Committee Letter Experience

[hellonurse]

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Could some of you share your committee letter experiences? I am about to start the process and I wanted to see how it goes and how you all felt about your committees. Thank you!

 

[Sophlu]

I had to have 2 interviews with 2 different people from the committee. Then I had to have 3 letters of recommendations from professors sent to the committee. It took me a few months to get it all done but it was not bad. Good Luck.

 

[hellonurse]

To everyone: You did not get to see the final letter right? Did they give you any hints on how you were doing, the impression that you were making on them, and your potential as an applicant? Did you feel that the committee letter helped you a lot?

 

[PrincessDDS]

absolutely DIDN'T get to see the letter! in fact at my school we had to waive the right to see it. Plus I feel as though it takes away from the value of the letter if you are able to see, and critique it before it goes out to schools. If everything said in the letter is good, without any input/ "suggestions" from you, then you're a good candidate! if you ask them to edit it for you to make you sound better, then I would raise an eyebrow....

Your committee letter interview, and other information provided to the committee should speak for itself, and that's what will show in the letter.

During my interviews, my committee letter didn't come up once! though some schools asked for it as a requirement for a complete application

 

[mamelons]

absolutely DIDN'T get to see the letter! in fact at my school we had to waive the right to see it. Plus I feel as though it takes away from the value of the letter if you are able to see, and critique it before it goes out to schools. If everything said in the letter is good, without any input/ "suggestions" from you, then you're a good candidate! if you ask them to edit it for you to make you sound better, then I would raise an eyebrow....

Your committee letter interview, and other information provided to the committee should speak for itself, and that's what will show in the letter.

During my interviews, my committee letter didn't come up once! though some schools asked for it as a requirement for a complete application

The committee at my undergraduate school was absolutely lazy and worthless. I interviewed the first week I could for the application cycle. They said they would have the letter sent within in the next two weeks. I went in in 2 weeks, and it hadn't been done yet. And they said two more weeks. So I go in, and it is still not done yet. I did this three more times... By this time, my application has been submitted, and they are just waiting on my letters... and it is end of July now. I go in... pretty much livid... and the lady goes I will get it done, just give me until next week... I said NO, I have been waiting since June 1st for the letter to be sent, and you still have not done it. She's like ok, ok, I'll send it tomorrow. I go, so it is done? Why haven't you sent it... she said she is still really busy with other committee interviews... which by the way they actually didn't complete interviews for all the med and dental applicants until October 1. Anyways, I said well to be sure you mail it out tomorrow I want to see the tracking number receipt. I will pay for return-receipt/delivery confirmation, but I want to know it has been sent. This is ridiculous. Well it finally gets sent, but I think that is what hurt me at some schools because my application wasn't complete soon enough. And another thing... they send out letters with the committee letter, but they said they were going to choose the "best" ones that speak highly on your behalf. I said no, you will send all of the letters I have asked for. How am I going to let someone who doesn't even know me choose which letters are the best? I know it seems bad, but I really think they could sabotage some people because of it. Oh and they could be a little bit more constructive on how they handle things... a girl I know went in to interview with the committee, and she was told that she really stands no chance because she needs to learn how to speak English better... even if it was true, there are other more "constructive" ways to say that. Last thing... after I took my DAT I had to go tell them my score, and one of the guys on the committee said... "Only an 18 on your DAT... that's no gonna get you in anywhere, especially with your 3.9 GPA, you should have made a 26+ on the DAT with grades like that." I just rolled my eyes, and when I got accepted to all 4 schools I interviewed at, I made sure he knew. It just goes to show how unrealistic and how unknowledgeable he is... a 26... I could see him saying maybe a 20, but a 26.... wow.

 

[hellonurse]

The committee at my undergraduate school was absolutely lazy and worthless. I interviewed the first week I could for the application cycle. They said they would have the letter sent within in the next two weeks. I went in in 2 weeks, and it hadn't been done yet. And they said two more weeks. So I go in, and it is still not done yet. I did this three more times... By this time, my application has been submitted, and they are just waiting on my letters... and it is end of July now. I go in... pretty much livid... and the lady goes I will get it done, just give me until next week... I said NO, I have been waiting since June 1st for the letter to be sent, and you still have not done it. She's like ok, ok, I'll send it tomorrow. I go, so it is done? Why haven't you sent it... she said she is still really busy with other committee interviews... which by the way they actually didn't complete interviews for all the med and dental applicants until October 1. Anyways, I said well to be sure you mail it out tomorrow I want to see the tracking number receipt. I will pay for return-receipt/delivery confirmation, but I want to know it has been sent. This is ridiculous. Well it finally gets sent, but I think that is what hurt me at some schools because my application wasn't complete soon enough. And another thing... they send out letters with the committee letter, but they said they were going to choose the "best" ones that speak highly on your behalf. I said no, you will send all of the letters I have asked for. How am I going to let someone who doesn't even know me choose which letters are the best? I know it seems bad, but I really think they could sabotage some people because of it. Oh and they could be a little bit more constructive on how they handle things... a girl I know went in to interview with the committee, and she was told that she really stands no chance because she needs to learn how to speak English better... even if it was true, there are other more "constructive" ways to say that. Last thing... after I took my DAT I had to go tell them my score, and one of the guys on the committee said... "Only an 18 on your DAT... that's no gonna get you in anywhere, especially with your 3.9 GPA, you should have made a 26+ on the DAT with grades like that." I just rolled my eyes, and when I got accepted to all 4 schools I interviewed at, I made sure he knew. It just goes to show how unrealistic and how unknowledgeable he is... a 26... I could see him saying maybe a 20, but a 26.... wow.

wow! what an awful experience. I really hate relying on people to send something out. That's one of the reasons I am going through a committee, so that I can make sure my profs. have their stuff in on time. Thanks for your story!!

 

[EndangeredPasta]

The committee at my undergraduate school was absolutely lazy and worthless. I interviewed the first week I could for the application cycle. They said they would have the letter sent within in the next two weeks. I went in in 2 weeks, and it hadn't been done yet. And they said two more weeks. So I go in, and it is still not done yet. I did this three more times... By this time, my application has been submitted, and they are just waiting on my letters... and it is end of July now. I go in... pretty much livid... and the lady goes I will get it done, just give me until next week... I said NO, I have been waiting since June 1st for the letter to be sent, and you still have not done it. She's like ok, ok, I'll send it tomorrow. I go, so it is done? Why haven't you sent it... she said she is still really busy with other committee interviews... which by the way they actually didn't complete interviews for all the med and dental applicants until October 1. Anyways, I said well to be sure you mail it out tomorrow I want to see the tracking number receipt. I will pay for return-receipt/delivery confirmation, but I want to know it has been sent. This is ridiculous. Well it finally gets sent, but I think that is what hurt me at some schools because my application wasn't complete soon enough. And another thing... they send out letters with the committee letter, but they said they were going to choose the "best" ones that speak highly on your behalf. I said no, you will send all of the letters I have asked for. How am I going to let someone who doesn't even know me choose which letters are the best? I know it seems bad, but I really think they could sabotage some people because of it. Oh and they could be a little bit more constructive on how they handle things... a girl I know went in to interview with the committee, and she was told that she really stands no chance because she needs to learn how to speak English better... even if it was true, there are other more "constructive" ways to say that. Last thing... after I took my DAT I had to go tell them my score, and one of the guys on the committee said... "Only an 18 on your DAT... that's no gonna get you in anywhere, especially with your 3.9 GPA, you should have made a 26+ on the DAT with grades like that." I just rolled my eyes, and when I got accepted to all 4 schools I interviewed at, I made sure he knew. It just goes to show how unrealistic and how unknowledgeable he is... a 26... I could see him saying maybe a 20, but a 26.... wow.

That truly sucks! What school was this at?

 

[Lulu2809]

I had a great experience with my committee. I'm not sure what type of school you're at, but coming from a small school I personally knew two of the three members on the committee. They reviewed my CV and compiled my letters of rec from all my professors and then created one based on those. When I was still waiting to hear and having a hard time getting through that time, my pre-health adviser read me some parts of the letter. I hope you will be as happy as I was to hear the wonderful things your professors will say. It is truly an uplifting thing.

 

[mamelons]

I went to a state school of ~28,000 students... the two people in charge of the Health Professions Office and who are responsible for the committee letter did not teach any classes... just random people assigned to "help" students get into medical and dental school. It really is a shame, because I can bet that several of my friends who had really good grades and test scores have not been accepted after two and three times of applying because the people who run the office do not do their job very well.