Reusing LORs

[965978]

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What's the consensus from the ADCOMS on this? Specifically in the instance of re-applicants who are re-applying immediately?

@gyngyn @LizzyM @gorowannabe

Full disclosure: I DID use the search function but for some reason couldn’t fine a thread where ADCOMS gave their opinion

 

[LizzyM]

Fresh is better. At the very least, every person who wrote last year has known you for a year longer than they did last year. Did you stay in touch? Did you keep them updated on your progress? If not, that might be a reason for asking three new people. (Not necessarily people who you've only known for a few months, but people who you didn't ask the first time around.)

One thing you always risk in using old letters is that one of them is not great which is why you are in the predicament of needing to ask if you should use the old letters.

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

It is always quality over quantity, for reapplicants too.

If the experience with the letter-writer was deep, positive, and meaningful to your application and the person knows you well, over a period of years, then a one year old letter is better than a letter from someone who has only known you for a few months.
That said, I am not thrilled reading a Bio 101 letter from freshman year if the person is now taking a gap year or two.

You also do need to consider that one or more of your original letters was not strong enough to help you gain admission, and at this point, it is a guessing game for you to re-evaluate which one(s) that might be.

My advice is to get some new letters from anyone who will know you well enough by the time you need the letter to write a good letter. ASK the person first if they feel they know you well enough to write a medical school LOR. Add any new ones to your letters if you only had a few. If you already had a good number, replace it with your oldest/weakest experience(s).

 

[965978]

Fresh is better. At the very least, every person who wrote last year has known you for a year longer than they did last year. Did you stay in touch? Did you keep them updated on your progress? If not, that might be a reason for asking three new people. (Not necessarily people who you've only known for a few months, but people who you didn't ask the first time around.)

One thing you always risk in using old letters is that one of them is not great which is why you are in the predicament of needing to ask if you should use the old letters.

It is always quality over quantity, for reapplicants too.

If the experience with the letter-writer was deep, positive, and meaningful to your application and the person knows you well, over a period of years, then a one year old letter is better than a letter from someone who has only known you for a few months.
That said, I am not thrilled reading a Bio 101 letter from freshman year if the person is now taking a gap year or two.

You also do need to consider that one or more of your original letters was not strong enough to help you gain admission, and at this point, it is a guessing game for you to re-evaluate which one(s) that might be.

My advice is to get some new letters from anyone who will know you well enough by the time you need the letter to write a good letter. ASK the person first if they feel they know you well enough to write a medical school LOR. Add any new ones to your letters if you only had a few. If you already had a good number, replace it with your oldest/weakest experience(s).

I haven’t kept in touch with my letter writers but unfortunately they are science professors and I already graduated so I have no way out.

As for having a bad letter, I don’t think that’s necessarily the case with my science professors. I think I have holes in my application that aren’t related to my science rec letters (I have PM’ed you both in the past about personal things so you probably already know what those other deficiencies are).

I also received several interviews, and I am on a couple waitlists so I think it’s my interviewing skills that were the problem this year!!!

Having said that, what about a mix of old and new letters?

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

I haven’t kept in touch with my letter writers but unfortunately they are science professors and I already graduated so I have no way out.

As for having a bad letter, I don’t think that’s necessarily the case with my science professors. I think I have holes in my application that aren’t related to my science rec letters (I have PM’ed you both in the past about personal things so you probably already know what those other deficiencies are).

I also received several interviews, and I am on a couple waitlists so I think it’s my interviewing skills that were the problem this year!!!

Having said that, what about a mix of old and new letters?

I think a mix of old and new letters is fine.
Again, a really strong letter (as best as you can predict) from someone who got to know you very well and for whom you excelled, is gold.
Older letters that can't be updated and are likely to be more pedestrian can be eliminated.

Keep up the faith! Stay in the mix by staying in touch with WL schools that you would go to this year.