PREHEALTH EVALUATIONS AND/OR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Guidelines for Letter Writers
Thank
you for agreeing to write a evaluation/letter of recommendation for application
to health professions school.
Hunter
students are required to submit evaluations from all science courses in which
they have received a B- or better. These evaluations, especially the comments
you make, are an essential part of the Prehealth Committee’s letter. We
request evaluations of every science faculty/TA—we encourage students to
submit at least two letters of recommendation from faculty in any department
who knows them well.
Evaluations/Letters should address the following areas or
questions:
·
Indicate in what capacity you have known
the applicant.
·
Assess the applicant’s academic
skills and potential (if applicable) – How well does the student read
write and analyze? Was the course he/she took with you a particularly rigorous
one? If so, why? Discuss specifically the student’s work in the course
(s). For example, mentioning the topic of a student’s paper, or the types
of comments he/she contributed to class discussions makes the recommendation
substantive and convincing.
·
Include information about the
applicant’s personal qualities (i.e. integrity, determination,
motivation, leadership, maturity, reliability). Does the applicant have special
interests, striking personal qualities, or an interesting background? If you
are familiar with a student’s extra-curricular or employment activities
you can also note these.
·
Information regarding the applicant’s
social skills (e.g. ability to interact with others in groups, interpersonal
skills).
·
What information do you have about this
applicant that may be relevant and is not likely to be available from other
sources?
·
How does this applicant compare to other
students you have taught (or if you are an employer, individuals with whom you
have worked?)
·
Please submit the letter on our evaluation
form or letterhead and sign it. You may send it electronically from our webpage
at: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/arts_sci/premedinfo.shtml
·
If you have any questions, please feel free
to contact my office at 772-5242. Thank you for taking the time to write on behalf
of the applicant.