Letter Packet

What is a Letter Packet?

A Letter Packet is a cover letter from the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office that accompanies a Pre-Health student's application to AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS, VMCAS, CASPA, PharmCAS, PTCAS, OTCAS, or OptomCAS.

Attached to the cover letter is a packet of the three most comprehensive letters of recommendation submitted on behalf of the student from an existing Pre-Health File or from the Pre-Health Advising Office online file.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all letters of recommendation have been received by this office at least one month in advance of the upload deadline given by the application service(s) of choice.

How is Letter Packet different from Committee Letter?

The cover letter is not a committee letter and does not summarize the candidate's qualifications, nor does the cover letter provide a level of endorsement of the candidate.

Why should I apply for a Letter Packet?

A Pre-Health student who does not qualify for a Committee Letter or is applying to a health professions graduate school for which a Committee Letter is not provided, may be eligible to receive a Letter Packet if they are completing a degree at Hunter College.

The health professions for which Committee Letters are not provided are:

• Podiatric medical schools
• Pharmacy schools
• Physical Therapy programs
• Occupational Therapy programs
• Physician Assistant programs

How do I qualify for a Letter Packet?

Letter Packet Requirements:

• Attend a Letter Packet Workshop. Students applying for Special Master's, Post-Bacc, or EAP programs are not required to attend any workshops.
• Submit the Letter Packet Application to the Pre-Health Advising Office.
  
  • Letter packet seminars are offered only in November and February.
• Have a science and overall 3.0 GPA (as of 2022-2023 application cycle)
  
  • If you’re applying to post bacc or special masters program, there is no GPA requirements to receive a letter packet.
• Have an MCAT score of 502 or above, a DAT score of 19 or above, or an OAT score of 310 or above
• Have all requisite letters of recommendation uploaded by the Letter Packet Application deadline in the year in which you are applying.

Letter Requirements:

• 2 letters from science professors (physics, chemistry or biology)
• 1 letter from practicing clinician in the area of healthcare to which you are applying (preferred) OR 1 letter from clinical supervisor
• 1 letter from research supervisor
• 1 letter from community service supervisor.

All letters of recommendation must include a letterhead and the signature of the letter writer.

Provide a Letter of Good Standing from each academic institution attended since high school by the deadline for the Letter Packet Application.

You are responsible for making certain that all letters of recommendation have been received by the Pre-Health Office. Please check with our office to ensure that the letters have been received, are on letterhead, and are signed.

Be aware that letter packet applications do not roll over from cycle to cycle. Accordingly, if you do not submit your application to health professions graduate schools during the cycle for which you applied during the cycle in which you applied for a letter packet, you will need to submit a new letter packet application the following cycle.

All applicants receiving Letter Packets have been certified as students in good standing at Hunter College and at any other academic institution attended since high school graduation. In addition, each student receiving a Letter Packet must agree to waive their right, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Acts of 1974, to view the Letter Packet, including the cover letter and the contents of their letters of recommendation on file at Hunter College.