Pre-Health Evaluation Committee
Committee Evaluation
Current students and alumni who plan to apply to medical, dental, optometry, or podiatry schools in 2026 for matriculation in 2027 and who want a committee letter must attend a Pre-Health Evaluation Committee orientation session. Students can attend one of two sessions offered on November 3rd at 5 pm (in person) or November 6th at 7 pm (via ZOOM). Current students should plan to attend the in-person session, if possible, and should register via Handshake. Alumni who wish to attend should email prehealthadvising@syr.edu to RSVP, after which they will receive the Zoom link.
FALL SEMESTER 2025
October 7, 2025 – “Am I Ready to Apply” – optional event designed to help you assess your readiness.
7-8 pm – Zoom RSVP
STEP #1
Attend Mandatory Pre-Health Evaluation Committee Orientation (RSVP on Handshake or prehealthadvising@syr.edu – email for alumni only)
Monday, November 3, 5-6 pm, Hall of Languages room 500 RSVP
Thursday, November 6, 7-8 pm, Zoom RSVP
STEP #2
December 12, 2025: Deadline to complete the “Intent, Consent, and Waiver” form and “Self- Assessment” form.
Once the forms are received, all students will receive an email with further instructions.
SPRING SEMESTER 2026
STEP #3
February 1, 2026 Materials Deadline
Complete and submit BCPM worksheet. Include Fall 2025 grades and planned Spring 2026 coursework.
Register for MCAT, DAT, or OAT exam and provide proof to Pre-Health Advising. You must take the test no later than May 30th to qualify for the committee letter.
Complete and submit Applicant Information and Preparation file
MD/DO applicants ONLY- Complete and submit score from full-length practice MCAT. There is a free full-length practice MCAT available in the AAMC MCAT Test Prep Hub.
Students may be contacted by a pre-health advisor to discuss any of these submitted materials. If requested, this meeting is MANDATORY.
February 15, 2026: Last day to submit a petition to participate in the committee process.
This is a firm deadline. No exceptions. This applies to reapplicants and alumni as well.
STEP #4
February 22, 2026: Deadline to submit 2-4 “Requests for Evaluation”
Pre-Health Advising will contact recommenders within five (5) business days of receiving requests.
Students who have a minimum of two (2) Syracuse University affiliated requests and a maximum of four (4) requests submitted by this date will be interviewed by Pre-Health Advising beginning in February 2025.
STEP #5
February – May 2026: Interview with Pre-Health Advising
Students will be contacted by pre-health advising to schedule an interview time on a rolling basis – some students may schedule their interview before others have been contacted by an advisor.
An earlier interview does not correlate with the time of release of your committee letter.
May 8, 2026: Letters of Recommendation are due to Pre-Health Advising
Pre-Health Advising will keep you updated on the status of your letters.
Letters received after this due date will delay the preparation and transmission of a student’s committee letter.
STEP #6
AMCAS, AACOMAS, and AADSAS cycles open in early May.
AMCAS, AACOMAS, and AADSAS primary applications and MCAT/DAT scores must be submitted by July 1, 2026.
OptomCAS cycle opens at the end of June.
OptomCAS primary application and OAT score must be submitted by July 31, 2026.
AACPMAS cycle opens in the beginning of August.
AACPMAS primary application and MCAT score must be submitted by August 31, 2026.
Provide a copy of your officially submitted application and letter request form/email to hpapplicants@syr.edu
Committee Letters will be sent on a rolling basis to professional schools as officially submitted applications and test scores are received by Pre-Health Advising.
Committee Evaluation Rubric for Students Applying at End of Junior or Senior year at Syracuse University
Applicants should be aiming to become a HIGHLY RATED applicant, which means they are at least a ‘3’ in each category AND have at least one category that is a ‘5.’
This rubric is based on admissions data for Syracuse University matriculants applying with 0-1 gap years since the 2022 cycle.
Evaluation of applicants is ultimately at the discretion of the committee.
| Below Average | Average | Very Good | Outstanding | Truly Exceptional | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Academics | BCPM 3.0 – 3.2; record has withdraws and/or repeated classes | BCPM 3.21-3.49 | BCPM 3.5 – 3.74; above average LORs from faculty | BCPM 3.75 – 3.89; outstanding LORs from science faculty | BCPM 3.9 – 4.0; academic awards and department recognition, completing distinction, exceptional LORS from science faculty |
| Clinical | >100 hours; limited to just shadowing or volunteering, passive activities | 100-250 hours | 250- 500 hours; demonstrate sustained commitment to clinical position | 500- 1000 hours; paid clinical employment, LOR from clincial supervisor (non-MD/DO) | 1000+ hours; demonstrate progression of duties and growth in position, should have an LOR from a physician, should be paid experience |
| Community Engagement | >100 hours; passive engagement | 100-250 hours | 250-500 hours; demonstrate sustained service | 500-1000 hours; demonstrate progression of duties and growth in positions | 1000+ hours; hold leadership roles, improve organizations |
| Research | >100 hrs/1 sem | 2 sem; PI LOR Avg | 2+ sem/sum; PI LOR Above Avg; independent research | 2+ sem/sum; PI LOR Outstanding; presented research at a conference | 2+ sem/sum; PI LOR Exceptional; published research |
Committee Evaluation Policies
Eligibility
Applicants must have a Syracuse University cumulative and science GPA of 3.0 to participate in the committee letter process.
Applicants applying to AMCAS need a minimum MCAT score of 500 by July 1st, 2026.
Applicants applying to AACOMAS or MD programs in Puerto Rico must have an MCAT score of 495 by July 1st, 2026.
Committee Evaluation Alumni Policy
Undergraduate alumni are eligible to participate in the Committee Process for four years post-graduation. This timeline refers to the four years from your undergraduate graduation to your medical/dental school matriculation.
Alumni who graduated in December 2022, May 2023, or any time after are eligible for a Committee Letter if planning to matriculate in 2027.
Alumni who graduated in May 2022 or earlier are ineligible for a Committee Letter if planning to matriculate in 2027.
Reapplicants who graduated in May 2022 or earlier are ineligible for a Committee Letter if planning to matriculate in 2027.
Reapplicant Policy
Students who participated in a past Committee Evaluation Cycle and plan to reapply to a future cycle must restart the process and meet all deadlines and requirements of participation for the cycle they are applying. Pre-Health Advising does not reuse applicant materials, letters of recommendation, or previous committee letters.