When is the latest I should get LORs in?

[TheElement]

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I was wondering what is a good final cut off date if I'm trying to be included in the June 1st group. The reason I'm asking is that many of my professors have already agreed to write me one but are having issues (time crunch, babies, etc). I don't want to push them so I told them that I could wait.

 

[MilkmanAl]

About the best you can do is make them aware of your intentions to have your application completed by June 1. Stress the importance of applying early, but don't be pushy. Make your case, and try to get your writers to commit to a timeframe, if at all possible.

 

[fireflygirl]

I had a tough time getting my LORs in because our school messed it up and some letters were never sent. But in the end everything was in by September and I started to hear relatively soon. I think anytime before September is consdered early and is a good time to get things in.​

 

[TheElement]

Hmm, the school sends out the letters? One of my friends mentioned that but I thought you could do it directly through Interfolio? Or does it have to be routed through the premed department first?

 

[TheRealMD]

Hmm, the school sends out the letters? One of my friends mentioned that but I thought you could do it directly through Interfolio? Or does it have to be routed through the premed department first?

You send your letters through Interfolio. Your application isn't complete without them. For UT, you just have to give HPO your account info and they will upload your cover letter when you have all of your LORs in. Then you can tell Interfolio to make a delivery to whichever school you want (or to TMDSAS directly for Texas schools).

 

[seraph524]

I would suggest, at the latest, to have your letters in to Interfolio or VirtualEval by August 1st (July 1st is better, but earlier is best), to avoid needless stress. God knows I was freaking out when I didn't have my letters in and all these secondaries kept coming and it was already middle of August... O_O

 

[kedrin]

what if you get your LOR a year early before applying? this looked down upon or can you even use them?

 

[TheRealMD]

I would suggest, at the latest, to have your letters in to Interfolio or VirtualEval by August 1st (July 1st is better, but earlier is best), to avoid needless stress. God knows I was freaking out when I didn't have my letters in and all these secondaries kept coming and it was already middle of August... O_O

Btw, he's applying to mostly Texas schools.

All this talk of "applying early" goes double for Texas. Your app should be submitted no later than mid-July so you don't get brutally shafted by this process (yes, even with your MCAT).

 

[pride4jc727]

ASAP. You don't want to get relegated to the posterior end of the applicant line.

 

[Vihsadas]

I would send them before I finish the secondary personally...

 

[siriusdebate]

but how do the profs know what to write? don't you have to find out what the secondary asks for in the letter of recommendation before you get them to write you something?

 

[bozz]

So do we have the LORs sent to AMCAS, which will then send them to the individual schools?

If individual schools, do we just give our college that is handling our LORs a list of addresses to send each one to?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

you should write your own LORs...then you dont have to worry about it.

 

[copingmethods]

So do we have the LORs sent to AMCAS, which will then send them to the individual schools?

If individual schools, do we just give our college that is handling our LORs a list of addresses to send each one to?

LORs aren't sent to AMCAS, they're sent directly to the schools. (Although apparently a few schools are participating in something this year where LORs go straight to AMCAS, and the schools get them from AMCAS)

 

[Vihsadas]

LORs aren't sent to AMCAS, they're sent directly to the schools. (Although apparently a few schools are participating in something this year where LORs go straight to AMCAS, and the schools get them from AMCAS)

Yeah I could never figure out why they didn't just do this in the first place...It's really a headache for everyone involved, (students and profs) to have to send LORs to 15 schools or whatever...

 

[copingmethods]

You do not need your LORs completed by the time you finish your primary, right? Just they are needed for the secondary?

Correct, you turn them in w/ secondaries.

 

[UVAbme2009]

LORs aren't sent to AMCAS, they're sent directly to the schools. (Although apparently a few schools are participating in something this year where LORs go straight to AMCAS, and the schools get them from AMCAS)

Is there a list out there somewhere that has the schools that are doing that this year?

 

[Jolie South]

Yeah I could never figure out why they didn't just do this in the first place...It's really a headache for everyone involved, (students and profs) to have to send LORs to 15 schools or whatever...

i know. TMDSAS already does it. you submit your letters and they forward them to schools.

 

[Pedsbro]

Is there a list out there somewhere that has the schools that are doing that this year?

Yes, http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/amcasletters.htm. It's a pilot program. I'm still going with tried-and-true Interfolio.

Someone asked earlier if getting a letter a year before you apply is good or bad. I think that's fine; I don't see why not? You want to get a letter while the professor has you and your performance in his class fresh in his mind, and obviously you already know you were going to be applying to med school.

 

[siriusdebate]

i don't understand this process. So you don't wait for the specific questions asked by the secondaries to your profs? just have the prof go and write basically why he thinks you'll make a good doctor?

 

[ayushman80]

Work through your university advisor. Most of them start collecting evals for students pretty early. VirtualEvals/AMCAS Pilot/Interfolio are the new buzz from what I hear. Many of the university pre-med advisors use these systems. It is really really fast and you don't have to worry about "paperwork error.''

But you can't do that unless you have already solicited the letters from your writers. Do that ASAP.