Hello!
I just opened and read AMCAS application process FAQ. So, can we submit up to 10 letters to AMCAS and choose which letters to send to each school?
Can someone give me some advice on how to choose and customize a package of letters to med school, and how many letters to send? I am asking 6 individuals to write a letter for me, but I assume sending all 6 to med school is too much.
I googled and many on-line pre-med advice sites say ‘submit 2 science professors and another from someone related to volunteer, research, etc’. For old pre-meds, does this still apply? I will have letters from two science professors, a doctor who supervised my recent research work, academic adviser who used to be also a pre-med adviser, and my former boss who I worked with at my previous work place (non-medical)for years. All of them know me well and I can expect a reasonably positive letter from each. I wish I could send all of them. ( I will not have a committee letter, as I went to a college in Tokyo. I recently took all requirements as a non-degree at George Mason, but they do not offer a committee letter to non-degrees anymore).
Also- in terms of timing, when these letters should be sent to AMCAS (in an ideal world)? I plan to send my application in early June. I am about to send out an email to these individuals and I am wondering whether I should ask them to send it in early June, or by the time my application is processed by AMCAS.
And lastly-- are LORs for primary and secondary applications different? Do I have to submit additional LORs for secondary application?
Thank you,
It’s really school dependent on how many letters they’ll accept and who they require letters to come from. I didn’t know AMCAS had a max letter, but you are able to select which letters to send to each individual school through the application service. I think pretty much every MD school requires letters be sent via AMCAS (DO schools accept other methods).
Ideally the letters get sent ASAP, only because schools seemed to download them in batches and could take awhile to get to your file. Again, that’s dependent on the school. Also, some schools want them before they consider you for an interview, some want to have them around the time you submit the secondary, and some schools don’t look at them until the interview. Regardless, there is only one wave of letters that I know of, so you will only have to submit them once in the cycle. You can add letters to each school after you have submitted the application.
As far as which to send to which school, that will depend on the school and how strong you think your letter writers are. As an older applicant far removed from the traditional classroom setting, I was able to get waivers (where required) to faculty letters and only submitted work/physician letters. I think as a non trad, it’s important to show them not only your academic abilities but also how you have handled life as a professional outside of academia.
Because each admissions office is unique, it’s best to ask specific questions directly to each school. There is a lot of research and fact finding in the joy that is med school apps. You’ll obviously have to send the required letters, then I would look at the mission of each school. If they value research, send that one. Academic smarties, send that one. But don’t discount the value of your life outside of school to demonstrate how well rounded and proven you are.
Some schools have a maximum number of letters that can be submitted and you’ll obviously have to follow those rules. But it might be prudent to send a good mix of letters (perhaps all of them) to as many schools as you can, just to ensure that admission committees get a good picture of you as an applicant. Letters from various sources can really be beneficial to older applicants as they have more depth of experience than younger ones–this is often reflected in the range of letters submitted.
Cheers,
Liza
Thank you for your advice, Kennymac and Liza! And congratulations, Kennymac, for getting accepted!!
No Nobel laureates? Shocked I tell you. Your in good shape with your LORS especially if you know what they say. I’ve spoken to too many for whom getting LORS from professors is like getting a kidney from them, but just a little harder. Pick and choose, if your going allo pick 5 based on what the school wants. DOs want fewer, with more relevance.
Cheers!
I’d say ask for them in to be sent in June. I’d also suggest using a letter service like inter folio. They hold on to your letters and can send them to amcas and accomas.