It’s common for students applying to medical and dental schools to obtain a committee letter from their college. During your time at Baruch you will be asked to solicit letters from faculty to add to your letter portfolio. Towards the end of your time at Baruch you will be assigned a faculty mentor who will review these letters and summarize your achievements in a composite letter that will be sent to the application service.
Who Needs a Committee Letter?
If you’re pursuing any of the following degrees: MD; DO; DDS; DMD; DVM; DPM; DN; DC, the Natural Sciences Department Recommendations Committee may write and submit a departmental recommendation for you. Letters are highly recommended for Pre-Med and Pre-Dental students. They are also recommened for Doctor of Optometry candidates if you are applying to SUNY, while they are optional for most other schools. Optional for pre-Vet. Not required (and sometimes not accepted) for Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy or Physician’s Assistant programs. These are general requirements based on current information from the application service websites. Individual schools may have their own preferences. You must confirm letters of recommendation requirements with each program. Please find more information on our important links page.
The committee is chaired by Prof. Ramig, and has as members Profs. Bengston, Calamari, Dobi, Gaffney, Greer, Khuri, Peixoto, Spokony, and Wauchope. To qualify for a recommendation, you must first meet the four requirements outlined below.
Requirements for obtaining a departmental recommendation:
- Required Courses
- You must have taken upper-level science courses (not including Bio I) from at least six different Baruch Natural Sciences professors or adjunct professors, by the time you are ready to apply. Those six Baruch science professors must also consent to write you a recommendation.
- At the discretion of the Committee, you may include upper-level Psychology courses you may have
taken.
- Research/Volunteer Experience
- Significant volunteering experience (e.g. working at a hospital in contact with patients in some way) is mandatory. Volunteering experience is something schools want to see on your record, to show that you know what you’re getting into.
- Research experience of some sort is highly desirable, but not required. One semester of Independent Study or Honors research may be included as an elective in your major.
- You need a minimum overall GPA of 3.3; your science GPA must be higher.
- Most of your science coursework once you become a Baruch student must have been done at Baruch. Taking science courses at a community college as a Baruch student will reflect badly on your academic record, and may be grounds for denying you a departmental recommendation.
Guidelines
- Additional courses you might take: Microbiology, Genetics, Physiology, Biochemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Developmental Biology. All students normally take Bio I and II, Physics I and II, Gen Chem I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II.
- You should be earning mostly “A” grades in science courses. A “C” grade in any science course will make it extremely difficult to gain entrance to degree programs listed above, and may be grounds for refusing you a recommendation.
Additonal information
- Personal Statement
- This is a well-written document stating why you want to be a doctor/vet/dentist. It should make you stand out so that the admissions committee members want to meet you in an interview. If you overcame some personal obstacle in life, that is a good basis for a personal statement.
- The committee will edit your statement and make suggestions if you wish.
- Timing
- Contact the pre-health advising committee as soon as you know you would like to apply to medical or dental school. You will be directed to attend a workshop to learn more about the process, should complete a waiver of confidentiality form, and then we will open a file for you to have your faculty submit letters of recommendation on your behalf.
- Throughout your time at Baruch
- Ask faculty who know you well, and in whose courses you have done well, to submit a letter to the committee file on your behalf. Ask these faculty as soon as your semester is over, so that your achievements are fresh in their memory. Be sure to include faculty who have mentored you in Independent Study or other research. You will need at least 6 letters from faculty at Baruch (excluding BIO I: 2010), so it’s a good idea to ask 8 in case someone does not submit the letter.
- Be a memorable student! Participate in projects, speak up in class, attend office hours
- Make a plan to take your program’s entrance exam (eg., MCAT, DAT
- Volunteer in your chosen field. Volunteer experience is a requirement for the committee letter.
- Keep your grades up! You need a minimum overall GPA of 3.3; your science GPA must be higher for a committee letter.
- January before you plan to submit applications
- Reach out to the committee with your transcript, updated resume/CV and list of courses/instructors at Baruch.
- The committee will review your information (including your packet of letters, transcript and volunteer experience) and determine whether you are eligible for a committee letter
- If you are eligible, you will be assigned a faculty mentor, who will set up a meeting with you before drafting the committee letter. This faculty mentor can also be a resource to read your personal statement and provide mock interviews.
- Preparation and submission of a departmental recommendation is at the discretion of the Committee. Even if you meet the requirements and guidelines listed above, the Committee might inform you that it would be more appropriate for you to seek individual recommendations.
Final Note
Please know that each one of your professors will be asked to submit a recommendation for you. The Committee’s function is to compile these and turn them into as strong a departmental recommendation as is
warranted by your performance. You should make an effort to speak up in class, introduce yourself to your professors, and go often to their office hours, so that you make a lasting positive impression. A useless
recommendation is the kind where it’s obvious the professor doesn’t remember you. Don’t let yourself be an unmemorable student, or you’ll have a tough time getting into any post-bacc school.