HCEC

Yesterday was the deadline for registration with the Health Career Evaluation Committee (HCEC).

In an effort to have the most efficient registration of the majority of the pre-medical students at Cornell, the HCEC decided to limit the times for registration from 5:00pm-7:00pm on the 27th and 28th of January. This logistical decision was rationalized because "this is the time between which we find students have the most flexibility." Perhaps this is true.

As I sauntered up the Barnes hall at 4:54pm, I was displeased but not too surprised to find that the lobby was packed full with early-birds waiting to hand in their package, and get moving with step 2 of the registration process. Ah, the 'neurotic pre-med' student. How I often get annoyed with that stereotype with which we are labeled. But that's an issue for a later post.

The HCEC offers a valuable service to the medical schools and students. The prospective medical student presents the committee with 3 letters of recommendation from professors, faculty or employers, in addition to transcripts and forms that detail all extracurricular activities. The committee then interviews the candidate, and puts all these things together to produce a letter from the university describing and endorsing that candidate. All 4 letters are sent to medical schools where the student wishes to apply. It is said that medical school admissions officers hold these university letters in high regard when it comes to evaluating the candidate. Needless to say, getting the ball rolling on this process is not a trivial task.