Why does DO want LOR with 2ndary ..?

[wjs010]

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And not primary. It seems so straight forward to send them with the primary app.

 

[kami333]

And not primary. It seems so straight forward to send them with the primary app.

Be happy it's that way.

You want your primary complete as soon as possible so it can be verified, I can't imagine how annoyed I would have been if I was waiting on a LOR.

 

[wjs010]

So after you get secondary's completed, you get on inter folio and submit the LoRs? Sounds easy enough. I wonder what happens if you submit LoR early . Like would it be faster

 

[GUH]

So after you get secondary's completed, you get on inter folio and submit the LoRs? Sounds easy enough. I wonder what happens if you submit LoR early . Like would it be faster

Not sure, but Interfolio usually sends the letters electronically almost immediately after you submit the request. So don't worry about that aspect.

Also, I'd guess that part of the reason the letters are in the secondaries and not the primary is that different DO schools have different requirements and limits for LOR's. Some, for example, require a letter from your undergrad department chair or premed committee while most don't. Some require a DO letter, others don't... and so on.

 

[coolingglasses]

And not primary. It seems so straight forward to send them with the primary app.

AACOMAS doesn't handle letters like AMCAS does, so it makes sense that you're not required to send them out with the rest of your primary app. You probably could if you wanted, though.

My understanding is that you can generally send the letters whenever you want within reason. If they show up early, I think schools will just open a file for you. You probably don't want to toy with having them released late though.

 

[wjs010]

Im just wondering if DO's mention where they went to school in their LOR"s. My writer is a KCUMB alum and I really want to get into that school.

Interesting, so is my DO lol. I guess it kinda has to be a small world with DO though.. So it's actually not a huge surprise.

 

[hallowmann]

So after you get secondary's completed, you get on inter folio and submit the LoRs? Sounds easy enough. I wonder what happens if you submit LoR early . Like would it be faster

You can send in LORs once you get the secondaries (some schools have automatic secondaries that are on their website), so it doesn't have to be after you submit your secondary. Most schools require the LORs for your files (primary and secondary apps and info) to be considered complete.

Im just wondering if DO's mention where they went to school in their LOR"s. My writer is a KCUMB alum and I really want to get into that school.

Some secondaries as which school your DO LOR writer graduated from. Its really up to the writer, but I think it might be in your best interest to have your writer write a general letter for most DO schools and a specific one for KCUMB that addresses that school in particular. If that's not possible, you could just make sure its in his signature (e.g. KCUMB Class of xxxx).

 

[DocGodfather]

I thought LOR's were sent with the primary applications for osteopathic, and secondary's for alopathic?

 

[GUH]

I thought LOR's were sent with the primary applications for osteopathic, and secondary's for alopathic?

I only applied DO so I don't know about AMCAS but DO schools only take letters at the secondary application stage, not at the primary. AACOMAS does not process LORs.

 

[DocGodfather]

I only applied DO so I don't know about AMCAS but DO schools only take letters at the secondary application stage, not at the primary. AACOMAS does not process LORs.

That's actually great news, since it'll save money on schools that don't send me a secondary. Thanks 👍

 

[wjs010]

That's actually great news, since it'll save money on schools that don't send me a secondary. Thanks 👍

Yea I really like that. It seems like even though they screwed us by making us pay for interfplio and not including it in the AACOMAS, they are bringing our heads above water again by letting us not pay for sending LORs to schools that have already rejected us. Lol.

 

[dsoz]

And not primary. It seems so straight forward to send them with the primary app.

The answer to this is actually on the AACOMAS application site. It clearly states that it is "powered by interfolio." If they were to take letters with the primary, then interfolio would be missing out on a lot of cash that it collects from us as we send our letters through them. Seriously, $5 to send an email letter? Since when does it take that much money to send a paper letter (including printing, envelope and stamp) let alone an electronic letter?

So after you get secondary's completed, you get on inter folio and submit the LoRs? Sounds easy enough. I wonder what happens if you submit LoR early . Like would it be faster

This happened to me last year. I asked my letter writer to send a letter directly to the school IN JUNE! He got the directions mixed up and sent the letter to the school in April. I called up the school and they told me not to worry. When they get the first document for me, they would just open a file and the everything else that comes in would get matched to the file as it comes in.

Check with the school though. Some don't want LORs unless you are invited to an interview.

I thought LOR's were sent with the primary applications for osteopathic, and secondary's for alopathic?

That is backwards. Primary for MD and with secondaries for DO.

What if you do submit them before receiving secondaries? Are you screwed?

NO. See my response above.

Good luck to all that apply this cycle. May you have as good of a cycle as I had last year!

dsoz

 

[DocGodfather]

Off topic- do we have to enter courses with a W in AACOMAS or AMCAS?

 

[3bamboo]

Off topic- do we have to enter courses with a W in AACOMAS or AMCAS?

yup ALL that appear on transcript

 

[DocGodfather]

yup ALL that appear on transcript

Thanks for the info, Austin 👍

 

[angldrps]

I actually did send in my LORs to some schools before I received a secondary invite and ran into no problems at all. Most (all ?) schools would just open a file in your name if they receive LORs on your behalf even if its earlier than when the admissions department expects to receive them.