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Upload a Confidential Letter to an Online Application System
Users with a Dossier Deliver subscription can request to upload confidential letters of recommendation to an online application system. These types of deliveries are called Confidential Letter Uploads. Only letters of recommendation that have already been received in a Dossier account can be used in a Confidential Letter Upload. Some online application systems will ask for the letter writer's contact information so that an email with a link can be sent to the writer to upload the letter to the application. Other online application systems provide a URL link to share with the letter writer that connects to a website where they can upload the letter. This article will show how to upload confidential letters to both types of online application systems. Interfolio has a 1-4 day turnaround time from the point the request is received to upload the letter.
If an institution asks for contact information from the letter writer during the confidential letter upload process, an address for example, the Interfolio representative will enter Interfolio's contact information.
Check out these articles on how to Request Letters of Recommendation or how to Use Dossier Deliver to Apply to Medical or Dental Schools for more information.
Upload Confidential Letter
1. Navigate to Confidential Letter Upload under Deliveries
Navigation: Deliveries > New Delivery > Email
- Click Deliveries on the navigation menu.
- Click New Delivery at the top of the Deliveries page.
If the account is not upgraded to Dossier Deliver, a prompt will appear to upgrade account before proceeding with delivery. Only paid Dossier Deliver accounts can be used to deliver materials. Check out this article on how to Upgrade to Dossier Deliver for more information.
- Select the Confidential Letter Upload delivery method.
2. Select letters
Select the method that the online application uses to request and receive letters of recommendation. Select the tabs below to view more information on what to do based on what the application is requiring.
Requires recommender's email address
I. Copy proxy's email address
i. Select You enter your recommenders' email address on the Confidential Letter Upload page.
ii. Click Next.
iii. Select the checkboxes adjacent to the letter titles desired to be sent.
Note that only letters of recommendation that have already been received can be used in a delivery.
iv. Click Continue when finished.
v. Click Copy adjacent to the letter to be uploaded to copy the Email Address.
II. Paste email address in the online application window
i. Log into the online application system in another tab or window.
ii. Paste the email address copied from Dossier in the field where to recommender's email address is asked to be entered.
iii. Repeat these steps until all email addresses are copied over to the application system.
iv. Submit request to online application system when finished.
v. Return to Dossier and click Continue.
Once Interfolio receives the request from the Online Application System, a delivery will be created on the Deliveries page. Interfolio will process this confidential letter upload in approximately 1-4 days from receiving the request. Depending on the system, it may take Interfolio a day or more to receive the request.
Some systems require the uploader to answer additional questions in order to upload a letter. Those questions will be left blank and N/A will be selected whenever possible. However, if the questions are required, the request will be cancelled and the requester will be notified.
Provide link for letter writer
1. Select the You Provide a Link To Your Recommenders option on the Confidential Letter Upload page.
2. Enter the Institution/organization name.
3. Enter the URL that was provided.
4. Click Next when finished.
5. Select the checkboxes adjacent to the letter titles desired to be sent.
Note that only letters of recommendation that have already been received can be used in a delivery.
6. Click Continue when finished.
7. Review information and click Submit Delivery when finished.
There will be a pop-up message that appears in the lower right side of the account confirming the letter upload request has been successfully submitted.
Some online application systems ask for the letter writer's email address so an email containing a link can be sent to the writer to upload the letter to the application. Other online application systems provide a URL link to share with the letter writer that connects to a website where they can upload the letter.
The status of confidential letter uploads are listed on the Deliveries page under the Status column. However, occasionally, online application requests from third party application systems do not reach Interfolio resulting in a confidential letter upload delivery not being listed on the Deliveries page. This can happen for a few reasons:
- The application has not processed the letter writer data yet, and therefore has not sent Interfolio a request yet.
- The document email address was entered incorrectly.
- A special character (like an accent) is preventing us from processing the email request correctly.
- An error occurred within the third-party application.
It is recommended to contact the Interfolio Scholar Advocate team at help@interfolio.com. If the request from the online application has not been received, re-request the letter on the application system.
Please monitor pending deliveries closely and contact Scholar Services if an expected delivery is not listed.