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What is a Committee Letter?

Sarah Lawrence College's Committee Letter of Evaluation is an individualized institutional letter composed by the Pre-Health Advisory Committee to provide an a holistic narrative about the applicant's preparedness and fit for their desired health profession. The Prehealth Advisory Committee is comprised of science faculty and an academic dean(s) who have a strong, evidence-based knowledge and understanding of the health professional schools' admissions process. The letter speaks to the applicants' background, activities, and experiences in light of the premedical competencies (AAMC Premedical Competencies). The Prehealth Program submits the applicants' Committee Letter to the centralized application services which are then shared with medical and dental schools' admissions committees.

Committee Letters are highly valued by admissions committees as they offer a holistic picture of an applicants' candidacy. Thus, all applicants are strongly encouraged to  request a letter. 

For information specific to the Cycle 2026-2027 Committee Letter of Evaluation, please click here.

Who is Eligible to Receive a Committee Letter?

All SLC students and alumni are eligible to receive a Committee Letter. All applicants must abide by the deadlines specified by the Prehealth Advisory Committee.

While allied health programs (e.g. nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.) currently do not accept Committee Letters of Evaluation, applicants for these programs are still strongly encouraged to work with Dean Melinda Perlo Cohen to receive guidance and support in the preparation and production of their application, including crafting their personal statement and requesting letters of recommendation. To request an advising appointment, please visit Handshake or email prehealthprogram@sarahlawrence.edu.

How to Request and Receive a Committee Letter of Evaluation?

All students wishing to receive a Committee Letter of Evaluation are required to undergo a three-part application process which initiates in the fall prior to the spring/summer in which the applicant plans to apply to medical or dental programs. The application process begins by Declaring your Intent and completing a Self-Assessment, followed by a written portfolio and an interview. All applicant resources and materials can be found in a private Google Drive.

When To Request A Committee Letter?

The Committee Letter of Evaluation process initiates in the fall semester prior to the summer in which the applicant plans to submit their primary application to medical or dental schools. For example, if a student plans on applying to medical or dental school during the summer of 2025 to matriculate in Summer 2026, the Committee Letter of Evaluation process is initiated in Fall 2024.

See below for an approximate timeline of the application process and Committee Letter of Evaluation process:

How the Committee Letter of Evaluation is Written

Committee Letters are constructed from materials provided by the applicant, insight gained through the Committee Letter Interview, applicants’ SLC course narrative evaluations, and the applicants’ individual letters of recommendation. Dean Melinda Perlo Cohen works closely with the faculty to oversee the letters’ composition. All letters will be reviewed, edited and finalized by Melinda to ensure consistency, accuracy, and comprehensiveness. 

Every applicants’ Committee Letter of Evaluation includes the following components:

• Cover Letter (standardized letter describing the nature of our school, curriculum, and committee letter process

• Individualized Narrative Assessment (drawn from the CL portfolio, CL interview, course narrative evaluations, Individual Letters of Recommendation)

• Individual Letters of Recommendation (all LORs submitted for an applicant are packaged with the cover letter and individualized narrative assessment. 

Who Writes the Committee Letter?

Committee letters are a collaborative process conducted by our Prehealth Advisory Committee; members of our science faculty and administrative deans. The committee is chaired by Dean Melinda Perlo Cohen. The committee letter is signed by Dean Melinda Perlo Cohen, chair of the Pre-Health Advisory Committee, on behalf of all the committee members. A list of all committee members with title is included in the signature. 

For Cycle 2025-2026, the Prehealth Advisory Committee is composed of the following faculty and deans:

• Melinda Perlo Cohen, Chair, Dean of Studies \
• Drew Cressman, Biology

• Cecilia Toro, Biology

• Michelle Hersh, Biology

• Colin Abernethy, Chemistry

• Mali Yin, Chemistry

• Merideth Frey, Physics