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Store Your Letters of Recommendation
via the Prehealth Credential Service

 

Prehealth Credential Service »
Credential Service Policies »
Service Fees »
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Sending Letters to Schools »

 

What is the Prehealth Credential Service?

The Prehealth Credential Service is organized by MIT Prehealth Advising for MIT students and alums applying to health profession programs, schools and health profession-related scholarships.  Using an online system, the GECD Prehealth Advising Credential Service:

  • Collects and stores letters of recommendation for health-related schools, programs, and scholarships.
  • Reviews each letter submitted to ensure quality and accuracy, and contacts the letter writers to request revisions as deemed appropriate and necessary.
  • Gives Prehealth Advisors access to credential file materials for the purpose of writing the Prehealth Advisory Board Letter. (if applicable)
  • Sends recommendation letters, including the Prehealth Advisory Board Letter, electronically or via FedEX to health profession application services, schools, and related scholarships.

Credential Service Policies

  • Storing letters of recommendation:
    • 2013 and future application cycles - Electronic letters will be stored indefinitely. Applicants seeking to use old electronic letters of recommendation for application to a health profession school must contact Prehealth Advising for instruction.
    • 2012 and earlier application cycles - Paper files are maintained for two years in-office after the date of the applicant's anticipated entry year into a health profession school.  Following this, files are transferred to MIT Archives and are subject to archive policies. Prehealth credential files are shredded after a four (4) year time period in MIT Archives.
  • Recommendation letters may only be used for applying to health profession schools and related scholarships, not for programs or scholarships unrelated to health professions.
  • Applicants must obtain additional consent from the author of each recommendation letter that is one year or older, in order to be used in an application. We recommend that letters that are one year or older be updated to best reflect recent accomplishments and reflect the current relationship with the recommender.
  • The student must provide a signed letter of consent to transfer files to credential services at other institutions.
  • When an applicant waives a letter of recommendation (i.e. waiving their right to view), the letter is then considered confidential and will not be provided to the applicant.
  • Recommendation letter packets will be sent electronically or mailed within four business days of all letters being received. 
  • Applicant Letter Packets will include all letters of recommendation received and a general cover letter from the Prehealth Advising office.

How do I open a Credential Service Account?

Applicants receiving a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter (PHABL) or having their general letters sent without a PHABL to health profession schools must create an online account.

Resources

What are the responsibilities for having a credential service account/file?

  • Maintain up-to-date contact information on the GECD Prehealth Advising Credential Service system.

  • Submit all necessary documents and letters by June 30th for individuals who have been assigned a prehealth advisor.

  • Maintain contact with recommenders to ensure that letters of recommendation have been uploaded to the online system by June 30th. (The June 30th deadline specifically applies to individuals with an assigned prehealth advisor.)

  • Use the GECD Prehealth Advising Credential Service system to monitor the receipt of letters of recommendation and submit necessary information and documents. Directions for using the online system.   If you have questions about your account or letters, after using the online system, please contact Deb Shafran, the Credential Service Administrator, at dshafran@mit.edu.

  • Granting MIT Prehealth Advising access to your application service (AMCAS, AADSAS, etc.) account information and data online.

     

What is the Credential Fee?

The following is the fee scale for applicants using the Prehealth Credential Service for sending letters of recommendation to health profession schools, programs and health profession related scholarships. Payment of this fee is accepted when your credential file is complete.  

$75

Current MIT juniors, graduating seniors, and graduate students who also have an MIT undergraduate degree.

(Graduate students without an MIT undergraduate degree should consult with MIT's Prehealth Advising office and their undergraduate institution's Prehealth Office to determine the best strategy for sending letters to health profession schools.)

$100

Alums with an MIT undergraduate degree seeking matriculation to a health profession school two or more years post graduation from MIT. Ex. MIT graduation year 2012, desired matriculation to a health profession school 2014.

$8.00

FedEx fee for all applicants whose letters of recommendation cannot be sent via electronic transmission.

A School Designation Form must be submitted to have your letter packet sent via FedEx. (Form will be available starting in May)

The flat annual credential fee will not be accepted until all letters of recommendation have been received. Letter packets are sent within four (4) business days of payment being received.

Credit card payment is preferred and can be submitted using the Credential Service Payment Form.

Note: If you qualified for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) or similar program for other application services you may request to have your MIT Credential Fee waived by submitting a copy of your eligibility to Prehealth Advising.

 

What should applicants applying to other health profession schools do to have their letter packet sent?

Dental Schools

Please note that the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) provides a credential service for dental students. All MIT applicants who have a Prehealth Advisor are required to use the Prehealth Advising credential service as a supplement to the AADSAS service and must create online credential service account. Applicants using AADSAS and the Prehealth Credential Service are responsible for all of the policies, fees, and procedures outlined on this web.

All other MIT dental applicants without Prehealth Advisors are also welcome to use the Prehealth Credential Service. If you are using the Prehealth Credential Service to have letters sent directly to dental schools, please note that we use addresses provided through the Official Guide to Dental Schools book.

Specific Instructions for AADSAS: Under the “Evaluators” section of AADSAS you will need to list only one evaluation and indicate that it will be a committee letter and that your letters are being submitted electronically. Use the following information to fill in the evaluator's name and contact section:

Deb Shafran
Global Education & Career Development
Prehealth Advising
77 Massachusetts Avenue 12-185
Cambridge , MA 02139
dshafran@mit.edu
(617) 715-5328 

Resources

 

Other Health Profession Schools

For all other health profession programs, please work directly with Prehealth Advising staff to determine the best method to send your letters to your desired health profession school. 

 

Credential Service Forms

Credential Service Form 
(only for individuals not assigned a Prehealth Advisor)

Use this form to create a file in the Prehealth Advising office for recommendation letter submission only. A credential file may be opened as soon as you have letters that you would like to have submitted.

 
Recommendation Letter Waiver Form and Information Sheet

Provide each letter writer with the Recommendation Letter Waiver Form and Information Sheet before listing the recommender writer in the Credential Service system online. 

 
School Designation Form

The School Designation form must be submitted to send your letters to schools not using the AMCAS letter service.

 

 

What are the steps involved for having my letters sent to health profession schools and programs?

Applicant Responsibility:

  1. Follow instructions provided in the AMCAS Q & A workshop slides for entering letters on the AMCAS application. [Applicants applying to non-AMCAS schools are encouraged to contact the Prehealth Credential Service Administrator for instructions.]

  2. Track the receipt of letters of recommendation online and identify any follow-up needed with letter writers or with Prehealth Advising.

  3. Submit all required information, essays, transcripts, and letters of recommendation to the GECD Prehealth Advising Credential Service system by June 30th if receiving a Prehealth Advisory Board Letter.

  4. Submit payment for your credential service fee when all letters, including the prehealth advisor letter if applicable, have been received.

  5. If applicable, submit the School Designation Form to have your letter packet sent to schools and programs NOT using the AMCAS letter service.

  6. If applying to more than one type of health profession school, contact the Prehealth Advising office to make specific arrangements. (Ex. Osteopathic schools, dental schools, etc.)

Credential Service Responsibility:

  1. Review letters for minor errors and contact letter writers to request minor revisions to be made.

  2. Create one packet of recommendation letters, including the Prehealth Advisory board Letter if applicable, for submission to schools and application services.

  3. Send letter packets in one of the following ways within 4 business days of the applicant's credential file being complete.

  4. Inform applicants that letter packets have been sent by entering the date the letter packet was sent in the "Letters Status" page of the GECD Prehealth Advising Credential Service.

Resources

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