Open File Information for Pre-Health Professions Applicants

Making the decision to apply to graduate schools of health professions is only the beginning. It is important that students considering allopathic and osteopathic medical school, dental, veterinary, optometry, and podiatry schools take the time to assess their personal goals and understand their motivation to apply. As a student, you want to apply when you are the strongest, most competitive applicant. If you have assessed yourself and made the decision to apply, it will be important to devote the proper time and energy to the application process. The Office of Academic Advising is dedicated to helping you through this process.

What is the Health Professions Advising Committee (HPAC)?

The Health Professions Advising Committee’s (HPAC) role is to write formal committee letters of evaluation for students applying to graduate schools of health professions. This in-depth, personalized letter of evaluation accompanies individual letters of support (requested by the student) to form a Committee packet. Ultimately, the OAA and HPAC aim to create a letter that best represents a student’s candidacy for admission. Admission committees value these letters because they provide an integrated and institutional perspective on an applicant’s readiness for graduate study and a future career in the health professions.

What is Open File?

As part of creating these letters and helping applicants produce stronger applications, the HPAC requires students applying to graduate schools of health professions to participate in the “Open File” process. This process includes providing the Committee with relevant information, such as a curriculum vitae, a draft personal statement, and answers to a variety of informational interview questions. This information is then used to craft a committee letter of evaluation.

As part of the Open File process, the OAA also manages the receipt of all individual letters of support and ultimately submits a full Committee packet directly to the various health professions application services to accompany each student’s application.

Re-Applicant Policies

Students who have been accepted to any medical school (MD or DO) or dental school in the United States in a previous cycle are NOT ELIGIBLE to use the Health Professions Advising Committee letter or Open File process. (Please note that this policy does not apply to Rice-Baylor Scholars, UTH-McGovern Humanities Assured Acceptance Program students, FlexMed students, or any students who may have been admitted to a combined Bachelor 's-Medical School program from high school when they applied to college.)
Students may only receive the Rice HPAC committee letter a maximum of three (3) times, meaning you can only receive committee letters for three of your submitted applications. If this will be your fourth time submitting a medical/dental school application and receiving an HPAC letter, you are NOT ELIGIBLE to sign up.
In-cycle reapplicants are applicants who have completed the most recent application cycle and are awaiting acceptances. These applicants have until March 5, 2027, to register for Open File and be eligible for all Open File services. In-cycle reapplicants who apply between March 6, 2027, and April 2, 2027, remain eligible for a committee letter but will not receive a pre-application appointment.
- In-cycle reapplicants can withdraw at any time when accepted into a program for a full refund.
Out-of-cycle reapplicants are applicants who did not complete the most recent application cycle. These applicants should follow the regular applicant deadlines but will have until April 10th, 2026, to register. Registering between January 16 and April 10th will result in receiving a cover letter and no pre-application appointment.

General Open File Policies

First-time and out-of-cycle applicants who apply after the January 15, 2027, deadline will be considered late applicants. Late applicants will receive only a cover letter instead of a committee letter and will not be eligible for a pre-application appointment or a mock interview.
Pre-application appointments can be rescheduled for good reason. Applicants will not be eligible for a pre-application appointment if there is a no-call, no-show, or last-minute cancellation without good reason.
Both the application and the fee must be submitted by the applicant's deadline. If you feel as though you may not be able to pay the fee, please email hpa@rice.edu.

Applicants for Fall 2028 Admission

The OAA will hold two Open File sessions in the Fall 2026 semester for students or alumni seeking admission to medical or dental schools for Fall 2028. Attendance at both sessions is expected of those interested in participating in Open File.

Assessing Your Candidacy (September 14, 2026) - Advisors provide students with information to help them assess their readiness for medical school and identify ways to strengthen their applications. If you are not able to attend this session, please watch the recording and use the worksheet to assess your candidacy.
- Session Worksheets
- Assessing Your Candidacy Session Recording (EY 2027)
Open File 101 (early November 2026) - Open File launch session with details on what is expected of Open File participants.
- Open File 101 Session Recording (EY 2027)

Open File Guide for 2027 Cycle

[Registration is now closed] Payment and registration links are provided in Part 1 of the Open File Guide below. The HPAC can only work with applicants who have completed or will complete their undergraduate degree at Rice University.