Interfolio

[Smokydog]

So, any opinions about Interfolio? I have heard it can be quite helpful. But there are also some rumours that some Graduate Departments do not like it. Any thoughts on this? Can the use of Interfolio make your application less appealing to a Graduate committee?

[danieleWrites]

The departments I applied to had very specific methods about how to submit materials ranging from snail mail only to their own online forms with document upload features. Interfolio would not have been helpful for me. Frankly, just applying to grad school is expensive enough already. An added expense for this kind of service would not have been welcomed news. Budgetary constraints dictated how many schools I could apply to, so interfolio would have reduced the number. I suppose I could have had an interfolio thing set up and gave them access in addition to everything they asked for, but why the redundancy?

 

Just to add: people should not submit their applications and associated documents in any way other than the school's requested format. The school and the department both have a system in place for selecting people, and things that alter that system tend to be frustrating rather than helpful. Everyone else's paperwork is located in specific places where they don't have to be tracked, just processed. The Didn't Follow Directions Applicant's paperwork is someplace else where it has to be tracked (meaning someone has to be responsible for remembering where it is and then shifting the application to where it's supposed to be, which might be frustratingly difficult if it's all submitted electronically to an incompatible platform). Since they're not the DMV (who has to deal with someone whether they want to or not), they can just send a rejection without actually processing applicant materials. Bucking the paperwork system can be a good thing in the right context, but not when trying to get accepted into a program or hired from a large pool of candidates. There are better ways to stand out.

 

I do think that some graduate schools will adopt things like interfolio as their application system, particularly smaller ones that don't have the resources to develop and maintain their own online application system and want to use one. It appears that some schools already have.

[asleepawake]

Interfolio is a great way to reduce the workload for the people who've been kind enough to spend their time supporting your application process.

 

DanieleWrites doesn't seem to understand how Interfolio works. Interfolio is aware of the different application procedures that different schools have, and it is pretty easy to use Interfolio to send the letter digitally or via snail mail. They will generate an e-mail address for you to enter and they will send your letters online. However, there are some websites that are tricky, and because they require the answers to some questions without a N/A option, the website will deny the Interfolio submissions. Some of these schools will allow you to send paper copies of your letters instead. Others will require that you get your letter writers to submit directly. I applied to more than 15 schools, and I'd say over 2/3 of them accepted Interfolio in some way. I only had to ask my letter writers to submit about 4 or 5 times, rather than 15+. I think it's pretty important to reduce their stress level/workload if you can do so.

[rising_star]

I wouldn't use Interfolio unless you have to. It gets expensive to have materials sent and, perhaps more importantly, you don't give your recommenders a chance to customize/tailor their letters for specific schools. That can hurt you, especially if other applicants do have those customized letters.