Should I Fold Secondaries?

[cmudan]

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What is the general consensus about sending back secondaries? Do most people fold in three and send in regular envelope or buy manilla envelope and keep unfolded. If so, how do they stay unbent during mailing? Same with letters of rec?

Thanks,
Cmudan

 

[28129]

No need to risk it. Buy the big envelope. Use 2 stamps.

 

[AverageMan]

I wouldn't worry about it all too much. Just use your best judgement. I sent back secondary's that were 3 pages or less in a small envelope, folded three times. Secondaries that were 4 or greater I got a large envelope. Folding won't get you into any trouble, as I've gotten interviews at places I sent folded applications to. As far as letters of rec, I don't see that you have much of a say in that, as whoever is sending them out will do whatever is most convenient for them.

As much as we believe that every little thing we do is going to affect our ultimate outcome, I can't believe that adcoms look at things like how crooked we put the stamp on the letter or how neat our handwriting is on the application fee check. Spend time worrying about the more important things, like kissing the adcom's butt on the "Why do you want to go to X school" essay
🙂

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

I put them through the shredder first, and then mail the contents back to the ADCOMs. They do like to put massive puzzles together, right?

 

[GoodMonkey]

only if it's origami.

 

[coldchemist]

Neurosis alert!

Just kidding. I was going to mail my secondaries in regular letter-sized envelopes. There was a girl working in my lab at the time who is now in med school that saw what I was doing and said that large envelopes will make the application look better. At first I was like, "WHATEVER." But later I changed my mind.

 

[kito]

I folded everything three times, and I am doing just fine.

 

[exmike]

then you have Northwestern that requires you to print it out on 8.5x11 paper, minimum 20lb weight (why the heck???), attached to the original secondary request, mailed in a 9x12 envelope. Oh, and last name, first name plus aamc id on each page. It was like a clinic on following directions. Oh yeah, and it said "Improperly prepared secondaries will be returned" or something.

 

[cmudan]

Wow, I guess I am neurotic, but thanks for the replies anyway. I doubt that will be my last neurotic question of the process though, so stay tuned...

Thanks,
Cmudan