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UF Health University of Florida
College of Dentistry UNIVERSITY of FLORIDA
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Education Overview

Requesting Dean’s Letters

Every every post-dental school residency program requires the inclusion of a Dean’s Letter with your application. Also known as an Institutional Evaluation Letter, Dean’s Letters function as recommendation letters from your time at UFCD and provide insight into the type of student you were while in attendance. Features of the letter will include your final GPA and Class Rank, pass date for the NBDE or INBDE, various awards and honors you may have received, and highlights of your community service and involvement in student organizations at UFCD. 

As such, to write the best letter possible, we need three documents from you before we can get started:

  1. Your up-to-date CV
  2. Signed Release for Letter of Recommendation (FERPA Release)
  3. A full list of programs to which you are applying

Please send all documents to Alex Franklin at minimum 30 days prior to the first deadline (or whenever you need your letter by).

Any questions you have can be answered either by Alex Franklin or Dr. Patty Probert in the Office of Student Advocacy and Inclusion.

Please see below for more information about the three documents we need, as well as completed examples of all three.

Curriculum Vitae

Your CV functions as a detailed resume and includes highlights from your academic and professional career. Make sure it includes:

  • Your academic history (some go as far back as HS, but at least Undergrad is recommended), including dates
  • Your professional history (jobs you’ve held both in and out of Dentistry, including dates
  • Major accomplishments, such as:
    • Awards, honors, and distinctions
    • Community service and volunteerism 
    • Research and publications
    • Professional memberships, activities, and experiences (include leadership positions)

Make sure your CV is easy to read and understand and keep it concise (2-3 pages maximum). See the below example for more details:

Example CV: includes academic history, related employment, and Academic Leadership and Experience

CV Example

Release for Letter of Recommendation

In order to write your letter, we need your permission to include FERPA-protected information, such as your grades, class rank, etc.

Note: you will need to complete a release form for each faculty member you’ve requested a recommendation letter from. In this case, the faculty is Dr. Patricia Xirau-Probert.

The Release for Letter of Recommendation Form is found on the UFCD website:

FERPA Release Form Example

Instructions:

  1. I give my permission to…
    1. Dr. Patty Probert (or appropriate faculty)
  2. All persons or entities listed here…
    1. All programs I am applying to
  3. I give my permission for…
    1. Dr. Patty Probert (or appropriate faculty)
    2. Check the boxes!
  4. I hereby…
    1. Waive
    2. Do not waive

 

 

List of Programs

The last required item is a list of programs you are applying to; this is vital so that we know who to send your completed letter to once it is completed. 

There are three required components to a satisfactory list of programs:

  1. Program Info
    1. Include the program name, institution name, institution address, and relevant contact info (if applicable)
  2. Deadline
    1. List the program’s listed application deadline
  3. Participation in PASS
    1. Does this institution participate in ADEA PASS?
      1. If no, include where the letter should be sent to.

Program List Example