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?
Pre-Med and Pre-Dental. Highly recommended for Doctor of Optometry candidates if you are applying to SUNY, 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.
A Timeline for Letters
1) As soon as you know you would like to apply to medical or dental school:
Contact the pre-health advising committee. 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.
2) 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.
3) 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, the Committee might inform you that it would be more appropriate for you to seek individual recommendations to apply to a medical or dental school.
Additional guidelines can be found here.
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