Individual Letter Packet Information

The primary benefits of submitting your letters through our office include that we: 

• Review your letters prior to submission to ensure they meet the formatting requirements required by medical and dental schools.
  • Specifically, letters must include:
    • Official letterhead (to authenticate the organization or institution from which they are submitted),
    • The recommender’s signature (e.g., Adobe signature, DocuSign, a scanned handwritten signature, etc.)
    • A date in order to be accepted by application services
  • By utilizing our Individual Letter Packet option, you have the added assurance that your letters will be reviewed for these required elements before submission, helping to prevent unnecessary delays in your application process.
• Our service fee is offered at a lower cost than many external letter-processing services. 
  • Please note: . You do not need to pay Interfolio to send your letters on your behalf; a free Interfolio account is sufficient for storing your letters

Most professional programs require three letters of recommendation from faculty members that have taught you in a 3+ credit course. Most programs also limit students to a maximum of 6 letters of recommendation of which the remaining letters can come from physicians, research mentors, volunteering coordinators, etc. However, these requirements differ between programs* and some might additionally require a letter of recommendation from a professional in the field you are applying to (i.e. a physician, a dentist, etc.).

Applicants are recommended to have the following: 

• Pre-Medical: 
  • Two letters from science faculty who taught you in a 3 or more credit course 
  • One letter from any faculty that taught you in any 3 or more credit course (science or nonscience)
  • [Optional] A letter from a research mentor 
  • [Optional] A letter from a professional in your chosen field. Some programs require this letter.
• Pre-Dental:
  • Two letters from science faculty who taught you in a 3 or more credit course 
  • We encourage you to get a letter from a dentist you have shadowed to show your commitment. If you can’t, consider another faculty or supervisor.
  • [Optional] A letter from a research mentor.

Any NEW or UPDATED letters of recommendation for your letter packet should be submitted through Interfolio:

Step 1: Create Your Free Interfolio Account

• To create an account, simply go to Interfolio and click “Log In” and then select “Create an Account.”
• In the “I am” section, selectUndergraduate/Pre-med (even if you are on another pre-health track).
• Once your account is created, contact Interfolio to affiliate your account with FIU’s administrative account so our office can access your letters by calling their customer service: 877-997-8807

Step 2: Request Letters Through Interfolio

• Send individual letter requests through Interfolio to each recommender.
• Be sure to check the box: “This request is for a confidential letter or evaluation.”

Important: In your message to recommenders, clearly state that letters must include: Official Letterhead, Signature, and a Date*. Medical and dental schools will not accept letters without these elements.

*For your reference, please review our Recommender Entry Guideline for Letter Packets  which has the instructions for AMCAS, AACOMAS, and AADSAS Letter of Evaluation section of your primary application. 

Students should be working on the required documents as early as possible. By working on your file early, you can build on experiences and finish all requirements in the year you apply to professional programs. 

Students must also submit the following documents:

• Signed Guidelines Acknowledgement
• Completed Pre-Health Waiver
• Proof of payment for the Administrative Fee or enrollment in a Fee Assistance Program

To request an updated letter packet, please email us at preprofc@fiu.edu for further instructions.