Applying to Medical School

Letters of Evaluation (Recommendation)

Secondary applications usually request that letters of evaluation be sent directly to the medical school. Each medical school has specific requirements on how they want the letters sent, but most prefer a composite or "Committee" letter to individual letters (see below). Take a copy of the evaluation letter request to the pre-medical advising office and let the advisor know where the letters are to be sent and the time frame for submitting letters. Some schools have their own forms and it may be necessary to contact the original letter writers for additional recommendation letters.

The Committee Letter

Most medical schools still insist that applicants submit a "Committee" letter from their undergraduate institution. While the format of this letter varies widely from institution to institution, at The University of Montana, the "Committee" letter is a composite letter which includes a summary of the applicant's personal qualities and attributes, specific statements from individual evaluators selected by the applicant regarding their strengths and weaknesses, and comments from the pre-medical advisor. Needless to say, it is important for the pre-medical advisor to get to know you before preparing your “Committee" letter.

To secure a "Committee" letter from the pre-medical advising office, students must first complete a waiver form in which they are required to either retain or waive their right of access to their personal files. If a student waves their right of access, they are not permitted to read the "Committee" letter or evaluations written by individuals they select. While medical school admission committees prefer confidential letters, they can not be legally required. In cases where students retain their right of access, the "Committee" letter will so indicate.

After completing a waiver form, students are given evaluation forms, which they then give to selected individuals. The pre-medical committee recommends that students solicit a total of 6 evaluations. Three of these should be academic evaluations from professors that have had you in class, while the other three should be character references. Ideally, two of the academic evaluations should be from science faculty and one from a non-science faculty member. These evaluations are returned to the pre-medical advisor and become part of your advising file.

In addition to the evaluations you solicit, the following information must be in your file before a "Committee" letter can be drafted: a current transcript, a copy of your AMCAS application, your MCAT scores and a copy of your WWAMI/WICHE certification letter, if appropriate.