When to ask for letters of rec.

[ChymeofPassion]

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The year before application? Two years before? My question boils down to whether it matters if they are dated (such as from your freshman year)

 

[mitch8017]

well the way I believe it works with aamcas is you enter the writers name into part of your application and they are contacted to submit a letter for you directly to them, you never actually say it. You also can't do this until the application for a given cycle opens (May 1st in the past). So I wouldn't really ask until the spring before you apply and then contact them just before you have a letter request sent to confirm they are willing to write you a letter. Don't get me wrong, you should build relationships with potential letter writers well before this period, but it isn't necessarily appropriate to ask them freshman year if you might not end up talking to them the next 2 years

 

[Orthosurg1]

well the way I believe it works with aamcas is you enter the writers name into part of your application and they are contacted to submit a letter for you directly to them, you never actually say it. You also can't do this until the application for a given cycle opens (May 1st in the past). So I wouldn't really ask until the spring before you apply and then contact them just before you have a letter request sent to confirm they are willing to write you a letter. Don't get me wrong, you should build relationships with potential letter writers well before this period, but it isn't necessarily appropriate to ask them freshman year if you might not end up talking to them the next 2 years

I disagree with this advice. Although you do submit your letter writer's names through AMCAS, you should DEFINITELY be asking them to write you a letter yourself. They should not be surprised when they receive an email from AMCAS. If you had a professors during your freshman year that you would like a letter from, my suggestion is ask them to write it as soon as you can, i.e. right after the course ends, so that you are still fresh in their mind. Then, when application season rolls around, you could ask them if you could use that letter, but just have them change the date on it. They could also add in any updates, for example if you've done more work with them in the interim.

I suggest getting a subscription to Interfolio if you will be asking a lot of professors for letters long before you will be applying. This will allow professors to upload letters securely for you, and you can have them all in one place.

 

[mitch8017]

I disagree with this advice. Although you do submit your letter writer's names through AMCAS, you should DEFINITELY be asking them to write you a letter yourself. They should not be surprised when they receive an email from AMCAS. If you had a professors during your freshman year that you would like a letter from, my suggestion is ask them to write it as soon as you can, i.e. right after the course ends, so that you are still fresh in their mind. Then, when application season rolls around, you could ask them if you could use that letter, but just have them change the date on it. They could also add in any updates, for example if you've done more work with them in the interim.

I suggest getting a subscription to Interfolio if you will be asking a lot of professors for letters long before you will be applying. This will allow professors to upload letters securely for you, and you can have them all in one place.

There is a prompt that comes with the request for a letter, and it is actually a letter of evaluation, not a letter of recommendation. The author won't necessarily know what amcas wants them to address. I would say it is best to keep a continuing relationship and then ask for a letter the spring of when you will apply as then they will have the best idea of the individual you are at that time, not who you were as a freshman.