CSU does not offer committee letters for a variety of reasons. One of the primary drawbacks of committee letters is their general or basic nature. They often summarize an applicant’s qualifications in a way that may not capture the unique qualities and experiences that set each individual apart. Admissions committees value the ability to get to know applicants as individuals, and committee letters can sometimes undermine this by presenting applicants in a uniform manner. The feedback we’ve received from many programs is they really would like applicant’s recommenders to be individuals who can objectively assess the applicants’ personal qualities such as integrity and ethics; reliability and dependability; social, interpersonal and teamwork skills; adaptability; empathy; and enthusiasm to learn. We consistently hear from programs that they want recommenders who know the applicants well and we do not believe committee letters often provide that level of relationship.
Additonally, committee letters are typically written by a committee or a pre-health advisor, and while they may provide an overall view of an applicant’s qualifications, they may not fully encompass their personal journey and development throughout their undergraduate years. An applicant’s unique experiences and character may not be adequately conveyed in a committee letter, potentially impacting their chances of being noticed by admissions committees.
Most programs you are/will be applying to are fine with this policy, if needed we will be happy to write you a statement veryfying that we do not provide them to our students.