INFORMATION FOR RECOMMENDATION WRITERS

updated: 6 March 2008

Thank you for taking the time to read this information and to write letters of recommendation for our Stony Brook students. The candid, quality feedback that you provide goes a long way toward helping schools of the health professions see more than just a transcript and set of test scores when they evaluate applicants.

For the most part, Stony Brook students begin asking for letters well in advance of when they apply to graduate schools of the health professions, sometimes in sophomore or even freshman year of college.

When students reach junior or senior year, or if they are postbaccalaureate students, it could be the case that the student is asking for a letter of recommendation with an application deadline in mind.  In general, students begin applying to medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, or podiatry schools about a year before they wish to enter.

Undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students of Stony Brook who apply to doctorate level health professions (dentistry, medicine, optometry, podiatry, veterinary medicine) usually will have an interview for a Committee Letter of Evaluation from the Faculty Committee on Health Professions of the University Senate. 

Role of the Faculty Committee on Health Professions (FCHP):
The role of the FCHP is to evaluate Stony Brook undergraduates, alumni, and post-baccalaureate students who are applying to a health professional school (dentistry, medicine, optometry, podiatry, veterinary medicine).  The outcome of the committee evaluation is a comprehensive letter that is sent to all of the schools to which the student has applied.

FCHP letter of evaluation
This letter is written on a student’s request and only after the student completes a pre-applicant process.  The pre-applicant process includes submission of letters of recommendation, autobiographical packet, personal statement, transcripts, as well as an interview with the senior pre-health advisor.

The final committee evaluation includes a letter of evaluation written by the FCHP followed by a selection of letters of evaluation that are on file for the student. Therefore letters written for a pre-health student will not only be viewed by the FCHP but may also be sent along to the health professional schools which the student has applied.  Please be sure that your letters are written professionally and, if possible, printed on official letterhead.

Timeline:
The Faculty Committee on Health Professions begins interviewing students in the early part of the spring semester and continues their interview season through the end of October.  Students need to have a minimum of three letters on file before they can schedule an interview.  To meet student’s needs during the application process, we ask that you submit your letters in a timely fashion. 

Once again, we thank you for your time and insight. Please do not hesitate to contact us by phone (631-632-7093) or email if you have any questions or concerns.