Quick Question - AMCAS Letter Service

[Sean Lee]

---

Members do not see this ad.

AMCAS Letter Service has received all my letters (submitted from Interfolio).

When AMCAS Letter Service sends my letters to the schools, will the letter service include my AAMC ID with the letters? Many schools say that they want your AAMC ID on your letters.

 

[Sean Lee]

To clarify, my AAMC ID is NOT on any of my letters. But I was able to assign AAMC ID and letter ID on Interfolio, so AMCAS managed to receive all my letters. I am specifically asking that when AMCAS Letter Service sends the letters to medical schools, will they include a cover page to each letter that contains all my IDs?

@gettheleadout

 

[Sean Lee]

I've seen this exact same question asked before, but no answer was given. Anyone who applied/got in previous cycles, did you tell your letter writers to physically put your ID # on the actual letter?

@gyngyn
@LizzyM
@Catalystik

 

[gyngyn]

As long as the letters come through AMCAS (signed and on letterhead) we don't care if they bear your ID#.

 

[Sean Lee]

As long as the letters come through AMCAS (signed and on letterhead) we don't care if they bear your ID#.

Good to hear.

But when AMCAS Letter Service sends the letters, does the service include a cover sheet that has your AAMC ID numbers? I would assume that AMCAS Letter Service will automatically assign every letter it sends the applicant's AAMC ID.

 

[gyngyn]

Good to hear.

But when AMCAS Letter Service sends the letters, does the service include a cover sheet that has your AAMC ID numbers? I would assume that AMCAS Letter Service will automatically assign every letter it sends the applicant's AAMC ID.

It doesn't have a cover letter. It doesn't matter.

 

[Sean Lee]

It doesn't have a cover letter. It doesn't matter.

I see.

But when you adcoms receive letter s from AMCAS Letter Service, does the letter service provide the AAMC ID anywhere?

Or do you just see a PDF letter?

 

[gyngyn]

I see.

But when you adcoms receive letter s from AMCAS Letter Service, does the letter service provide the AAMC ID anywhere?

Or do you just see a PDF letter?

I have no idea whether letters have been passed through another letter service when they are submitted through AMCAS.

 

[Sean Lee]

I have no idea whether letters have been passed through another letter service when they are submitted through AMCAS.

Sorry but I don't think you understood my question.

I am asking that when AMCAS Letter Service delivers a letter for you to review, does AMCAS Letter Service attach an AAMC ID with that letter?

 

[Lamel]

Sorry but I don't think you understood my question.

I am asking that when AMCAS Letter Service delivers a letter for you to review, does AMCAS Letter Service attach an AAMC ID with that letter?

It is probably best to call AMCAS and ask them directly.

 

[Sean Lee]

It is probably best to call AMCAS and ask them directly.

Did you give your letter writers AAMC ID numbers?

 

[gyngyn]

Sorry but I don't think you understood my question.

I am asking that when AMCAS Letter Service delivers a letter for you to review, does AMCAS Letter Service attach an AAMC ID with that letter?

Your AMCAS ID# is part of the electronic application. They send us a letter "tab" in which letters designated by the applicant can be opened. They do not alter letters by adding (or subtracting) anything.

 

[Sean Lee]

Your AMCAS ID# is part of the electronic application. They send us a letter "tab" in which letters designated by the applicant can be opened. They do not alter letters by adding (or subtracting) anything.

I see. Thanks for the clarification. Will the letter service indicate what type of letter it is (as in science, non-science, research, etc)? Or do you guys find out everything by reading the letter?

Because on AMCAS Letter Service, I had to create a title/name for all the letters.

 

[Sean Lee]

Anyone else with experience with this?

 

[LizzyM]

No, we just receive the letters electronically and view them through a secure, password protected proprietary website. If I were assigned your application, I would click on your name and have your applications, secondary, and the letters under separate tabs. I would have to read the letters to determine which is science, non-science, etc.

 

[Sean Lee]

No, we just receive the letters electronically and view them through a secure, password protected proprietary website. If I were assigned your application, I would click on your name and have your applications, secondary, and the letters under separate tabs. I would have to read the letters to determine which is science, non-science, etc.

Thanks LizzyM.

So there's absolute certainty that you are indeed viewing my letters when reviewing my application, right? And when you are reviewing letters, do any of them have the applicant's AAMC ID printed on the actual letter?

 

[mvenus929]

Thanks LizzyM.

So there's absolute certainty that you are indeed viewing my letters when reviewing my application, right? And when you are reviewing letters, do any of them have the applicant's AAMC ID printed on the actual letter?

You're beating a dead horse here. Yes, some will have the AAMC ID, because students will sometimes provide this to professors. Whether the professors include it or not is outside your control. The fact that you sent your letters via interfolio with your AAMC ID on the cover letter means that AMCAS most likely put them in the correct application file. There's a possibility that they got it mixed up, but I imagine there's enough checks and balances to reduce this risk to essentially zero. I doubt most people who review the applications care whether the ID is there or not.

 

[Sean Lee]

You're beating a dead horse here. Yes, some will have the AAMC ID, because students will sometimes provide this to professors. Whether the professors include it or not is outside your control. The fact that you sent your letters via interfolio with your AAMC ID on the cover letter means that AMCAS most likely put them in the correct application file. There's a possibility that they got it mixed up, but I imagine there's enough checks and balances to reduce this risk to essentially zero. I doubt most people who review the applications care whether the ID is there or not.

Yes, AMCAS has received all my letters from Interfolio, so I am assuming that matching letters to applicants is no longer an issue. I've always thought that the IDs are very important when you are sending letters to AMCAS. But once AMCAS receives the letters, they no longer matter since the letters are already synced up with your account. Am I right?

 

[LizzyM]

From the other end, having been asked to submit letters on behalf of applicants, the writer gets a message with an electronic link to the applicant's "folder". The letter is uploaded to the folder. As long as the writer (or Interfolio) is careful to upload the correct letter into the correct folder, it is fool proof. No code is needed because there is no human intervention.

I get a letter saying, please upload the letter using this link. I upload the letter and voila! it is in your AMCAS "folder" linked to your application. No one needs any numbers to do it correctly, just the electronic link provided by the application service to whomever is uploading your letters.

Some of the schools may not have changed their instructions from the "olden days" when letter writers physically mailed their letters to the schools and someone in the admissions office had to physically place the paper copy in the correct cardboard folder.

 

[Sean Lee]

From the other end, having been asked to submit letters on behalf of applicants, the writer gets a message with an electronic link to the applicant's "folder". The letter is uploaded to the folder. As long as the writer (or Interfolio) is careful to upload the correct letter into the correct folder, it is fool proof. No code is needed because there is no human intervention.

I get a letter saying, please upload the letter using this link. I upload the letter and voila! it is in your AMCAS "folder" linked to your application. No one needs any numbers to do it correctly, just the electronic link provided by the application service to whomever is uploading your letters.

Some of the schools may not have changed their instructions from the "olden days" when letter writers physically mailed their letters to the schools and someone in the admissions office had to physically place the paper copy in the correct cardboard folder.

Got it! That's most likely why that some schools want AAMC ID on the letter. Because if recommender sends a physical copy to the school, how else do they match up everything? It all makes sense now!

I really need to cool off for a while...