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Historically, applying to health-professional schools was a paperwork nightmare.

As a student employee in the Georgetown University Career Center, Steve Goldenberg felt there had to be an easier way to manage the paperwork of applications, so he created Interfolio in 1999.

Interfolio users can create an electronic portfolio to manage important documents online, including confidential and non-confidential letters of recommendation, resumes or CVs, writing samples, dissertation abstracts, teaching certifications, student evaluations and more.

Currently, Interfolio is used by students and alumni at over 500 schools each year—primarily pre-health students applying to dental school, pharmacy school, medical school or other health-related programs. PhDs also use the service to send academic credentials to search committees.

Interfolio allows documents to be received and distributed electronically or on paper. For example, a letter writer can submit a hard copy or email version of a recommendation, which can then be sent electronically or on paper to jobs, academic programs, or other opportunities. Users can retain their documents, even after they have completed their application process, so they can use them again. And for students who have attended more than one institution of higher education, an account with Interfolio eliminates the need to have a separate credentials file at several different institutions.

Users can add new documents, check on the status of pending documents, and make requests for document delivery through the web or a toll-free number.

Interfolio maintains the confidentiality of all closed letters of recommendation their file holders store with them, and follows strict guidelines for receiving and mailing all closed letters of recommendation to ensure that confidential documents stay that way. Account holders are notified when letters of recommendation are received on their behalf, and users have the ability to include these letters in a mailing to a potential graduate school or employer. They do not, however, have the ability to view the document at any point in time.

There are a few types of Interfolio accounts that can be established. A one-year plan costs $15 and includes 5 MB of online storage (or about 100 documents) for one year. The five-year plan runs $45 and includes 5 MB of online storage (~100 documents) for five years, as well as three free first class mailings. A 10-year plan is $75 and includes 5 MB of online storage (~100 documents) for 10 years, as well as three free first class mailings. Additional fees apply for the electronic or paper delivery of stored documents.

According to Frank Fessenden, Interfolio’s Vice President of Business Development, “we save our customers the hassle of tracking, copying and mailing LORS, and they can access their account any time. It’s easier for recommendation writers too. 95 percent of our users say that Interfolio is worth the cost. And 98 percent said they were happy with our product and our customer service.”

Interfolio is available at http://www.interfolio.com

Disclosure: Interfolio uses Google AdWords for advertising. As such, their advertisements may intermittently appear on SDN; however we receive no direct advertising support from Interfolio. Interfolio did not provide any promotional consideration for this article.