Recommendation Letters

The HPAC application requires a minimum of five (5) letters of recommendation, broken down as follows:

• A minimum of three (3) academic LORs

Two (2) of these three should be from science professors who have taught you or supervised your research. One (1) of these should be from a non-science professor who has taught you.

• A minimum of two (2) non-academic LORs preferably from health care professionals

Letters from coaches and deans are acceptable only when they address aspects of your character unlikely to be evident to a professor or health-care professional with whom you have worked

Below is a general list of topics that should be included in the health professions LOR:

• How long and in what capacity the recommender has known you
• The recommender’s assessment of the quality of your work, your level of motivation, independence, and drive
• The recommender’s assessment of your personality, intelligence, and aptitude for the study of medicine
• Comparisons between you and others recommended in the past that the recommender believes may be helpful
• A discussion of your work/lab/volunteer/extracurricular activities, etc. that demonstrate your ability to work unsupervised, including the depth/quality of your involvement in these activities, as well any achievements that you may have accomplished
• Substantiated comments regarding your passions and commitment to serving others are very beneficial
• An assessment of your oral and written communication skills.
• An assessment of your personal characteristics including your maturity, emotional stability, concern for others and/or animals, your problem solving skills, tenacity in reaching goals, curiosity, creativity, capacity for leadership, self-discipline, integrity, etc.
• An assessment of your interpersonal skills including your ability to handle criticism, how you relate to others, your attitudes toward supervision, and your capacity for collaborative work with others
• An assessment of your potential and motivation/s in the field of medicine and health care including how and to what extent you demonstrate your motivation for the study and practice of medicine (broadly defined)

We will only accept original, signed copies of LOR.

• LOR must be addressed as such “Dear Health Professions Advisory Committee”.
• LOR must be on letterhead that includes the letter-writer’s contact information.
• LOR must have the letter-writer’s hand-written or electronic signature on the letter in order to be accepted by health profession schools.
• LOR must be accompanied by a completed Recommendation Release form with either a hand-written or electronic signature of letter writer.
• LORs may be sent via mail as hard copies to the following address: Lafayette College, C/O Ms. Simona Glaus, Health Professions Office, 101 Scott Hall, Easton, 18042 or sent as PDF attachments to Ms. Glaus via email at healthprofessions@lafayette.edu.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your letters have been received by Ms. Glaus. You may contact her to confirm their receipt four weeks after you request a letter to be written. If it has not been received, politely remind the individual that his/her letter has not been received.

Upon receipt, the origianal LORs are placed in your application file in the Health Professions Office. HPAC reads each letter prior to your HPAC interview.The HPAC Composite Letter of Evaluation includes verbatim copies of all LORs.