm applying to require a committee letter if provided. my app is still under the review but i'm not sure if i should still try to get a committee letter.
thank you!
 
laOn said:
But my advisor whom i have known for 4 years have left the school shortly before the application cycle started. Even more, my file was gone with him too :nailbiting:
The new advisor doesn't know me at all and seeing how they've just tossed out my file like that i wasn't sure if they were the right place to get a committee letter. So i just sent out the individual letters to the amcas.
but most of the schools that i'm applying to require a committee letter if provided. my app is still under the review but i'm not sure if i should still try to get a committee letter.
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gonnif said:
Stick with insividual
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I agree. And if asked why, you have an excellent explanation.
 
Hi!
A school just emailed me about one of my letters not being on letterhead, do you guys know if the letter writer can submit a new version with the same letter request form or should I create a new letter entry? And if I have to create a new letter entry, should I send this version to all the previous medical schools (who would also have had the old letter sent to them) or would that look bad?
 
theworldismine said:
A school just emailed me about one of my letters not being on letterhead, do you guys know if the letter writer can submit a new version with the same letter request form or should I create a new letter entry? And if I have to create a new letter entry, should I send this version to all the previous medical schools (who would also have had the old letter sent to them) or would that look bad?
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Don't create a new letter entry. The letter writer should use the same AMCAS letter ID and upload a corrected version which has a letterhead. It will be added to the existing letter. All your schools will be updated automatically.
 
mariposas905 said:
@Catalystik do you know which letter option we are supposed to select in Interfolio? I was confused whether it is 2018 or 2019 year for this cycle...the two options given are below:

American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) 2018 Letters of Recommendation
AMCAS Letter Service Sep 29, 2018 at 11:59 PM EST
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) 2019 Letters of Recommendation
AMCAS Letter Service Sep 28, 2019 at 11:59 PM EST
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Both links appear to go to exactly the same page.
 
Catalystik said:
Both links appear to go to exactly the same page.
Click to expand...

Oh I didn't mean to attach the links; I included them to show you what the name of the links are. The links don't work unless you are logged into the account. I was wondering which year to select for sending Interfolio letter to AMCAS for the 2018-2019 cycle. Is it the 2018 link year or the 2019 year?
 
I have just received a LOR from my PI who I have done research with for almost 2 years. All of my applications have been complete since mid-late July, I had other letters that met the requirements for all the schools I applied to (2 science, and 1 non-science prof). I really want to use this letter from my PI, i am confident it will be a strong letter, but I am worried that sending another letter in so long after submitting my secondaries will be viewed as being impatient. I have seen that some schools don't want any additional uploads after application is complete, does this apply to LORs as well? Should I add this other letter? For schools which I have already received an II?

TL;DR: Got another LOR over a month after being complete, should I add it to my app?

Apologies if this comes across as super neurotic
 
I am a non-trad applying MD/PhD next cycle. A few schools require for applicants 1+ year out of school to send in letters from their immediate supervisor. For example, Baylor says "If you have not attended a college or university for one year or more...one of your evaluations must be from your immediate supervisor." One of Northwestern's options for non-trad letters is "1 letter by a supervisor from research experience, 1 letter by non-science faculty member or volunteer supervisor and 1 letter by volunteer supervisor or employer." However, in my case, my immediate supervisor is also my research mentor. Will schools accept one letter for two requirements like this? I imagine I'll have to ask the schools directly
 
I’m using Interfolio but I guess my letter writer got confused and just emailed me her lettter.

I’ll explain how to upload from the Interfolio email but is there any protocol for this since I’ve seen it? (Well I didn’t open it lol)
 
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I've completed all schools mid August with required LORs. This summer I worked in a lab and the PI agrees to write a letter to support me. My work is good and I am working on a first author paper (a couple of months more work needed), so I am guessing the letter will be strong. My other letters are from science and other professors but no research mentor's because previous research with a different PI was not too successful, did not result in any paper. Should I send this letter to the schools? Should I email them first before send from AMCAS? (ORM, LizzyM 81)
 
gonnif said:
You can just generate a letter ID, have professor upload the letter, then assign it. Be aware that if you file in complete and evaluation that the letter will be added and read. Also be aware by adding this letter, some schools will take your file out of complete status and evaluation, add the letter, and then put you in at the bottom of the pile for evaluation
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Thank you very much @gonnif ! Do you think it is worth it at this time to risk getting put to the bottom of the pile?
 
I did an NIH research internship for 2 summers at one lab. The post-doc I worked under is now a professor in a totally different institution in another country; I asked for his letter instead of the PI because I barely knew the PI.

How important is it that I get the NIH PI to co-sign my letter? There’s actually no mention of the NIH in the letter (my mistake) but the dates are there and it would be simple to put two and two together from my Activites. Is that a problem?

I think I may be able to get the co-sign if I ask my writer to email the NIH PI directly (he didn’t respond to me), but I feel strange asking that and don’t want to inconvenience my writer. How important is it to see the PI from the NIH supports me if the now-professor-not-at-NIH post-doc I worked for clearly does?
 
Is a letter of recommendation dated end of 2018 acceptable for use when applying June 2019 or must it be dated 2019. This is the last semester my only non-science professor who knows me on a personal level is teaching at my university. I do not believe she would be able to update the letter with the official letter head in January and send it to my university's letter packet service since she will no longer be associated with the university. Therefore, she would be sending it in by December when she is still associated with the university. -Traditional applicant
 
I am a non-traditional applicant. I have letters that I got from professors in 2016 when I took the courses, stored in my interfolio account that I plan to use when applying next cycle. I also have updated letters dated 2018 from my work experience and volunteering experience. I also have physician letters stored in my interfolio account when I did physician shadowing in 2016, and another physician shadowing letter dated 2018. Would these letters all be ok to use? Or should I just ask everyone to update all their letter dates to 2019 for when I plan to apply? Thanks.
 
Let’s just say that someone sent the wrong letter as the committee letter, only realized now, but hasn’t gotten rejected anywhere so they resent the right letter and gave updates to every school. How bad is that?
 
AyyLMAO2020 said:
I'm a junior applying next year and am starting to think about who I want to ask to write my recommendation letters. My school does a committee letter so all of these letters would go in that. Here are people I would like to ask (I numbered them), along with how well I feel they know me personally. Can I get some feedback on these choices?

Will ask:
1 - PI of lab I've work in for 2 years, also taking his class and doing well. Not much personal interaction with him since it's a big lab. Letter would probably talk about how I am in the lab and in the class.
2 - Biology instructor I took class with and did well in. Now TAing for the class and doing well in another class I'm taking with him. I interact with this person a little more than I do with my PI, so he probably knows me a little more personally.
3 - Humanities instructor who then became my academic advisor. Out of everyone, he probably knows me the best personally since I go to his office every now and then to chat.

More options:
4 - Volunteer coordinator of hospital I've volunteered in for 2 years. Doesn't know me super personally. My guess is the letter would probably talk about my role and dedication to volunteering/interactions with patients.
5 - Volunteer organization I'm part of that teaches health classes to public schools. I don't know who exactly in the organization would be writing the letter, since there is a big hierarchy/chain of command. Most likely it's written under the name of who ever is in charge, with input from the people who know me. Have to be careful with this one though because I think one of the higher up people doesn't like me a lot. I would need to make sure to ask that they write me a strong letter.
6 - Another science professor. I'm taking his class next semester and would try to get him to know me well enough to write a letter. I would only do this one if 1 and 2 are not enough.

I imagine that 1 and 2 will talk mostly about my academic qualifications. Is 1 and 2 enough to cover my science letters, or should I try to get 6 in too? I mention 4 and 5 because I feel they could speak more about my non-academic side (communities I've worked in, how I interact with patients and students). I'm shooting for a total of 5 letters.
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I think 1&2 should be enough but I don’t really know. 3 seems really good to cover humanities though. 5 honestly sounds a bit scary but I’m sure no one would write you a letter if they would write something bad so checking to see if they would write a strong letter seems like a good idea.
 
Has anyone applied in June and asked professors from the semester right before (that same year's January - April) for a letter? I'm sort of forced into a situation now where I have no one to ask besides a PI and last semester is my last semester. Just not sure if getting to know a professor in 2 or 3 months is enough
 
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