Waiving Right to Read Letter of Recommendation Interfolio

Whom, when, and how to ask for bully medical schoolhouse recommendation letters, including word-for-discussion scripts

(Note: A version of this article can too be found in our complimentary, 102-folio comprehensive guide to medical school applications, Go Into Medical School: 6 Applied Lessons to Stand Out and Earn Your White Coat .)

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Introduction

Similar to writing the AMCAS personal statement, the thought of asking for medical school messages of recommendation (or in AMCAS terms, messages of evaluation) makes most students cringe.

Therefore, it's not surprising that we receive a ton of questions and concerns almost recommendation messages, such as:

• "How am I supposed to observe 3 letter writers?!"

• "Would information technology be a good idea to go a alphabetic character from Dr. Johnson? I don't actually know her, but she works at Duke Med, loves my mom, and offered to write a letter of the alphabet on my behalf."

We decided to write a comprehensive guide to medical school recommendation letters to answer all of your questions. If your question isn't covered, please leave it in the comments section beneath so nosotros can answer information technology and add together information technology to the guide, since other students surely share it.

Click on any question below to leap straight to it:

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Questions about whom you lot should request letters of recommendation from

Whom should I request letters of recommendation from?

Nosotros recommend you compile the following set of six recommendation letters:

1. Science professor 1 whose class yous took for a letter grade

2. Science professor 2 whose grade you took for a letter course

3. Non-science professor whose class y'all took for a alphabetic character grade

4. A professional—preferably a physician—who has observed you providing patient care

5. Extracurricular observer 1

6. Extracurricular observer 2

Your two "extracurricular observer" messages could come from anyone who can speak well to your distinguishing activities.

For instance, if you're a standout researcher, get i of those letters from a chief investigator (PI). If y'all don't know your PI well, request a alphabetic character from a postdoc with whom y'all've worked closely, and request that the PI co-sign it.

If, on the other mitt, yous're an first-class fundraiser, request a alphabetic character from your superior within the organization y'all were office of or from a loftier-ranking member of the organization you supported who knows you well.

A good rule of pollex is to ask for a letter from a supervisor from an extracurricular activeness that you designated every bit a 'Well-nigh Meaningful Feel' in your AMCAS Piece of work and Activities department.

Some letters can exercise "double duty"—that is, they can cheque two boxes at one time. For instance, if yous took a neuroscience class with a professor whose lab yous also worked in, a letter of the alphabet from that professor tin satisfy i scientific discipline professor alphabetic character and i extracurricular observer letter. Therefore, y'all don't necessarily need 6 singled-out letters.

The near important consideration is that yous submit outstanding letters. Outstanding letters come from individuals who can speak highly of your skills and qualities and, more importantly, how your merits brand you lot an excellent medical school candidate. Unenthusiastic letters, even if written by a well-known person, are not desirable.

From whom should I enquire for recommendation letters as a non-traditional applicant?

Medical schools want to see recent (i.due east., within the concluding three years) information almost your bookish achievements. Therefore, if you've been out of schoolhouse for a while, you should aim to enroll in a few science courses—locally or online—to build relationships with professors.

Who qualifies every bit a science professor?

Strictly speaking, medical schools would like to run into your scientific discipline letters come from biological science, chemistry, or physics (BCP) professors. While many schools volition also accept a science letter from a math, estimator science, applied science, or other scientific discipline professor, other schools won't. Therefore, you should check straight with your top-choice schools if you lot intend to submit a science letter from a not-BCP professor.

Who qualifies as a non-science professor?

Any professor whose field falls outside of biological science, chemistry, or physics.

Practise I have to send a letter of the alphabet from a professor in my major?

A very small number of schools crave a letter of the alphabet from a professor in your major. Since this isn't necessary for the bulk of schools, yous probably shouldn't worry about this.

Practice I demand to get a letter from a Exercise dr. when applying to Practice programs?

Aye, if you lot're looking to apply to osteopathic medical schools, make certain to request a letter from a Exercise md you've shadowed.

DO programs are witting of the reality that near applicants would prefer to attend an Dr. program if given the hazard. Therefore, they like to encounter that applicants have demonstrated a specific involvement in osteopathic medicine and have fabricated an effort to put this interest into exercise.

(Further reading: Medico vs DO: The Biggest Differences (And Which is Better))

What recommendation letters should I avoid?

Generally speaking, you lot should avoid any letters that are negative, neutral, or slightly positive. In other words, you should avert a letter from anyone who won't gush virtually yous.

In add-on, you'll want to avoid sending messages from family members, clergy, or family friends who can't speak intimately most your professional qualities.

Students routinely ask whether they should become a letter from a family friend who happens to exist a well-known md or faculty member at a school on their listing, thinking that their clout will carry meaning weight in admissions decisions despite not knowing the applicant professionally. Avoid these messages as well. At all-time, they'll be overlooked. At worst, they'll hurt your application because they'll be seen as an attempt to gain an unfair reward.

Will I be able to see my recommendation letters?

You can, just yous shouldn't. In other words, you should always waive your correct to read your letters. Otherwise, medical schools won't take your letters seriously.

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Questions about how many letters of recommendation yous demand

How many letters of recommendation exercise I need for medical schoolhouse?

Schools vary with regard to the number of required recommendation letters, ranging from 2 to five. Three letters is the most common requirement.

At minimum, most schools volition ask y'all to submit one of the following:

• Three individual messages: Two letters from science professors and one letter from a non-science professor. These letters are to be sent straight to AMCAS by private professors or past your schoolhouse via a letter packet.

• A committee letter: Some schools have a pre-wellness committee or pre-health advisor who writes a letter of the alphabet representing your school's evaluation of you. If your schoolhouse offers the committee alphabetic character option, you should take it. Otherwise, medical schools could wonder whether y'all're avoiding the committee letter considering you're trying to hide something or were told past the pre-health committee that you're not a competitive applicant.

Nevertheless, the better question is, "How many letters of recommendation should I go when applying to medical school?" because:

• Some schools crave that you lot submit iv or five letters.

• Many schools optionally allow y'all to send additional recommendation messages beyond their requirements.

• Some letter writers can be flaky and even disappear when yous need them nigh. Therefore, information technology'southward best to accept a backup letter of the alphabet.

Our answer to that question is you should get together 6 letters (encounter our response to the showtime question for farther details).

How many messages of recommendation should I ship to schools?

We recommend that y'all transport no more than v or six messages to med schools, even if they offer a higher limit on the number of allowed messages.

The quality of your letters and what they collectively say nearly you are much more than of import than sending a large number of letters. Negative or even so-so messages can cast a shadow over your other, stiff letters, and so be thoughtful nigh which to include or leave out.

How many recommendation letters can I upload to AMCAS?

AMCAS allows you to upload up to 10 letters of recommendation.

How many recommendation messages can I upload to AACOMAS?

AACOMAS allows you to upload upward to 6 messages of recommendation.

How many recommendation letters can I upload to TMDSAS?

TMDSAS allows you to upload up to 4 letters of recommendation.

Can I send different recommendation messages to different schools?

It depends on which application arrangement you're using. AMCAS allows you to transport different recommendation letters to different schools, whereas AACOMAS and TMDSAS practice non.

In other words, when applying via AMCAS, you can "overcompile" letters of recommendation and pick and choose individual schools that you'd similar to send each letter to. When applying via AACOMAS and TMDSAS, every school you use to will receive all the messages that you've uploaded into that system.

Can I choose where to send each recommendation letter?

As noted to a higher place, merely AMCAS allows yous to choose private schools equally recommendation letter recipients. Beyond this, you tin but select the application organization to which you'd like to send each recommendation letter of the alphabet.

For instance, permit's say you're applying to both MD and DO schools, and you have eight messages, including letters from both Md and Do physicians, stored in a dossier service such as Interfolio. Yous could and so choose the advisable letters to upload to AMCAS and AACOMAS, bearing in mind both the types of medical schools you're applying to and the maximum number of messages each organization allows.

Do my recommendation letters have to be addressed to specific medical schools?

No, this is not expected.

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Questions almost how to ask for letters of recommendation

Should I ask for a alphabetic character of recommendation in person or via electronic mail?

We strongly encourage you to inquire for letters from professors in person whenever possible, and definitely if information technology's been a while since you've been in their form or interacted with them.

Earlier you ask for a recommendation letter of the alphabet, you should prepare a packet that includes:

1. A list of your grades, separated past science and not-science courses

2. Your CV or resume

3. Your final or near-final personal statement draft

4. AAMC'southward guidelines for writing a strong letter of evaluation, including a reminder to write the letter of the alphabet on official letterhead and sign it. You should provide this packet merely subsequently a professor or other recommendation letter writer agrees to your request.

How should I enquire for a letter of recommendation in person?

Beneath are exact email scripts you can utilize to request a letter in person:

Word-for-give-and-take electronic mail script when planning to inquire someone you know well in person

Dear [Professor's Name],

I promise this email finds you well. I'm planning on applying to medical school this upcoming summer, and was hoping you'd be willing to offer your perspective on the procedure since I've e'er valued your guidance. If and then, please let me know some days/times that piece of work well for you to meet, and I'll make sure to accommodate. Cheers for your consideration!

Best,

[Your Proper noun/Final Name]

Word-for-word electronic mail script when planning to ask someone in person whom you haven't seen or spoken with in a while

Dear [Professor's Name],

I hope this email finds yous well. My name is [Name/Terminal Name], and I was a student in your [Course Number/Title] course during [Semester/year]. I really enjoyed your class considering [authentic reason].

I'grand planning on applying to medical school this upcoming summer, and was hoping y'all'd be willing to offer your perspective on the process. If so, delight permit me know some days/times that work well for you lot to run across, and I'll make sure to accommodate. Thanks for your consideration!

Best,

[Your Name/Last Name]

Additional guidance for request in person

Whenever you come across with a professor to request a letter in person, make sure to permit them know why you would value a letter of the alphabet from them, including why you lot value their perspective and which of your qualities and experiences they tin can speak to.

Don't be shy about priming them to do this because it will assist their messages corroborate how y'all depict yourself throughout the rest of your main and secondary applications.

Once a alphabetic character writer agrees to write y'all a letter, provide the packet mentioned earlier.

How should I enquire for a letter of recommendation by electronic mail?

Here is an exact email script you tin apply to asking a letter via email:

Discussion-for-word electronic mail script when planning to enquire someone you know well via email

Dear [Professor's Name],

I hope this e-mail finds you well. I'grand planning on applying to medical school this upcoming summer, and was wondering whether you'd feel comfortable writing a strong letter of the alphabet of recommendation. [Authentic sentence describing why you would value a letter from them (e.m., why you value their perspective, which of your qualities they can speak to, etc.)].

If y'all're willing to provide a letter, I will provide the post-obit supporting materials: i) a list of my grades, 2) my CV, iii) a draft of my personal argument, and 4) the AMCAS recommendation alphabetic character guidelines. Thanks for your consideration!

Best,

[Your Proper name/Last Name]

(Note: Nosotros have not included a script for requesting a letter via email from a professor who may not remember yous because you lot shouldn't ask them for one.)

When and how should I remind my letter writers to submit?

Recommendation alphabetic character writers often procrastinate on submitting letters on time. Therefore, yous should email them using the following email script two to three weeks prior to your main application submission:

Love [Professor's Name],

I promise this email finds you well. I plan on submitting my medical schoolhouse applications [on date or  in # of days/weeks], so I wanted to send a reminder regarding your recommendation letter. Please let me know if at that place's any boosted information I tin can provide.

Thanks again for your support!

Best,

[Your Name/Terminal Proper noun]

Across this first reminder email, experience free to send boosted reminder emails every one to weeks if you don't hear back from a letter writer. If yous're unable to get a response via email, call them.

What should I include in my thank you notes to letter writers?

Once a person submits a letter, you tin can use the following thank you annotation script to express appreciation (personalize this still you'd similar):

Dear [Professor's Name],

Cheers over again for supporting my medical school applications past offering your perspectives on the procedure and submitting a recommendation letter of the alphabet. I feel very fortunate to have great mentors similar yous.

I'll make sure to update you lot as the application flavour progresses!

Best,

[Your Proper name/Terminal Name]

Do you accept tips on how to get to know my professors?

Of course! Here they are:

• Consistently nourish office hours, particularly during "off-peak" times, like the showtime of the term.

• During office hours, talk over something other than grade material (e.g., the professor's enquiry).

• Accept multiple classes with the aforementioned professor.

• Invite the professor to coffee or lunch after the term to discuss their piece of work, as well as your career aspirations.

• Work as the professor's educational activity assistant.

• If you're interested in their research, ask to bring together their lab. Your research involvement will non simply improve your relationship with that professor, but will besides expect keen on your application.

When should I request messages of recommendation?

Ideally, you will want to ask for recommendation letters no afterward than 2 to iii months before you program on submitting your primary application (i.east., AMCAS). Therefore, if you plan to submit AMCAS in June, yous should inquire no afterwards than the beginning of May.

Professors receive a ton of recommendation letter of the alphabet requests during the medical school application process. Request in accelerate volition requite your letter writers the time to write a potent letter, and also to prioritize getting yours done before those who asked later.

Finally, your schoolhouse has a pre-health commission or pre-health counselor who assembles and distributes letters on your behalf. If so, you should follow their suggested timeline for requesting recommendation messages.

(Further reading: The Ideal Medical School Application Timeline)

When are messages of recommendation due?

Y'all should aim to have your letters sent to programs no later than the engagement of your secondary application submission (i.east., July at the earliest) considering about med schools do not read recommendation letters until the rest of your materials—primary awarding, secondary application, fees, MCAT score—have been submitted.

That said, we encourage you to asking that recommendation letters be submitted by the finish of June to avoid anxiety. That way, fifty-fifty if your writers procrastinate for a calendar week or 2, you'll even so accept your letters in on time.

It'south important to note that letters of recommendation are rarely used to decide whether or not to send you a secondary application (which near schools send to most applicants anyway). However, they are used to make interview decisions.

When practice medical schools wait at letters of recommendation?

Equally noted above, almost medical schools expect at letters of recommendation after all of your application materials take been submitted. Therefore, the earliest that your letters volition exist read is typically July.

Tin my letter writers submit letters of recommendation before AMCAS opens?

No, writers cannot submit before the twenty-four hours AMCAS opens.

Does AMCAS require that my recommendation letters be uploaded to verify my application?

No, it does not. Your submitted AMCAS application will begin to undergo verification fifty-fifty if your messages of recommendation take not nonetheless arrived.

Tin can I add new letters of recommendation afterwards I submit my AMCAS application?

Yeah, you tin can add new messages of recommendation after your AMCAS application has been submitted, so long as you haven't yet reached the 10-alphabetic character maximum. However, if you've already submitted your application, you must make certain to resubmit your application afterwards yous assign a new letter to ensure that it'south sent.

Even if your application has already been transmitted to a medical school, you lot can still add together and assign new letters to that school as long as it's before the school'due south borderline.

Can I edit or delete letters of recommendation after I submit my AMCAS application?

No, you lot cannot delete or personally edit letters of recommendation afterward your AMCAS application has been submitted. Withal, your recommenders may upload a new version of a letter they've already submitted, so long as they utilize the same Letter ID number that was assigned to the original letter of the alphabet.

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Questions most storing and reusing letters of recommendation

Where can I store my letters of recommendation?

You may accept two options for storing letters of recommendation that yous request ahead of time (e.grand., a year or 2 before your application bicycle):

1. Through your schoolhouse: Most universities offering to store your recommendation letters, either through the career center, pre-health advising center, or a like service on campus.

2. Via an online 3rd-party letter storage service (besides called a "dossier service"), such as Interfolio.

Regardless of which option(southward) is available to you, you volition have to ask your recommenders to ship their letters directly to the storage service. As with whatever other recommendation letter, stored messages must be signed and ideally written on official letterhead. In one case yous're ready to apply to medical school, you can request that the storage service send your letters to the application system.

What are the benefits of using Interfolio or another storage service?

Every bit noted above, one reason why med school applicants use Interfolio or other letter storage services is to obtain a fresh, and therefore more enthusiastic, letter of recommendation well in advance of the application bicycle.

Storage services also simplify the recommendation process for your letter writers by requiring them to only upload their letter once. Fifty-fifty if you aren't collecting letters far in advance, yous may notwithstanding observe this benign if y'all're either submitting applications within multiple systems (eastward.thousand. both AMCAS and TMDSAS) or you anticipate needing a letter of recommendation again, such as for a scholarship or a future med schoolhouse awarding bicycle, and don't want to repeatedly enquire your recommenders.

That said, whether or non to store your letters is up to yous. It isn't strictly necessary if y'all can maintain not bad relationships with your recommenders.

Does AMCAS store recommendation letters from i bicycle to some other?

No, AMCAS does not store recommendation letters from 1 cycle to another.

Do I need to submit letters of recommendation as a reapplicant?

Yes, because AMCAS does not store letters of recommendation, y'all must either resubmit your existing letters or submit new messages of recommendation each time y'all apply to medical school.

Can I reuse the same messages of recommendation if I reapply to medical school?

When reapplying to medical school, you tin can choose to transport the same letters from a previous cycle—ideally, with a revised date and, if appropriate, with updates—entirely new letters, or a combination of the ii. Even if your letters are stored in Interfolio or a similar service, we encourage you to ask your rec letter writers for a letter with at least an updated date.

(Further reading: Reapplying to Medical School: Every Major Question Answered)

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