Composite Letter

A Composite Letter (CL) is a summative and evaluative cover letter (for 3-4 individual letters of recommendation) that provides a holistic overview of Emory undergraduate experiences. The CL can be utilized for medical, dental, podiatry, and optometry programs and provides a snapshot of a student’s undergraduate career at Emory, summarizing and rating experiences in the following categories:

Academic Accomplishment
Community Service Experience
Leadership Experience
Clinical Experience
Research Experience (if completed)
Demonstration of the Emory Mission: to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a Composite Letter (CL) and gain access to the CL Application, junior/senior students must complete three required meetings: the Group Mandatory Check-Up, Peer Mentor 1:1 Follow-Up, and Advisor 1:1 Follow Up.

The Group Mandatory Check-Up and 1:1 Follow-Up meetings should be completed in the sophomore year. Students who did not complete these in the sophomore year should contact their advisor as soon as possible to discuss options for applying for a CL. 

Students who are unsure if they completed the Group Mandatory Check-Up, Peer Mentor 1:1, and Advisor 1:1 Follow-Up should contact phaletters@emory.edu to confirm.

Effective Summer 2024: Students are only eligible for ONE Composite Letter from PHA. Please meet with your advisor to discuss your application timeline.

Alumni are not eligible to apply for a new CL. Students must apply for a CL in either their junior or senior year. Alumni with an existing CL are eligible to request delivery of their existing CL through the LOR Hub application.

Application Process

Juniors and seniors who have completed the eligibility requirements (listed under eligibility) and plan to apply to programs in the upcoming spring cycle (or seniors applying in a future cycle) must submit the Intent to Apply Form during the fall semester.

Intent to Apply Form registrants will receive access to the Composite Letter (CL) SharePoint which outlines each component of the process, key deadlines, and strategies for crafting a strong application.

All students must meet the published deadlines throughout the application process to receive a final Composite Letter.

Timeline

Students must apply for a CL in either their junior or senior year and are only eligible for one CL.

Students should apply for a CL during their junior year if they do not plan to take a gap year.
Students should apply for a CL during their senior year if they plan to take one gap year or more. The CL will remain on file for delivery for up to 3 years post-graduation as a reflection of the student's undergraduate career.

Letter Delivery

Current Cycle Composite Letters

Letters are traditionally completed and ready for delivery in early July. Students in the current Composite Letter cohort will receive an e-mail with a Status Update in early July with the next steps for delivery. For detailed instructions, click How to Request Composite Letter Delivery.

Adding Letters to Applications

Information on entering CL information on Centralized Application Services (CAS’) can be found below. This information is updated in April/May of each year and can be entered into CAS applications before CLs are ready for delivery in July.

Existing Composite Letters and CAS Reapplicants:

The information below applies to:
- Alumni (within 3 years of graduation) who have an existing Composite Letter on file and are applying to a healthcare professional program for the first time.
- Any applicant (within 3 years of graduation) who applied to a healthcare professional program in the past using a Composite Letter and are reapplying to the same type of program, e.g., medical programs, dental programs, etc.
Applicants with an existing Composite Letter on file will deliver through the PHA LOR Hub. PHA will e-mail instructions in the year indicated by students on the PHA LOR Hub Contact Form.
- Current students (If you have an active netID): please Click here to join the PHA LOR Hub contact list to receive information about delivering your Composite Letter.
- Alumni (without an active Net ID): please complete the form through the ECAS Alumni Connect Service Portal. Are you new to the ECAS Alumni Service Portal, click here to sign up.
  - Contact prehealth@emory.edu with any questions of issues accessing the Alumni Service Portal.

The Composite Letter encapsulates the Emory undergraduate experience. Applicants are encouraged to collect additional letters of recommendation that speak to new experiences since the Composite Letter was written. Letters of recommendation can be submitted directly to the centralized application service (CAS) by the letter writer, in addition to the Composite Letter.