Question about references

[Matt105]

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Hello,

I have asked some people for letters of recommendation and they agreed, but I'm a little confused on what to do next. PharmCAS has a worksheet that they fill out about my personality and stuff and then they send that to PharmCAS, but do they need to also write a full letter recommending me? Or is the "Letter of Recommendation" just that worksheet?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Forrest Gump]

Matt,

There is an area on the electronic form for your reference to copy and paste a formal letter. It is optional but it in your better interest for them to do it (especially because you'll likely be using the same references when you apply to non-pharmcas schools and they will need a formal letter).

 

[Matt105]

Thanks for the quick reply, Gump 🙂

Let's say I am applying to 3 schools through PharmCAS and 1 school not in PharmCAS. The non-PharmCAS school has an electronic form just like PharmCAS. Is it etiquette for me to keep their letter confidential and ask them to mail it into the schools? So, obviously, I ask them to write two letters (or at least send the same letter two times) ? Thanks again. Some of my references are older and I want them to at least think I know for sure what I'm doing to have more faith in me, heh.

 

[Forrest Gump]

Matt,

Yes, that sounds like a good plan. I know what you mean about "old" because one of my best references is practically ancient! I just went by his office today because he was out for cataract surgery and hadn't completed the electronic Pharmcas reference for me. He said he tried but received an error message after he submitted it. We arranged to get together tomorrow so I can help but in the meantime I gave him the # for technical support. So, the process is a lot of work - especially for older folks (in my case, anyway). I really appreciate the efforts he is making as well as my other references so I do whatever I can to make it easier for them. For example, he emailed me a copy of the letter (though on pharmcas I have elected confidential) and for one of my schools that requires a paper reference I did the following: I printed out the letter for his signature, attached it to the reference form, and included a self-addressed stamped envelope. He laughed when I gave it to him because he says the university pays for his postage. I told him, that's ok, you keep them then! After I get accepted into a pharmacy school (fingers crossed 😀), I plan to send a thank you note to my references or thank them personally for their help. Without them, I wouldn't have a prayer...