What is the best time to ask for letters of recommendation?

[medDaisuki]

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Hey guys, I am planning to apply this upcoming cycle. I have a feeling that I can get five letters from previous supervisors and professors. But I haven't asked them yet. My question is, what is the best time to ask for letters of recommendation? Also some people say that we need to write the personal statement first before asking for letters, but I haven't started writing my PS yet and it is going to take some time to finish. Is it okay to ask without a complete PS?
Last question, does every med school accept letters saved in interfolio?


Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Laradd]

I wouldnt ask for LOR until you have your personal statement & resume done. You will need (strongly encouraged) to give it to them when you ask for a LOR so they can write you a stronger letter.

 

[965978]

Get your P.S. and Resume complete and at the end of March ask them to write the letter and have them uploaded into Interfolio. They should be done writing the letters by the end of June, which is when apps start getting delivered to schools.

 

[907914]

Get your P.S. and Resume complete and at the end of March ask them to write the letter and have them uploaded into Interfolio. They should be done writing the letters by the end of June, which is when apps start getting delivered to schools.

I have been collecting letter on Interfolio since December. That shouldn’t matter, right? It was 10 PS drafts ago...but the essence of it was still the same. w/a section has not changed.

 

[faerie62]

You should have at least a preliminary draft of your PS done before asking for letters. At least, all of my recommenders asked me for a draft of my PS.
It's almost March, btw... this is prime time to get working on your PS and activity statements if you want to submit by June. The best writing happens when you have time to write, forget about it, and come back to it after a while.

 

[965978]

I have been collecting letter on Interfolio since December. That shouldn’t matter, right? It was 10 PS drafts ago...but the essence of it was still the same. w/a section has not changed.

Should be fine!

 

[Rachapkis]

Your letters of recommendation are the only components of your application not within your control. They often take longer than expected. I would ask for them as early as possible. If possible, provide your recommenders with your resume, your personal statement, and bullet points that could be used to form the body of the recommendation if they so chose. Good luck.

 

[965978]

Your letters of recommendation are the only components of your application not within your control. They often take longer than expected. I would ask for them as early as possible. If possible, you should provide your recommenders with your resume, your personal statement, and bullet points that they would use to form the body of the recommendation if they so chose. Good luck.

I’d be careful about the bullet point thing. I know professors that hate when pre-meds try to give guidelines on how they want their letter.

One of my professors even went as far as to say, “A Letter of Recommendation is between the Professor and the Admissions Committee, and the applicant has absolutely no say in it”.

 

[Rachapkis]

I’d be careful about the bullet point thing. I know professors that hate when pre-meds try to give guidelines on how they want their letter.

One of my professors even went as far as to say, “A Letter of Recommendation is between the Professor and the Admissions Committee, and the applicant has absolutely no say in it”.

I generally believe that recommenders who have said they will give you a strong recommendation appreciate the assistance. Of course, if they prefer to draft their own recommendation from scratch, they are certainly free to do so.

 

[965978]

I generally believe that recommenders who have said they will give you a strong recommendation appreciate the assistance. Of course, if they prefer to draft their own recommendation from scratch, they are certainly free to do so.

Agreed.

Just gonna say one last thing, which is to delicately approach your professor about the kind of assistance they want in writing the letter, lest they get offended.