When to Ask for a LOR

[SkittlesSuck]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I've been in a program for a year, and my time will end at the end of may. I want/need a LOR from there. When should I ask for it? Should I ask the person to write it now, or do i ask for a LOR near the time i will apply to medschool? (I have years to go b/c i don't plan on going to med school right after i graduate for personal reasons. i'm also a sophomore)...I asked my orgo prof and he told me to ask when im going to apply and hell write it then.....should i do the same for the director of this program or should i do it now even if the letter will be years old when i apply?

 

[GoogleisaFriend]

I would say get the letter now while you are fresh in their head. This happened to me, and I actually had a hard time tracking down my PI since he had moved across the country to a different university. Get a letter and save it to one of the online LOR services. Not sure which ones are the best, maybe others can give you more advice.

I am new here, so don't follow my advice until some one else confirms 🙂

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

If you don't think you're going to have any more interaction with this person after May, I would ask now. Best that they write you a letter when they still remember everything about you. The only reason to ask later is if you think you might take another class with them, do research with them, etc. such that a letter from them now would be premature.

 

[deleted508066]

A pdf I downloaded from my med school of choice actually advised students to collect LOTs as they're going through their pre-med years. That being said, I've been to nervous to follow that advice.

 

[SkittlesSuck]

Ok, I will ask for one now....also, a post above mentioned something about an online LOR service....do i need to give them some sort of form from amcas or some other system or can they just write one and sign it on a regular piece of paper or a paper with the facilities logo on it? also, if they can just sign it on a paper, do i photocopy it later on when i distribute it to schools/scholarships/programs or do i have to keep oging back for a fresh copy and signature everytime i need a letter?

i ask this b/c for the common app(undergrad applications), a form with a table asking the writer to check off the studnt's characteristics accompanied the letter

 

[survivordo]

Ask for them as soon as you can... they can take awhile (and some persistence) to actually get even after someone agrees to write one!

Survivor DO

 

[JustinD]

I'm in a similar situation.

I am finishing up my first year of college and a non science professor actually approached me and said if I ever needed a LOR for anything to simply ask (I had him for two semesters).

Should I still get a LOR from him? It's for a non science class, and medical school seems so far away! He has a PHD in his field, but it is at a community college.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Ok, I will ask for one now....also, a post above mentioned something about an online LOR service....do i need to give them some sort of form from amcas or some other system or can they just write one and sign it on a regular piece of paper or a paper with the facilities logo on it? also, if they can just sign it on a paper, do i photocopy it later on when i distribute it to schools/scholarships/programs or do i have to keep oging back for a fresh copy and signature everytime i need a letter?

i ask this b/c for the common app(undergrad applications), a form with a table asking the writer to check off the studnt's characteristics accompanied the letter

Vitual Evals is an online letter collecting service, there's definitely another that is widely-used but I am drawing a blank ATM. The letter needs to be on official letterhead and signed, then your prof can send it in to the service (which you have to pay for, but it's probably worth it, pretty cheap I think) and then when you apply you just have to tell the online letter-collecting service to send it to AMCAS with the cover sheet that AMCAS will give you.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

I'm in a similar situation.

I am finishing up my first year of college and a non science professor actually approached me and said if I ever needed a LOR for anything to simply ask (I had him for two semesters).

Should I still get a LOR from him? It's for a non science class, and medical school seems so far away! He has a PHD in his field, but it is at a community college.

Sure, can't hurt to get the letter right now unless you are sure you will take another class with this professor in the future. Especially since he approached you, this sounds like a letter you want haha. Usually people are worried about not having enough letters. You can always have him write it now, then if you don't need it later, then don't use it.

 

[JustinD]

Sure, can't hurt to get the letter right now unless you are sure you will take another class with this professor in the future. Especially since he approached you, this sounds like a letter you want haha. Usually people are worried about not having enough letters. You can always have him write it now, then if you don't need it later, then don't use it.

Thank you,

This semester will be the last class I will take with him. I am asking because
#1) Its a non science professor
#2) Its my first year of college and still early in the game. Not sure how medical schools will look at the letter from 3-4 years ago and wonder how I know that I want to go to medical school that early.
#3) It's a professor at the community college and not university level

 

[SkittlesSuck]

Ok, time to bring this post alive. I have a few more new questions.

1. There are two doctors who I can get a LOR from. I know one very well, but the other I do not. I've seen him a few times but most people tend to get letters from him. The reason is because he is the "head" of the program, but the dr I know is also the leader....but he is the "coordinator." Does it matter who I get one from?

2. I'm obviously asking for a LOR for med school. I'm assuming writers write one letter that can be sent to all schools. I, however, have one school I will definately apply to, so I am thinking about asking for two letters--one for that specific med school and another for all the remaining schools i will apply to. would the school like it if i had a letter thats addressed just to them? what should i do????get one letter to cover all schools or two for one specific school and one for the remaining

3. lastly, this is kinda a repeat. i will most liklt apply about 2 years after i graduate for personal reasons. is there something like a stature of limitation on LOR? i.e. letters i get now will be years old when i apply.....will they still be acceptable?