Composite Letter Timeline
Composite and Support Letters are written on your behalf, so be conscientious of the privilege that people are writing to support you in this process. Act accordingly, with clear communication, gratitude, and respect. The Health Professions Program is here to assist you in the process at every step. There are several parts that YOU are responsible for. Be sure to read through the Composite Letter Process Handbook for a comprehensive review of the many components, tasks, and timeline of the composite process.
The Composite Letter Process Timeline
These target deadlines are in place to benefit you, and we highly encourage you to follow this timeline as closely as possible. However, we will still work with you to have your composite letter packet completed even if your letter writers have a later timeline.
| WHO’S RESPONSIBLE? | DESCRIPTION OF TASK | TARGET DEADLINE | RECOMMENDED FINAL DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| YOU | Begin reaching out to and confirming your composite/support letter writers. Once you confirm your writers, confirm deadlines. | Jan 15 | April 1 |
| YOU | Provide your SUPPORT WRITERS with your resume and autobiographical sketch (and transcript if requested). | Jan 15 | April 1 |
| YOU | Open a PrivateFolio account and submit a “Request a Letter of Recommendation Form” to each of your supporting letter writers. Do NOT submit one to your composite writer. | Jan 15 | April 1 |
| YOU | Upload documents to PrivateFolio: Resume, Autobiographical Sketch, Dartmouth transcript/citation report, Additional transcripts – other transcripts where you took any college or graduate-level coursework. | March 25 | May 30 |
| YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT WRITERS | Letter writers upload letters to PrivateFolio. You are responsible for monitoring your PrivateFolio account. HPP does not monitor incoming letters. Do not send support letters to AMCAS. They will be included in your completed composite letter packet. | March 25 | May 30 |
| YOU | Submit the Release to Composite Writer Form online when all your supporting letters and documents are uploaded to PrivateFolio. | March 25 | May 30 |
| HPP | HPP will send your materials to your composite writer. Please allow at least 4 – 6 weeks for your writer to complete the composite letter. | March 25 | May 30 |
| COMPOSITE WRITER | Your composite writer submits their composite letter to HPP for review. You cannot access or read the letter—it is kept confidential. BE SURE TO SET A CLEAR DEADLINE WITH YOUR COMPOSITE WRITER. | Mid-May-June 25 | July 31 |
| HPP | HPP reviews and finalizes your composite letter, creates your packet, and uploads it to PrivateFolio. HPP emails you once the process is complete and will provide you with instructions on how to transmit letters into the application systems. Please note this entire process can take 1-4 weeks. | Mid-May-August | September |
| YOU | You will transmit the packet from your PrivateFolio account to the application system by following the instructions provided to you by HPP. | As soon as you receive HPP instructions | --- |
| YOU | After your primary application has been verified, make sure to fill out the Verification Notification Form. Please note that while we’ll use this information to help determine the order we review composite letters, it is NOT our only criteria. Other criteria we consider are the date composites are submitted, and any time restraints composite writers might have. | As soon as your app is verified | --- |
YOU
Begin reaching out to and confirming your composite/support letter writers. Once you confirm your writers, confirm deadlines.
Jan 15
April 1
YOU
Provide your SUPPORT WRITERS with your resume and autobiographical sketch (and transcript if requested).
Jan 15
April 1
YOU
Open a PrivateFolio account and submit a “Request a Letter of Recommendation Form” to each of your supporting letter writers. Do NOT submit one to your composite writer.
Jan 15
April 1
YOU
Upload documents to PrivateFolio: Resume, Autobiographical Sketch, Dartmouth transcript/citation report, Additional transcripts – other transcripts where you took any college or graduate-level coursework.
March 25
May 30
YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT WRITERS
Letter writers upload letters to PrivateFolio. You are responsible for monitoring your PrivateFolio account. HPP does not monitor incoming letters. Do not send support letters to AMCAS. They will be included in your completed composite letter packet.
March 25
May 30
YOU
Submit the Release to Composite Writer Form online when all your supporting letters and documents are uploaded to PrivateFolio.
March 25
May 30
HPP
HPP will send your materials to your composite writer. Please allow at least 4 – 6 weeks for your writer to complete the composite letter.
March 25
May 30
COMPOSITE WRITER
Your composite writer submits their composite letter to HPP for review. You cannot access or read the letter—it is kept confidential. BE SURE TO SET A CLEAR DEADLINE WITH YOUR COMPOSITE WRITER.
Mid-May-June 25
July 31
HPP
HPP reviews and finalizes your composite letter, creates your packet, and uploads it to PrivateFolio. HPP emails you once the process is complete and will provide you with instructions on how to transmit letters into the application systems. Please note this entire process can take 1-4 weeks.
Mid-May-August
September
YOU
You will transmit the packet from your PrivateFolio account to the application system by following the instructions provided to you by HPP.
As soon as you receive HPP instructions
---
YOU
After your primary application has been verified, make sure to fill out the Verification Notification Form. Please note that while we’ll use this information to help determine the order we review composite letters, it is NOT our only criteria. Other criteria we consider are the date composites are submitted, and any time restraints composite writers might have.
As soon as your app is verified
---