PRE-HEALTH EVALUATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
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Hunter’s premed committee meets in the Fall and Spring semesters. All students with a science GPA of 3.2 and above, (see the Hunter GPA calculation page to help you determine this), are eligible for formal committee letters. Students with science GPA’s below 3.2 should see the advisor to discuss other options available.

Applying to health professions schools is a long and time-consuming process and requires diligence on your part to make sure the application speaks well of your academic, personal and professional accomplishments. A critical part of this process is the Committee letter written on your behalf by a member of Hunter’s faculty. This letter contains the impressions of your recitation and laboratory instructors, of your volunteer program, and of your professors both within the sciences and outside of the sciences. It can also contain letters of recommendation from a research mentor, an employer and anyone else who you think can adequately represent you as a person. This does not mean letters from senators, councilmen, deans, or other illustrative persons unless they have known you personally! 

In order to provide faculty with as much information as possible we have devised a prehealth supplemental packet that must be completed before you can be assigned to a member of the Prehealth Committee. The packet should be reviewed carefully. What you say here can be used as part of your letter so please think about what you wish to say about yourself! In addition to the packet you will need to supply us with a resume and all transcripts from every college you have attended here in the US or in Canada.  Students from institutions abroad should supply us with dates of attendance and a list of courses in lieu of a transcript. 

The prehealth supplemental packet also includes a guideline that you may print out for those who wish to write letters on your behalf as well as the list of materials you must complete before you can be assigned to a faculty member for a Committee letter.  Please read the material below carefully!  Due dates are March 1st for a Spring letter and July 1st  for a Fall letter. 

Once you have confirmed that all documentation needed is in your file our office MUST be notified that you are interested in obtaining an appointment for a Committee letter. THIS IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC PROCESS! You should contact the administrative assistant in the office of your intent and make an appointment to have your file reviewed with the prehealth advisor. Once this is done the prehealth advisor will authorize your Committee letter interview but you MUST follow-up with our administrative assistant so that she can begin the assignment process on your behalf. 

Once assigned you will be instructed to contact your Committee member and set up an interview time that is convenient to you both.  Once the interview has been completed you should verify, with our office, that there is nothing more needed from you. 

The Committee meets several times a month during the academic year and your file will be discussed by the entire Committee, any revisions will be made at that time and then your letter will return to the administrative assistant for processing. Anticipate that it will take three to four weeks for the entire process, after the interview, to be complete and your letter ready for submission. 

There is a small fee for sending your letters electronically if you are applying to medical or osteopathic school. Other health professions applications have a slightly different procedure. In either case, please see the administrative assistant for this information.

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Guidelines for Letter Writers
Thank you for agreeing to write a evaluation/letter of recommendation for application to health professions school.

Hunter students are required to submit evaluations from all science courses in which they have received a B- or better. These evaluations, especially the comments you make, are an essential part of the Prehealth Committee’s letter. We request evaluations of every science faculty/TA—we encourage students to submit at least two letters of recommendation from faculty in any department who knows them well.

Evaluations/Letters should address the following areas or questions:

• Letters should be addressed to the Prehealth Committee of Hunter College.

• Indicate in what capacity you have known the applicant.

• Assess the applicant’s academic skills and potential (if applicable) – How well does the student read write and analyze? Was the course he/she took with you a particularly rigorous one? If so, why? Discuss specifically the student’s work in the course(s). For example, mentioning the topic of a student’s paper, or the types of comments he/she contributed to class discussions makes the recommendation substantive and convincing.

• Include information about the applicant’s personal qualities (i.e. integrity, determination, motivation, leadership, maturity, reliability). Does the applicant have special interests, striking personal qualities, or an interesting background? If you are familiar with a student’s extra-curricular or employment activities you can also note these.

• Information regarding the applicant’s social skills (e.g. ability to interact with others in groups, interpersonal skills).

• What information do you have about this applicant that may be relevant and is not likely to be available from other sources?

• How does this applicant compare to other students you have taught (or if you are an employer, individuals with whom you have worked?)

• Please submit the letter on our evaluation form or letterhead and sign it. You may also send a letter via email: L.Woodhil@hunter.cuny.edu.

•  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office at (212) 772-5244. Thank you for taking the time to write on behalf of the applicant.

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