Committee Letter Process

What is a Committee Letter?

A committee letter, also called a committee evaluation or composite letter, is a comprehensive letter of recommendation written on behalf of the Health Professions Advising Committee (HPAC) that evaluates your readiness for health professions education. Unlike individual letters of recommendation, a committee letter provides a holistic assessment of your academic preparation, clinical experiences, personal qualities, and overall candidacy.

Committee letters are most commonly accepted by MD/DO (allopathic and osteopathic medicine), DDS/DMD (dental), podiatry (DPM), and optometry (OD) programs. Other health professions programs, such as physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine, typically require individual letters of recommendation instead. Dr. Dubé can help you determine whether a committee letter is appropriate for your specific career path and application strategy.

Most health professions programs that accept committee letters highly value them because they offer a comprehensive perspective from your undergraduate institution. The committee letter is based on a formal interview with the HPAC committee, your application materials, academic record, and supporting letters from faculty and mentors. For medical, dental, podiatry, and optometry programs, a strong committee letter can be a deciding factor in your application.

Who Serves on the Health Professions Advising Committee (HPAC)?

Members of the HPAC are experienced faculty members from multiple disciplines who bring diverse expertise in the sciences, humanities, and health professions. Committee members have extensive knowledge of health professions admissions, curriculum requirements, and the qualities that make successful healthcare providers. The committee is led by Dr. John Dubé, who coordinates all pre-health advising activities.

Committee members collectively have decades of experience advising pre-health students, writing letters of recommendation, and maintaining relationships with admissions offices at medical, dental, PA, veterinary, and other health professions programs across the country. This expertise allows the committee to provide informed, credible evaluations that admissions committees trust.

Why Does the Committee Letter Matter?

• Comprehensive Evaluation: The committee synthesizes input from multiple faculty members, advisors, and mentors who know you well, providing a more complete picture than individual letters alone.
• Institutional Endorsement: A strong committee letter signals that your undergraduate institution stands behind your candidacy and believes you are ready for the rigors of health professions education.
• Contextual Information: The committee can provide context on your academic performance, any challenges you faced, and how you compare with other pre-health students at Chatham.
• Streamlined Process: Rather than submitting 3-5 individual letters, the committee letter package includes the committee evaluation plus supporting letters, simplifying the application process.
• Admissions Preference: Many health professions programs specifically request or prefer a committee letter from applicants whose institutions offer this service.

Committee Letter Timeline at a Glance

The Committee Interview Process

When to Apply

Students typically participate in the committee interview process during the spring of their junior year (or the spring before they plan to apply to health professions programs). The interview takes place in May, with application materials due to HPAC by May 1st. Students taking a gap year or applying later in their academic career should contact Dr. Dubé to arrange a suitable time.

Required Application Materials

To receive a committee letter, students must submit the following materials to HPAC by the May 1st deadline:

• Personal Statement: A draft of your personal statement for your chosen health profession (typically 1-2 pages)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume: Comprehensive list of your academic achievements, clinical experiences, research, volunteer work, employment, and extracurricular activities
• Unofficial Transcript: A copy of your Chatham University transcript (official transcript will be requested later)
• Letters of Recommendation Arrangements: Confirmation that you have requested 2-3 individual letters of recommendation from faculty, mentors, or supervisors (these will be included in your committee letter packet)
• Application Information Form: A brief form indicating which health professions you are applying to and your planned application timeline

How to Prepare for Your Committee Interview

• Attend the Preparation Workshop: In early April, HPAC offers a mandatory Committee Interview Preparation Workshop for all students who will be interviewing in May. This workshop covers the interview format, common questions, and tips for success. Attendance is required.
• Participate in Mock Interviews: Take advantage of the mock interview sessions offered throughout the academic year. Practicing with HPAC members will help you articulate your experiences and motivations clearly and confidently.
• Reflect on Your Journey: Before your interview, reflect deeply on why you want to pursue your chosen profession, what you have learned from your clinical and volunteer experiences, and how you have grown as a person and future healthcare provider. Be prepared to discuss both successes and challenges.
• Review Your Materials: Carefully review your personal statement, CV, and transcript before the interview. Be ready to discuss any aspect of your application, including gaps in your timeline, academic struggles, or changes in your career goals.
• Be Yourself: The committee wants to see the authentic you. Be honest, thoughtful, and genuine in your responses. There are no trick questions, and the committee is genuinely interested in understanding your unique path and perspective.

The Interview

The committee interview is a formal 45-minute meeting with 3-4 HPAC members. The interview is designed to be conversational and supportive, allowing the committee to get to know you beyond your grades and test scores.

During the interview, committee members will ask about:

• Your motivation for pursuing a career in your chosen health profession
• Your clinical experiences and what you learned from them
• How you have developed the personal qualities necessary for healthcare
• Your understanding of the current healthcare landscape and challenges
• Your academic journey and how you have overcome any challenges
• Your plans for service, leadership, and contribution to the profession

The interview is not meant to be intimidating. Committee members are your advocates who want to help you succeed. They will provide constructive feedback during and after the interview to help you prepare for actual admissions interviews. Students often report that the committee interview is a valuable practice that builds their confidence.

After the Interview

Within 1-2 weeks of your interview, the committee will meet to discuss each candidate and draft committee letters. You will receive feedback on your interview performance and suggestions for strengthening your application. The committee will finalize letters in late May, and letters will be delivered to students and uploaded to application services (AMCAS, AACOMAS, CASPA, etc.) in early June, allowing you to submit your applications as soon as they open.