What is the Pre-Health File?
Anatomy of a Pre-Health File
The Pre-Health File is an ongoing record of your course evaluations and letters of recommendation collected, your pre-health application and contract, and transcripts. The information in your file is kept in the Pre-Health Office and is confidential and accessible only to the Pre-Health Committee and Professions Office staff.
Most Frequently Asked Questions:
- Why do I need a Pre-Health File?
- Who is eligible to open a Pre-Health File?
- What are the requirements I need to satisfy in order to open a Pre-Health File?
- What documents can I collect and have sent to the Pre-Health Office prior to opening a Pre-Health File?
- When should I apply to open my Pre-Health File?
- What if I miss the deadline to open my Pre-Health File?
- I have completed all of the requirements for opening my Pre-Health File. How do I open it?
- How do I keep my Pre-Health File active/in good standing?
- How long do Pre-Health Files remain open after graduating?
- How can I find out what is currently in my File?
Why do I need a Pre-Health file?
A Pre-Health file is used to determine your eligibility for receiving a Committee Letter, which is required for certain health professions graduate programs. Students will be evaluated on the quality of their Pre-Health file, in addition to whether they meet the requirements for receiving a Committee Letter.
Who is eligible to open a Pre-Health file?
After all of the requirements have been met, undergraduate, second-degree, and non-degree students may apply to open their Pre-Health file. However, non-degree students are not eligible to receive a Committee Letter.
What are the requirements I need to satisfy in order to open a Pre-Health file?
Please click on the applicable link below to view the steps and requirements that need to be met prior to opening your Pre-Health file:
- Freshman and Second-degree students that entered Hunter College in Fall 2020 and onwards, consult this page.
- Students that entered Hunter College prior to Fall 2020, consult this page.
What documents can I collect and have sent to the Pre-Health Office prior to opening a Pre-Health file?
Students who intend to open a Pre-Health file may begin collecting course evaluations from instructors immediately. Letters of recommendation cannot be collected until a Pre-Health has been opened.
When should I apply to open my Pre-Health file?
Students must apply to open their Pre-Health file no later than their first semester of Sophomore year at Hunter College. Transfer students must open their Pre-Health file by the end of their first year at Hunter College if wishing to avoid a gap year(s).
Pre-Health files must be open for at least 1 academic year prior to applying for a Committee Letter. If applying to the Pre-Health Program as a Junior or Senior, your Health Professions Graduate School application will be delayed (1 gap year for Juniors, 2 gap years for Seniors). Opening a Pre-Health File in your Senior Year will automatically disqualify you from being awarded a Committee Letter.
What if I miss the deadline to open my Pre-Health file?
If you miss the deadline to open your Pre-Health file, you will not be eligible to receive a Committee Letter. However, you may still apply to receive a Letter Packet.
I have completed all of the requirements for opening my Pre-Health File. How do I open it?
You may schedule an appointment to meet with Robert (Bobby) Hieger, Information Technology Specialist in the Pre-Health Office, by scheduling an appointment with him on youcanbook.me. Bobby is available to meet with students on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
Documentation of having met all of the requirements must be emailed to Bobby no later than 48 hours ahead of your scheduled appointment. Failure to provide the necessary documentation 48 hours prior to your appointment will result in your appointment being canceled. Therefore, please ensure you are able to provide the following documentation:
- A list of all required workshops and the dates you attended (We recommend recording this information in our Pre-Health Log, which can be personalized). If you do not have access to Microsoft Excel, feel free to use a Google Docs Sheet to record the information.
- A PDF of your most recent unofficial Hunter College transcript (used to calculate your BCP)
After submitting these items, you will receive an email invitation from Bobby to a Zoom video conference usually within 24 hours of the meeting you booked.
How do I keep my Pre-Health file active/in good standing?
To keep your Pre-Health File in good standing, you must do the following:
- Request at least one course evaluation or letter of recommendation per semester. Failure to do so will result in your file becoming inactive and you will need to reapply to the program.
- Attend 3 Pre-Health events per semester (or 6 events within the academic year: September - May), as stated in your Pre-Health contract.
- Meet with a Pre-Health Advisor at least once per semester.
How long do Pre-Health files remain open after graduating?
Pre-Health files remain open for up to 3 years after graduating from Hunter College. If you are a Hunter Alum, we encourage you to add letters of recommendation to keep your Pre-Health file active after graduation.
How can I find out what is currently in my file?
To find out which evaluations and recommendations are currently in your pre-health file, please fill out the File Check Request form.