Apply to Graduate School

Prehealth Advisory Board

The Prehealth Advisory Board is comprised of the Prehealth Advising staff in Global Education and Career Development (GECD), MIT faculty, alumni and local area health care practitioners. The role of the Prehealth Advisory Board is to advise MIT applicants to health profession schools and write the official MIT Prehealth Advisory Board Letter of recommendation to accompany the students/alums application to a health profession school.

The Prehealth Advisory Board Letter of Recommendation

Prehealth Advisory Board Letters are based on the following:

• Academic performance (transcripts and exam scores)
• Extracurricular involvement, community service, and volunteer work.
• Exploration of medicine, dentistry or other desired health profession career.
• Letters of Recommendation
• Communication with his or her assigned member of the MIT Prehealth Advisory Board.

The Prehealth Advisory Board Letter is not a composite letter (a letter that compiles information from all letters and is sent on its own to a given school or program). All of your letters of recommendation including your MIT Prehealth Advisory Board Letter are sent on your behalf to the schools you select.
 
Prehealth Advisory Board Letters are sent to designated application services and/or schools by the end of August or sooner, for individuals whose letters and all other required application materials are submitted via the Prehealth Credential Service by June 30. Applicants whose application materials and/or letters are received after June 30th may risk having their Prehealth Advisory Board Letter of Recommendation sent later than the end of August.

Requesting a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter

Current undergraduate students, graduate students with MIT undergraduate degrees, and alumni with an undergraduate degree from MIT may request a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter in the fall semester two years prior to their desired matriculation year to a health profession school. (Ex. If seeking fall 2013 admission to a health profession school, request a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter between 11/1/11-11/30/11.)  

**The period to request a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter for the 2013 Application Cycle has closed.  Instructions for how to request a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter for the 2014 Application Cycle will be posted in fall 2012.**

• A Prehealth Registration Meeting is a prerequisite to requesting a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter.  The last day to complete a 2013 Prehealth Registration Meeting is Nov. 18, 2011.
• The period to request a 2013 Prehealth Advisory Board Letter is Nov. 1, 2011-Nov. 30, 2011.  All steps listed below must be completed by Nov. 30, 2011 or your Prehealth Advisory Board Letter request will not be complete.  No exceptions will be made.
• You should only request a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter if you intend to apply for 2013 entry to medical/health profession school.

How to request a 2013 Prehealth Advisory Board Letter between Nov. 1, 2011-Nov. 30, 2011:

Only after you have completed a Prehealth Registration Meeting, submit the Prehealth Advisory Board Letter Request Form. You will be required to upload the following as PDF documents at the time you submit your request.  These materials will be shared with your assigned Prehealth Advisor, and thus will form their first impression of you; be sure they are in depth, comprehensive, up to date, and grammatically correct. 
1) Prehealth Registration Form* (updated since your Prehealth Registration Meeting)
2) Resume
 

Study Abroad Students

Prehealth students who are considering study abroad the year prior to application are encouraged to do the following:

• Meet with the Prehealth Advising staff to strategize his or her application timeline to best incorporate a study abroad experience.
• Complete a Prehealth Registration meeting between the spring/summer two years prior to desired matriculation, and prior to leaving for study abroad experience.
• Submit a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter Request between November 1 - November 30, 2011.