Urgent question about LOR's!

[docbrill]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Are LOR's submitted with the initial application, or are they sent with the secondaries? If I want to submit my amcas in early June when should I have the letters ready? Also, my school does not have a premed committie, so can I have the writers send the letters to my pre-med advisor so he can review them and write a letter as well? And then have him send all letters to lets say interfolio? Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[funkymunkytoes]

You should approach them this semester definitely - in fact, the sooner the better because some professors are very unreliable. Once you send in your AMCAS, you can send in the required LORs to the schools (through interfolio like you said), unless they say otherwise. For example, Duke and UNC say specifically not to send in LORs unless they offer you an interview. Best of luck.

 

[dw2158]

what if my professors submitted their LORs to the pre-health dean (because that's what's required at my school)? i don't have access to my letters... will the pre-health dean/committee deal with interfolio for me, or do i have to get my professors to submit a second copy of their letters to interfolio?

EDIT: as i was writing this i realized that i should probably just ask the pre-health dean...😳

 

[DrWookie]

I can't help with the prehealth stuff since my school doesn't do it that way (I organize with each professor when they are sent).

Every school I encountered wanted the letters with the secondary, with the exception of Duke which wanted to wait until the interview (which was really awkward IMO, since they also required 4 when the average is 3).

The other exception I guess would be the schools that are doing that AMCAS letter thing where you send the letters to AMCAS and then they get sent to the schools. They still probably want the letters with your secondary, but you don't have to worry about it because you just send it to AMCAS and they take care of it for you.

I'd imagine the prehealth person would know all this and probably knows to wait to send the letters.



I would also stress, like other people here, to ask and get the letters done sooner rather than later. I thought asking in May would give my professors plenty of time, but my last letter didn't get sent until October! So I was a very late applicant just because of one stupid letter, which was quite annoying. I still got interviews and acceptances, but I know I would have gotten more if I had gotten in complete earlier. (Ironically the one letter that took so long was my non-science professor. I should have guessed that a music professor would have trouble with a deadline...)

 

[AdmiralChz]

Interfolio is a great resource to hold your letters, costs a little cash but very worth it to keep the confidentiality of the letters. You can use it to send them straight to the schools. I find it strange that you are going to have your pre-med advisor review them first... seems like someone I'd expect in high school, not in college...

 

[dw2158]

Interfolio is a great resource to hold your letters, costs a little cash but very worth it to keep the confidentiality of the letters. You can use it to send them straight to the schools. I find it strange that you are going to have your pre-med advisor review them first... seems like someone I'd expect in high school, not in college...

yeah, it's weird to me too. but that's what we're required to do. i'm gonna put a call into the deans' office soon to figure this out.