What to do with letters of rec and how old can a letter be?

[V781]

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I will be applying to medical schools in two years. I currently have an O.Chem professor that I think would write a nice letter for me. I'm not positive how strong it would be...but she does think I'm a strong and capable student. This is a community college professor.

I really just want to ask for one out of fear that I might have difficulty getting closer to my professors at Uni (large classes). If I did end up getting letters from Uni professors, I might not use hers at all.

I just don't know what to do with them. I understand that generally you have them write the letters and send them off themselves. But I'm obviously not applying for a while. I don't know where I'd have her send it. I can't hold onto a physical copy of it and send it in at the right time, two years later, can I?

 

[AllBleedingStops]

Interfolio.

 

[Catalystik]

I will be applying to medical schools in two years. I currently have an O.Chem professor that I think would write a nice letter for me. I'm not positive how strong it would be...but she does think I'm a strong and capable student. This is a community college professor.

I really just want to ask for one out of fear that I might have difficulty getting closer to my professors at Uni (large classes). If I did end up getting letters from Uni professors, I might not use hers at all.

1) I just don't know what to do with them. I understand that generally you have them write the letters and send them off themselves. But I'm obviously not applying for a while. I don't know where I'd have her send it.
2) I can't hold onto a physical copy of it and send it in at the right time, two years later, can I?

1) If your school doesn't have a letter storage service, I agree that Interfolio is a good choice. Storage is free. You don't pay the $48 subscription fee until the year you want to have them delivered.

2) For the letter to carry any weight, you are required to waive your right to see it, so you can't be the one to store the letters. [NB: your prof might choose to share it with you anyway, which is fine.]

 

[V781]

Ok. And is a 2 year old letter acceptable?

 

[Catalystik]

Ok. And is a 2 year old letter acceptable?

At least some fresher letters that describe you as you will be two years into the future from now will be desirable. I think one two-year-old letter is fine. You have the possible option of maintaining ties with the faculty member so you can ask them to resubmit the letter with a new date closer to the time of application. It's still better to get the letter now, as faculty are on occasion known to move, retire, go on sabbatical, take prolonged sick-leave, and die.

 

[V781]

At least some fresher letters that describe you as you will be two years into the future from now will be desirable. I think one two-year-old letter is fine. You have the possible option of maintaining ties with the faculty member so you can ask them to resubmit the letter with a new date closer to the time of application. It's still better to get the letter now, as faculty are on occasion known to move, retire, go on sabbatical, take prolonged sick-leave, and die.

It looks like interfolio charges a $48 subscription fee to send these letters to schools... Is this the best option?

 

[smukke]

It looks like interfolio charges a $48 subscription fee to send these letters to schools... Is this the best option?

Receiving and storing letters is free. You only have to pay to send them out. And when the time comes to apply and your school has a free letter service, you could always ask your writer to send an updated/redated letter to them instead so there really is no downside.

Personally I suggest using Interfolio over the school's office, unless you are getting a committee letter and want that letter included, that way you have the most direct control over the letters. My office had a letter service but it was a rather low tech/low effort affair, they wouldn't allow you to selectively send letters and there was an instance where they forgot to send the letters for several months.