SO confused about submitting letters to AMCAS

[purplecricket]

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Hi all,

I'm getting ready to apply this coming cycle, so I thought I'd start researching everything. One thing I'm confused about is the "AMCAS Letters" feature. I don't use Interfolio or anything, so I'm not sure how to proceed.

My school recently got rid of its pre-med committee so we're pretty much left to figure this out on our own. I read that your AMCAS Letter ID is only generated when you start the application, and that letter authors should include that in their letters, but what if I want to ask for letters now? I don't want to wait until May to ask, that's cutting it way too close.

Thoughts?

 

[PreMedMaverick]

When you finally get to filling out the AMCAS once it becomes available, the process of submitting a letter will seem straightforward. For each person from whom you request a letter, AMCAS will generate a printout you can give your letter writer. The sheet will have instructions for submitting the letter and a letter id that the writer will use when submitting the letter to make sure it gets to the right place. The instructions are really easy to follow, so long as your letter writer is computer literate.

 

[purplecricket]

Thank you, I'm wondering if it would be okay to ask for letters sooner than that..but I guess I could just ask them to wait to submit it in May.

 

[Oso]

Thank you, I'm wondering if it would be okay to ask for letters sooner than that..but I guess I could just ask them to wait to submit it in May.

If your school doesn't have a letter service, then I would use interfolio. That way you can start collecting letters now and just send them to AMCAS with the letter IDs once you open your app.

 

[keepitloki]

Thank you, I'm wondering if it would be okay to ask for letters sooner than that..but I guess I could just ask them to wait to submit it in May.

You can surely ask for it early. But until they get the formal instructions from that AMCAS generated cover letter, don't have them send it in anywhere. 🙂
Also, one thing I learned from applying last year was that you can submit your primaries without having your letters in. LORs are part of the secondaries.

Good luck.

 

[kairos18]

Definitely ask early to get it on their radar. Sometimes it takes profs an immense amount of time (and countless reminders) before they actually get it done since they're usually pretty busy and will often get multiple requests. Meet with them and ask them if they'll write you a strong letter and then let them know you'll follow up with instructions on how to submit later. I asked my writers in February when I applied and then had them start submitting in May/June. Good luck!