Credential Letters
Introduction
LAS Pre-Health Advising does not write committee or composite letters of recommendation for students or alumni applying to medical school. Nor do we compile letters of recommendation on behalf of a student. However, we recognize that UIC students and alumni have many facets of their experiences to share with health professions programs. The Credential Letter is offered by LAS Pre-Health Advising as one way provide that information.
With the changes in admissions policies and practices following the Supreme Court Decisions in the Harvard and UNC v Fair Practice in Admissions cases, the UIC Credential Letter can be an important component in your application to selective graduate health professions programs. The Credential Letter allows LAS Pre-Health Advising to highlight aspects of your lived experiences, academic work, and extracurricular, work, and/or volunteer experiences that you feel is important and valuable to your application. The Credential Letter does NOT replace traditional academic or experiential letters of recommendation required by health professions programs. You will still need to submit at least one to two letters of recommendation from faculty/teaching assistants who can speak to your experiences in the classroom. Many health professions programs also recommend or require letters of recommendation from a practitioner in the field you are interested in applying to. More information on letters of recommendation can be found in our Letters of Recommendation webinar series or you are welcome to bring up this topic in one of the required appointments with a Pre-Health Advisor.
A Credential Letter is available for any UIC undergraduate or alumni planning to apply to a graduate health profession program in the upcoming cycle. Please email LASprehealth@uic.edu to schedule an appointment if you no longer have access to iAdvise.
Purpose
The purpose of the Credential Letter is two-fold. It is meant to serve as an incentive for students to engage with Pre-Health Advising at UIC in order to improve preparedness for the application. It is also to provide context for a candidate’s application for admission to a health profession program when possible.
The Credential Letter is not intended to replace faculty or practioner letters of recommendation, nor is it intended to serve as a committee letter. It does not necessarily indicate advisor endorsement of the applicant.
A sample of the Credential Letter is available for students who wish to review what the document will look like.
Requirements for candidates and participation
In order to receive a Credential Letter, students must meet all requirements and deadlines.
Required to Participate
- Be a UIC undergraduate or alum (received a BA/BS from any college at UIC).
- Be planning to apply in the upcoming cycle.
- Submit the electronic Credential Letter Interest Form indicating your interest.
- Read and (as necessary) respond to all emails from pre-health advisors regarding the Credential Letter.
- Follow all requirements of candidates as detailed in that tab.
- Meet all deadlines during the process.
Required of Candidates
- Meet with a pre-health advisor (Senior Pre-Health Advisors Anya Cruz or Curtis Kimberlin) at least once in the year before applying (for example, Summer 2026 to Summer 2027). Alumni should email LASprehealth@uic.edu to request an appointment if you no longer have access to iAdvise.
- The purpose of this meeting is to make sure you are ready to apply and to go over any basic questions you may have. Please come prepared to ask questions and participate in a dialogue about why you want to pursue the pre-health field you are interested in and what you feel like you bring to the field. You will be consistently asked these questions in the application and interview process and approaching this thoughtfully will help you to build a strong application. Active participation is a part of preparing yourself for the intensity of the application.
- Meet with a pre-health advisor, separately from your initial meeting, to discuss your school fit and review your potential school list before you apply. These meetings typically take place between late April and June.
- Submit an Intent to Apply form which will include the following:
- Questions that are meant to help provide context to your experiences
- A place to upload your activities list and/or your resume (one is required).
- A place to upload your personal statement (required, but can be in draft form).
- Apply to health profession program(s) in the time frame agreed upon in meeting with a pre-health advisor.
- Check “yes” on the question in your health professions application to release your application information to advisors for the purpose of receiving continued help as needed in the application process and for the following of your final application outcome.
Previous Credential Letter Recipients
Individuals who completed the Credential Letter process in a previous cycle but who decided to wait to apply are welcome to participate again. You will need to complete all steps listed in the “Required of Candidates” tab. Information used in a past cycle can used to provided additional context, but because you will have changed over time we want to make sure that your Credential Letter reflects who you are at the time of your application.