RFU Pathway Applicant Portfolio Materials

Guidelines for 2023-2024

Students will be expected to have the following materials together in order to apply for graduate programs and submit materials to the Health Professions Program Office at  healthprofessions@lakeforest.edu by February 5, 2024.

The Pre-Health Advising Committee will review the following materials for completion and submit these materials to RFU, February 29, 2024:

Academics

• Unofficial Transcripts (Committee will access and submit this from mylakeforest)
• Cumulative and program pre-requisite GPA (Committee will calculate and submit)
• Program-specific Admissions test scores (if needed for the RFU pathway)

Curriculum vitae

• Personal Biography and contact information
• Educational history
• Shadowing, Volunteerism, Clubs/Organizations, work, etc.
• Professional publications/presentations
• Key professional activities supplement (will be explained during an information session)

Personal statement 

• No more than 2 pages, single spaced
• Reflect on Diversity and Adversity
• Address Personal Strengths and Weaknesses
• Why graduate health professions? Which specific pathway and Why?

Individual Letters of Recommendation

• Three or more letters by College faculty, and physicians or other health professionals
• Students should select letter writers who can address student maturity, empathy, ability to understand and synthesize material, service mindedness, work with others, etc.
• Include recommendations from research mentor or supervisor (if appropriate)

In addition to submitting these materials to RFU on behalf of the pathway applicant, the Pre-health Advising Committee will also directly submit an applicant endorsement letter to RFU by February 29.

What is critical for the committee evaluation of a pathway applicant for this endorsement letter is their academic record, relevant coursework, relevant experience, quality of recommendation letters, maturity, awareness of the profession, personality, and score in admissions tests (where appropriate).

RFU will review portfolio materials for pathway applicants and invite those that meet Admissions standards for interview by Late April/Early May.

Application decisions will follow by the end of the semester.