eLOR - Electronic Letters of Recommendation
All VMCAS evaluations are to be completed electronically in the Evaluations section of the VMCAS application.
By using eLOR:
Applicants can track the progress of their evaluations over the Internet -- no more worries about losing letters in the mail or wondering if their evaluators have responded.
Evaluators will find eLOR remarkably simple to use -- filling out the evaluation form is quick, straightforward, and secure. Letters of recommendation are easily incorporated into the online form.
Evaluation requirements vary by institution; please access the College Specifications page prior to sending the VMCAS evaluation form to your evaluators for specific requirements.
Here is a quick FAQ about eLOR:
What is eLOR?
eLOR stands for electronic Letters of Recommendation. It is a feature that was added to the VMCAS web application in 2003. It gives applicants and evaluators the opportunity to complete the evaluation process over the Internet. The eLOR form is an exact replica of the official VMCAS paper evaluation form. Best of all it is simple, fast, and optional.
What are the benefits of using eLOR?
eLOR benefits both applicants and their evaluators.
For Applicants : This system cuts down on the paper trail; you no longer have to mail evaluation forms to your evaluators or chase them down to find out if they have completed your evaluation. It allows you to monitor more closely the status of your evaluations by periodically logging into the system.
For Evaluators : You too no longer have to burden yourself with mailing evaluations out or the worry of having materials lost in transit. Now you only need a few minutes and a computer to complete the process! This secure service uses the same technology that our web application uses.
How does eLOR work?
All applicants must register their evaluator's information into the eLOR section of the web application.
Enter your evaluator's information into the spaces provided. The evaluator will then receive an email requesting them to log into the secure eLOR service and complete your evaluation at their leisure. Evaluators have the option of denying your request.
Evaluators
log in to the eLOR system using the information provided in the
email request, fill out the required sections, and submit at a
time of their choosing up to the deadline. All evaluations must be completed
by the application deadline. A comprehensive help section
is provided and questions can be answered by a VMCAS professional
by contacting us at vmcas@aavmc.org
or by calling the Student and Advisor Hotline at 1 877 862
2740 (toll free).
How do I know that the evaluation has been completed?
Log into your application (even after you have submitted) and click on eLOR. The summary screen displays the evaluator's information, including the status.
If the status is coded "Completed on mm/dd/yyyy," then the evaluation has been successfully submitted and will be sent to the vet schools in one of the next scheduled shipments.
A status code of "Incomplete" means that the evaluator has completed any or all of the form but chose to save the evaluation as a draft instead of submitting it. Please note: If a particular evaluator's status still says incomplete as the deadline nears, then please check with your evaluator. They may have thought they submitted the evaluation.
A status code of "Not Received " means that the evaluation has not been started.
Can I submit my application before the status has changed to "Completed" ?
Yes. As long as you have registered your minimum three evaluators in the eLOR section, you will be allowed to submit your application before the evaluations have been submitted.
How do I send out electronic committee letters?
At this time the eLOR system does not support committee or composite letters. You must still send those in as paper forms with the necessary attachments. When listing the committee/composite letter in the eLOR system, please refer to the committee chair or whomever signs the official VMCAS form. For rules on what is or is not a committee/composite letter, see the section on paper evaluations below.
Where does the evaluator place my personal letter of recommendation on the electronic form?
At the end of the electronic evaluation form, there are two free text fields provided for evaluators to cut and paste their personal letters of recommendation.
My evaluator did not receive the email request. What happened?
Assuming the email address was entered correctly, the most likely reason is that the email address that you entered for the evaluator has spam filtering which is blocking our messages. Have the evaluator disable the filter or use a different email address. If you have exhausted all options you will have to switch to paper.
If the evaluator continues to have difficulty, please call the Student and Advisor Hotline (toll free) 1 877 862 2740 or send an email to vmcas@aavmc.org
My evaluator can't login with the username and password? What should they do now?
Have the evaluator copy and paste the username and password directly from the email into the login screen.
Ensure that they are using Internet Explorer as their browser.
If the evaluator continues to have difficulty, please call the Student and Advisor Hotline (toll free) 1 877 862 2740 or send an email to vmcas@aavmc.org