Syracuse University’s
Health Professions Advisory Program (HPAP) and Committee (HPAC)

Policy for Evaluation/Recommendation of Applicants
to Medical Schools and Other Health Professions Schools

Of the 650-750 students and graduates of Syracuse University and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry registered with our program, somewhat fewer than 100 will apply each year to health professions schools through our office. Most attrition is through self-selection, sometimes after advising. Our office provides both Credentials and Committee Letter services.

The process of attaining a Committee letter is as follows: The student completes an in-house electronic Application for Sponsorship listing experiences, honors, interests, and enters a preliminary personal statement; there is unlimited space for personal comments. This typically takes place in the sophomore year. (A4S and Folder must be set up by April 1st of your Sophomore Year) After initiating the Application for Sponsorship, the student meets with a pre-health advisor according to a mutually agreed upon schedule. Students are asked to update the Application sufficiently often to keep advisors informed. At least one month prior to the end of the spring semester in the year before s/he wishes to enter professional school, it is mandatory for each student to submit an updated Application, which includes a finalized Personal Statement addressing specific topics. The student is also required to meet with a pre-health advisor prior to leaving campus at the end of that term. Students are informed that this office and the Health Professions Advisory Committee will use the contents of this Application, and information gleaned during their personal interactions with our office, in combination with information contained in individual evaluations or recommendations, to draft the student applicant's Committee letter. Each applicant must have a minimum of three (to five) individual evaluations with a minimum of two expected to be from science faculty. After the student completes some forms in our office, we solicit the individual letters from the evaluators identified by the student. Upon receipt, the original is kept in our office in the applicant's file. Each applicant's name is submitted to the Syracuse University Office of Judicial Affairs and the Student Standards Committee of The College of Arts and Sciences to check for institutional action(s) that should be reported to the health professions school.

Acting as the Committee for sponsored students, the HPAC faculty members use the student's Application for Sponsorship and related materials, along with the individual letters of evaluation and the Committee letter-draft, to evaluate the student and assign one of four rating categories: recommend, strongly recommend, highly recommend, and exceptional.

These ratings are based on the CRITERIA (1-5) as outlined below:

1. For medical school applicants, a grade point average of at least 3.7 overall and in the sciences (3.5 for all other health professions), in a relatively stringent program of study.

2. Strong letters of recommendation addressing not only academic performance, but also character, commitment to learning, interpersonal skills, and other criteria indicating that the candidate is expected to be a life-time scholar.

3. Documentation that the applicant is motivated and committed to the profession by participation in one or more internships or sustained voluntary activities in which s/he actually interacted with patients (and other health care providers), i.e. something more than observing surgery or a one-day stint in a clinical setting.

4. Evidence that the applicant engaged in community service, thereby demonstrating that s/he not only wants to help people but does help others in a meaningful fashion. Or, evidence of sustained, more-or-less independent and successful research under the supervision of a faculty member. Or, evidence of the need to work or to maintain an athletic scholarship to help pay for college, thereby reducing the number of hours available for other pursuits.

5. Evidence of personal and interpersonal skills: ability to work independently, as a team member or to assume leadership in a particular situation; ability to communicate effectively (including careful listening) formally and informally; demonstration of maturity/poise/professionalism in various settings. The student's essay should address these points as well as convey some idea of the understanding of the current state of the field s/he wishes to enter.

For applicants considered at least qualified in all of the content areas, the Committee reaches a consensus on Four Levels of Recommendation:

Recommend:
The applicant is judged outstanding in at least two of the criteria and satisfactory in at least two of the remaining three. An applicant must have a GPA of at least 2.0 overall, in the sciences and in the major, to be recommended. Grades in courses required by the professional school must be C or better.

Strongly recommend:
The applicant is judged outstanding in at least three of the criteria and rates satisfactorily in at least one of the remaining two.

Highly recommend:
The applicant is judged outstanding in four of the criteria and is deemed satisfactory in the fifth.

Exceptional:
The applicant meets the criteria for “highly recommend” and, for reason(s) stated in the Committee letter, is considered an even better applicant.

If the Committee feels it is unable to recommend an applicant, we inform the individual. We provide a credentials service for students who do not to meet criteria for a Committee letter for reasons (usually timing or grades) as stated in the cover letter. Committee and Credentials letter packets are confidential unless there is a statement to the contrary. Before seeking individual and Committee recommendations, students sign forms waiving or retaining their rights to see each letter.

We will be happy to respond to questions about our procedures and/or applicants.

M. Kristine Waldron, FACHE
Director, Pre-Professional Advising Services
Health Professions Advisory Program

The Members of the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC):