Along with your application, you will be required to submit a composite letter in addition to the individual letters of evaluation.

Find valuable strategies for selecting evaluators (PDF 52 KB)

What is a composite letter? 
Admission committees to the professional schools usually prefer to receive a committee letter of evaluation from a pre-medical committee at the institution the applicant attends. The committee writes on behalf of the applicant, recommending them based on the ranking system of the applicant’s institution.

This composite letter consists mainly of six parts:

• Your waiver of rights to inspect the composite letter and letters of evaluations; waiver of rights allowing the Premedical Council to gain access to your disciplinary records held by the Dean of Student Affairs, granting the Council rights to share those records with the professional schools to which you apply.
• You should select a faculty member from the Premedical Council who knows you best and who will write a strong composite letter on your behalf.  If you do not wish to approach someone on the Council to write your composite letter, the Council will then elect a member to write it on your behalf.
• A description of you that includes some personal history, focusing on your strong and weak characteristics, both academic as well as non-academic. They will also highlight comments from the various letters of evaluation you have received.
• Verbatim reproduction of 5 or more letters of evaluation (3 from science/math faculty).
• Conclusion and summary.
• Attached letters from non-academic sources where applicable.

Students: Find out what you need to supply your faculty evaluator in these composite letter writing guidelines (PDF 12 KB).

Faculty: view composite letter writing guidelines (PDF 14 KB).

Letters of Evaluation
When you register as a pre-health profession student with the Office of Pre-Professional Advising and Fellowships (OPPAF) you will receive evaluation forms which you then give to faculty members of your choice. You must have at least five evaluations, three of which should be from science or math professors. It is recommended that you approach full-time faculty members to write your letter of evaluation. At the same time, give them a one-page resume or a copy of your personal statement (even if it’s a rough draft) and a small photograph which is particularly important if you were in a large class or took the class a while ago. Lay the groundwork for this evaluation by being active in class and by taking advantage of your professor’s office hours.

You may also include letters from other professionals who can attest to academic ability, character, and potential to succeed in professional school. In the fall of their junior year, students should make an appointment with a member of Premedical Council to discuss the application procedure and initiate the conglomerate letter of evaluation required by most professional schools. Early consultations with both the departmental and premedical advisers are recommended to ensure that all requirements are met and to monitor students’ progress.