My D is a rising Junior and wants to start getting some LORs while she is still fresh in the minds of her letter writers. So far she has one science professor and one honor’s (humanities) professor. D is currently doing a summer research internship and will ask her PI/mentor to also write a letter at the end of the summer. A doc that she shadowed several times last summer said she’d be happy to write a letter, as well.
D isn’t sure yet if she’s going to apply in June of 2017 or hold off on the MCAT and take it in Aug 2017 where she’ll have more time in the summer to study and then take a gap year and apply in the 2018 cycle. If she starts getting her LOR’s now, how long can they be stored on Interfolio? We aren’t sure how Interfolio works. Does D open an account and then professors upload their letters where D can’t see them or do letter writers store the letters in their own accounts? When D opens an account does she have to designate an application year? Is Interfolio the best service to use for storing LORs? Any advice would be appreciated.
Adcomms expect LORs to be “fresh” (i.e. ideally less than 6 months old). The best plan would be to ask the recommender to write the letter now then hold it until she’s ready to apply. Then when she’s ready, she can ask her recommender to “freshen” it up by adding new info your D supplies. (Both kiddos letter writers asked to see things like transcripts, personal statement and/or CVs before writing/updating LORs. One asked D to do an interview with her.)
Your D should maintain the integrity of her LORs by either having the recommender keep the letter (on their own computer) until it’s updated and uploaded to AMCAS, or by uploading it to Interfolio temporarily.
Your daughter opens the Interfolio account and then sends a link to the letter writer who will then use the link to upload the letter.
Interfolio charges an annual account fee. Your daughter can keep an Interfolio account open for as long as she chooses so long as she pays to maintain the account.
Interfolio is just a service for holding confidential documents; it has nothing to do with AMCAS and does not require designating anything.
BTW, LORs from physicians whom applicants have shadowed are a waste of time***. Adcomms pretty much consider them useless and don’t read them. Also most med schools severely limit the number of LORs accepted from each applicant. Using one slot for a weak recommender whose LOR likely won’t get read is not a great idea.
***Exception: many DO programs require a LOR from osteopathic physician.
Thanks for the info, WOWM. The state school’s website specifically says to obtain one letter from a clinician – either a nurse or physician that she performed her clinical experience with. If that’s not a doctor she shadowed, who would write that letter? Her volunteer coordinator doesn’t see D that much because D volunteers on a day when that person is off.
Thanks for your help!
If the school requires a LOR from a clinician, ask an MD, but just like any potential LOR writer, your D has to directly ask a potential letter writer, do you know me well enough and would you be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation for me. Don’t assume a letter writer will write a strong letter, D has to not only ask, but first cultivate a relationship with an MD, or any LOR writer. Good luck to D