Letters of recommendation from individual references and from the Medical Studies Committee are very important.

You will need recommendations from professors who are familiar with you and your work. Letters from employers, internship sponsors, or other professionals with whom you've worked may also be appropriate. The Medical Studies Committee at Bates consists of five faculty and two ex-officio members who advise Bates pre-health students and write a composite letter of evaluation.

Professor Lee Abrahamsen is the chair of the committee. Get to know the committee and your professors. The better they know you, the easier it will be for them to write a letter about you. Each fall a pre-health meeting is held for each class. Be alert for announcements and meetings. 

You will need to establish a medical studies file at the OCS with Sue Cook and compose an essay indicating your thoughts and motivations for going to medical school.

Prior to your medical studies committee interview, you must have a mock interview.

The Committee will then schedule an interview with you, generally during March, and will write a letter evaluating your candidacy for medical school. That letter, along with your other recommendations, will be sent by the OCS to the schools you indicate.