Frequently asked questions about making application to graduate medical and basic science programs.
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Guidelines for requesting a PreProfessional Committee Letter
Packet to accompany MEDICAL SCHOOL secondary applications:
What is a PreProfessional Committee Letter Packet? The letter packet contains scanned images of individual letters that have been submitted on your behalf from faculty and non-faculty referees. We generally recommend that each medical school applicant ask five individuals to submit letters -- three professors who know you well from upper division coursework (two science professors and one non-science professor) and two non-faculty referees who know you through work or volunteer (clinical) experience. The PreProfessional Committee reviews the letters of recommendation and writes a summary statement that describes your special attributes as an applicant and indicates whether or not MCAT scores reflect academic ability.
Do I need to request a Committee Letter Packet? If any of your medical programs DO NOT accept letters of recommendation through AMCAS or AACOM but they do participate in VirtualEvals, then you may request a Committee Letter Packet.
How are composite letters sent to the medical program? Your letter packet will be submitted online through VirtualEvals. After all letters have been received and the composite letter file has circulated through the PreProfessional Committee for final evaluation, ONE letter packet will be submitted to VirtualEvals on your behalf for the current application cycle. Medical School programs have secure online access to VirtualEvals. They can open your file and view your letter packet. One submission through VirtualEvals makes the letter packet available to all designated medical schools.
Which medical schools participate in VirtualEvals? VirtualEvals provides a listing of participating allopathic medical schools and participating osteopathic medical schools. If you make application to a medical school that does not participate in VirtualEvals, does not accept letters directly through AMCAS or AACOM, and requires mailing of a paper letter by snail mail, be sure to clearly indicate this in your correspondence with the Biology Office.
How long does it take the PreProfessional Committe to evaluate a letter packet and draft a summary? After letters have been received and you have indicated which schools request a composite letter from the PreProfessional Committee, it usually takes 7-10 days for the Committee to process your packet and complete a summary evaluation. It is up to the applicant to track deadlines for individual schools and work to make sure that letters are submitted AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE any deadline (and on or before Jan 1 for the current application cycle).
How do I indicate submission of a letter packet through the AMCAS system? You need to generate ONE AMCAS letter ID number for the letter packet. Include this number in your profile sheet. When your packet is submitted to VirtualEvals, the Letter ID will be included. This Letter ID will make your VirtualEval packet available to your schools. Nothing else is required.
Forms for the 2010 application cycle are being updated:
1. To the Applicant - summarizes our recommendations to you.
2. Process Checklist - use this form to track completion of the required steps for declaring your need for a Committee letter, requesting letters of recommendation, and following up with referees to make sure that letters have been submitted.
3. Applicant Profile - includes important contact information. Submission of this form and supporting documents declares your need for a Committee Letter Packet. Deadline for submission is Oct 1 for the upcoming application cycle.
4. To the Faculty Referee - Download and print one copy of this form for each faculty refereee. Be sure to fill in info at the top of pg. 2.
5. To the Non-Faculty Referee - Download and print one copy of this form for each non-faculty referee. Be sure to fill in info at the top of pg. 2.)
If you have questions, be sure to contact Dr. Dores (rdores@du.edu) or Dr. Sadler (ssadler@du.edu).
September 15, 2009