Applicants who went through the HPAC Committee Letter process and are deciding to wait to apply, or, were unsuccessful in their first application to a health professional program: 

We think this is a great plan! We always encourage applicants to apply when they truly feel ready and when they are most competitive. 

If you’ve gone through the Committee Letter process, you will complete a the reapplicant/deferral PATH process: 

Request new or updated letters of recommendation:

Send an email to your letter writers from this cycle with the following:

• Thank them for writing your letter, and explain your plans
• Stay in touch with them throughout the year (a quick update on what you’ve been doing, etc.). 
• Request updated letters during application season next year
• At minimum, the date on the letter needs to reflect the current application cycle 

Ideally, you still should still have 2 letters from science faculty, but you might have new experiences throughout your growth year(s) that provide an opportunity for new, updated letters. You can ask new letter writers if this is the case.

Completed a full year as a clinical research assistant during your growth? Ask your PI for a strong letter showcasing your experience this past year. This can be a valuable piece of your application, and might be more accurate in explaining the strong candidate you’ve become during your growth year.

Update your PATH Portfolio in Handshake

• Update experiences on your Handshake profile, detailing the experiences you’ve had throughout your growth year(s) 
• Complete an updated Microsoft assessment form, providing additional information on who you have become as a candidate in your growth year(s).
• The reapplicant/deferral PATH Process must be completed by May 1 (if the deadline falls on a weekend, please have it completed by the following Monday).

The re-applicant/deferral committee letter will include: 

• A new version of your committee letter that includes information about the ways in which you have improved your candidacy since your prior application.
• All new, updated individual letters of recommendation 

For students who miss the deadline for PATH to receive an HPAC Committee Letter, Pre-Health Career Pathways will work with you to submit a Letter of Recommendation packet. This will include a short letter along with your letters of recommendation. Please make an appointment to discuss this criteria with Pre-Health Career Pathways.

Other Situations:

If you are considering re-application after two or more unsuccessful attempts to be admitted, or if you are reapplying after having already been admitted to a health profession school one or more times, please reach out to Pre-Health Career Pathways to make an appointment to discuss your application.