The composite letter is a unique, comprehensive letter written by a “composite writer” that provides an in-depth perspective on an applicant’s preparedness for medical/dental school. The composite writer integrates their own observations about the applicant with information from the applicant’s support letters and other support materials (such as the applicant’s autobiographical sketch, resume, and transcript). When completed, the composite will be a holistic summation of your academic, professional, and extracurricular experiences, as well as your personal qualities and character. It is our version of a “committee letter," which you may have learned about on school websites or application services websites.

The composite writer is the person you ask to be your head letter writer. They will integrate their evaluation of you with information and quotes from your support letters, as well as information from your autobiographical sketch, resume, and transcript. Additionally, they can provide context if you choose to ask them to share any meaningful information about your personal background or journey that was impactful to your overall trajectory. The composite is a cohesive letter that presents you as a Dartmouth applicant to MD, DO, or dental school.

Your composite writer must be from the Dartmouth community (i.e., Dartmouth College, Geisel, or DHMC). They are often the faculty or staff member who knows you best, and/or with whom you have the strongest connection and/or worked with the most.

In addition to your composite writer, you will choose 3 – 5 support writers to provide letters of recommendation. Each support writer will contribute their perspective of you and your preparedness for medical or dental school based on their direct experience and knowledge of you (whether that be through a course, job, internship, athletics, etc.). HPP will provide your support letters to your composite writer to help them write your comprehensive composite letter.

While detailing instructions are spelled out further in this handbook, below is a summary of the composite letter process.

You are responsible for understanding the composite letter process. You will choose and ask your support and composite writers, set deadlines with them, and provide them with your support writers with your autobiographical sketch and resume (or transcript if they request it). You will create a PrivateFolio account where your support letters will be uploaded, and where you’ll also upload your autobiographical sketch, resume, and transcript. You will stay in communication with your writers, and offer gentle reminders regarding deadlines. When all your support letters and other support materials are uploaded to PrivateFolio, you’ll submit a form to let HPP know. This will prompt HPP to send all your support letters and materials to your composite writer.

The composite writer works directly with HPP and does not upload their composite letter to PrivateFolio or have access to it. When the composite writer finishes writing a draft of their composite letter, they will send it to HPP for review. If edits are needed, HPP will work with the composite writer to create a final composite letter draft. Once this is done, HPP will create your Dartmouth Composite Letter of Evaluation Packet and upload it to PrivateFolio. We’ll then send you instructions on how to add your packet to your application.

When ALL your support letters are uploaded to PrivateFolio AND you have uploaded your autobiographical sketch, resume, and transcript, submit the Release to Composite Writer Form. This will prompt HPP to send your materials to your composite writer.

The final Dartmouth Composite Letter of Evaluation Packet is created by HPP staff to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and quality. The final composite letter packet is a single PDF document that includes your composite letter, your support letters, your citation report (if you have one), and a cover letter created by HPP that explains some of the unique aspects of Dartmouth College.

On average 1 – 4 weeks. The length of time it may take to review a composite letter is influenced by the following: the date it is submitted, the number of other composites on our list to review, the edits needed, how quickly the composite writer can respond to feedback, etc. When determining the order of when to review composites, we consider the date of submission, the date when the student’s application was verified, how many other students have a similar timeline, and time restraints on the composite writer’s end, etc.

When the composite letter packet is complete, you will receive a notification from HPP with instructions on how to send your packet from PrivateFolio to AMCAS. Sending your packet from PrivateFolio to AMCAS will be much quicker if you create a letter entry in AMCAS ahead of time. To learn how to create a letter entry in AMCAS for your packet, please see our Delivery Your Packet Instructions. These instructions also explain what you need to do to ensure your packet is sent to AACOMAS, AADSAS, or TMDSAS. This step of the process is usually completed during the summer of the year you are applying. 

You can submit your primary application without your composite letter packet! It is typical for the composite letter packet to be added later.