HPAC Committee Letter
A Committee Letter is a letter of recommendation on behalf of the Health Professions Advising Center and offers evaluation and advocacy on your behalf by highlighting your background and accomplishments, contextualizing challenges, and outlining your overall preparation and motivation for pursuing a career in medicine and/or dentistry. These are usually requested for pre-health applications such as medical and dental schools.
A Committee Letter is written by committee members, which consist of university faculty, advisors, other university professionals, and external recommenders such as research and clinical supervisors, employers, and mentors. It is important to pick writers who can speak highly of your achievements, aspirations, and background.
The process for obtaining a committee letter may seem difficult, but there are actions you can take to help make obtaining the letter easier both on the requestor and requestee end. For example, getting to know your professors, advisors, and supervisors which you are requesting (and allowing them to get to know you personally) can help make letter-writing easy for them, saving both parties time and confusion.
Below is the current process for requesting a committee letter from HPAC. There will be steps listed to help make the processes as clear as possible. As always, if there are any questions, confusion, or clarification needed, feel free to come to our drop-ins or shoot us an email/phone call!
Instructions
Congrats on your decision to apply to a graduate-level health school! Below is a list of instructions to ensure a smooth Committee Letter process. We have provided two guides below. The first document (Committee Letter Guide) is for students seeking a Committee Letter. The Evaluation Letter Guide is to help letter writers draft a comprehensive letter of recommendation for aspiring medical and dental students. You can follow our Committee Letter and Evaluation Letter templates or the steps below:
Committee Letter Guide PDF
Evaluation Letter Guide PDF
- Step One
- Students must email hpac@csusb.edu with the following:
- Subject line: Request for Committee Letter – YOUR NAME
- The email body must include the following:
- Preferred Email:
- Phone number:
- Recommender Information: Provide information on letter writers. For it is recommended to have a minimum of 3+ recommenders.
-
For example, it should look similar to this:
Recommender 1: Name, title, e-mail, phone number, department
Recommender 2: Name, title, e-mail, phone number, department
Recommender 3: Name, title, e-mail, phone number, department
Recommender 4-6: Name, title, e-mail, phone number, department-
ATTACHMENTS: HPAC will need the following:
-
Personal statements including activities or send resume/CV
-
AMCAS Letter Request Form (details below)
-
-
- Students must email hpac@csusb.edu with the following:
-
Schedule an Appointment
- Sign up for an appointment with the HPAC Coordinator using this link:
We have for you below the list of questions the HPAC Coordinator will ask during your meeting to discuss your medical school aspirations.
Your Committee Letter is a crucial step in the application process, and you should know what is expected of you. Your interview will typically last approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
Also, write a summary highlighting your reason for wanting to pursue a health profession and any challenges you have faced.
In the appointment, it is expected to come prepared to talk about the following:
-
How did your interest in the profession develop, your strengths, interests, experiences related to the profession, and additional experiences
-
Your academic record such as major, significant courses, any special factors affecting your record
-
Extracurricular activities, research, honors and awards
-
Knowledge about health care and ethical issues in health care today
For each experience, be sure to list your contributions, whether that be your role, level of involvement, or what that experience has taught you.
Please be sure to provide your written summary to the HPAC Coordinator, and write out your responses in preparation for discussion. Remember that this will provide the basis for your Committee Letter and serve as a rehearsal for a professional school interview.
If something happens the day of your appointment and you will be delayed or must reschedule, please get in touch with the HPAC Coordinator. It is best to have the interview when you are at your best.
As a reminder, a Committee Letter will result from this meeting and will be the cover letter to all the individual letters of recommendation when sent to the professional schools of your choosing. Your Committee Letter contains information on both your academic and personal qualifications.
Go into your interview confident! It may be nerve-racking, but practicing and preparation can help calm your nerves.
- Interview Skills provided by CSUSB’s Career Center.
- AAMC Interview Tips
Below is an email template that you can build off of in order to request a letter of recommendation:
Subject: Your First & Last Name Recommendation Request
Dear (name of person),
I am writing to you to request that you provide a reference for me as I begin (insert reason for letter of recommendation). As you know, I will be (insert what you will be doing) and have found several exciting opportunities that I am exploring. Because I aspire to become a physician, I am specifically requesting a letter to be sent to Dr. Crystal Otubuah, the Health Professions Advising Center Coordinator, as she will be drafting a Committee Letter on my behalf. Dr. Otubuah is receiving letters directly via e-mail at crystal.otubuah@csusb.edu.
As my undergraduate (insert relationship; i.e. advisor, professor, mentor, etc.), I believe that a reference from you would provide (who is receiving the recommendation) with information to recommend me as a (insert the program, role, or job title you will be using the recommendation letter for) The deadline for submitting the letter is (date), and if you are unable to provide a letter, please let me know. If you need any additional information, please contact me via email or phone.
Thank you very much for your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
(name)
(phone number)
(e-mail)