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Updates Regarding Letters of Recommendation (LOR)

Starting on January 1, 2024, recommendation letters for pre-health students will be handled through Interfolio, a well-recognized document management service. We think that you will be pleased with the control that this gives you over your recommendations, and using Interfolio might even save you some money. Even though Interfolio is easy to use, there are some important details you need to know as you start using the new system.

Rather than having your LOR sent to the pre-health email, you will be working with Interfolio to create an account to store and/or deliver your LOR when you are ready.  Interfolio is able to offer a longer time period for storage of your LOR and there is no cost to you until you are ready to have your LOR sent to the schools you select. 

What is the difference between Interfolio Dossier and Interfolio Dossier Deliver?

  • You can create a free Dossier account to request and store your letters.
  • You can then upgrade to Dossier Deliver for $59.99* (when it’s time to send the letters of reference to your schools of interest).  (*this cost is based upon available data on 10-12-23

When you upgrade to the Dossier Deliver service, you receive 50 deliveries electronically or by mail. Your paid subscription includes guaranteed quality checks of letters of recommendation before delivery. You also receive notifications when letters are sent. You can send your materials to application systems including AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS, PostbacCAS, and LSAC.

Source: Interfolio 

What steps do I take if I already have letters on file with Stony Brook, and/or if I am going to have my LOR sent after December 31, 2023?

  • Step 2:If you already have letters on file with Stony Brook, you must complete this Google Form (which will not open before Jan. 1, 2024). There are a few steps in this process which will be emailed to you after you succesfully submit your request via the Google Form. Once you have completed the required steps, our office will upload these letters to your Dossier / Dossier Deliver account per your instructions. 
  • Step 3: If your recommender is going to submit a letter after December 31, 2023, you must provide them with Dossier / Dossier Deliver instructions.  Our office will no longer be involved in saving or sending LOR on your behalf. 

(If our office receives any LOR after December 31, 2023, we will reply to the email and inform the writer to contact you for updated instructions. The letter will not be filed in our system.)

If I also have a completed Committee Letter from a prior year in my Stony Brook file, can that also be transferred to Dossier / Dossier Deliver?

Yes.  If you have a finalized Committee Letter within the past 5 years in your Stony Brook file, you can ask us to have that Committee Letter transferred as well. You will be able to give us permission in this Google Form starting Jan. 1, 2024. However, no updates or modifications will be made to any Committee Letters.  A cover letter will be included stating the committee letter option ended after the 2024 cycle.

What if I do not have any LOR on file with Stony Brook yet and want to have letters saved for future cycles?

Create a Dossier/Dossier Deliver account and follow these directions to have your recommenders upload their letter. 

More questions?

For questions about my letters of recommendation already in my pre-health Stony Brook file,  please write to prehealthLOR@stonybrook.edu.  (We will not be able to answer Dossier or Dossier Deliver questions.  See Dossier and Dossier Deliver contact information below).  

For help regarding Dossier or Dossier Deliver, you can either send an email or contact Interfolio by phone:

Last updated 10/26/2023

Please see our FAQs below.  Remember to check back often as additional FAQs will be added on an ongoing basis.

Why was the decision made to end Committee Letters?

In order to support students in their application process, we plan to provide more comprehensive assistance in all aspects of their application and help them promote their academic and professional strengths to be the most competitive applicant they can possibly be. 

What are the consequences of not having a Committee Letter as part of my application?

In fact, Stony Brook is joining other leading universities that have also shifted away from committee letters to more comprehensively support students in their application process, and assist them in identifying recommenders who know them well and have closely observed their academic and professional strengths. In addition to individual advising sessions, ATAS will be hosting multiple information sessions as well as interactive workshops to help students strengthen various aspects of their application.  Please check our website often for dates and details (stonybrook.edu/prehealth).

Note:  If your schools of interest reference a committee letter, this only applies to undergraduate institutions offering this service.  Since this will no longer be the case for Stony Brook University for the 2025 cycle and  later, it will not negatively impact your application when you do not have a committee letter.

When is the last opportunity to receive a Committee Letter?

Students who are applying for the 2024 cycle, who complete all of the required steps, will be able to receive a Committee Letter.  Students who are applying for the 2025 cycle or later, will not receive a Committee Letter.

Will there be other opportunities to receive help and support as I apply to health professions schools?

Yes.  We will be increasing the number and types of programs, information sessions, events, panels, peer  networking, and interactive workshops that will take place each semester.  ATAS will be hosting and collaborating with different departments on campus to cover critical topics such as writing your personal statement, your application timeline, how to maintain and cultivate strong relationships with professionals that could potentially write you strong recommendation letters, and many more!  We are also interested in your feedback. We welcome your ideas and request that you fill out this form to give us any suggestions! 

I already had letters of recommendation sent to Academic and Transfer Advising Services. Will I still have access to them?

We will hold letters for 5 years on file. Please keep checking our website for updates regarding letters of recommendation. 

What is the best way to receive pre-health advising?

You can book an appointment on Navigate to meet with an Academic and Transfer Advising Services (ATAS) advisor. We also have walk-ins every Thursday at 10am - 12:30 pm and 1pm - 4pm. If you have already graduated from Stony Brook University, please email prehealth@stonybrook.edu. 

Last updated March 1, 2023