Health Professions Letter-Forwarding Service (HPLFS)

Feng-Yun Tan, Coordinator

Barry S. Rothman, Supervisor

SFSU Health Professions Advisor

Welcome to SFSU's Health Professions Letter-Forwarding Service web page. HPLFS (formerly HPAC) forwards letters of recommendation to health professions schools, an important part of the application process. This service is available to all. Links to the SFSU Health Professions Web Page and web-based application services for various health profession schools are listed below.

Fees:

Must be paid to SFSU Cashier before service can be rendered.

See the detailed Instructions Form, below.

  • HPLFS Account: $85 for SFSU students and SFSU alumni; $150 for all others.

       Covers opening an HPLFS account on your behalf, and keeping it active for 1 year.

  • Letter Packet Forwarding, including cover letter: $7 per school for for SFSU students and SFSU alumni; $12 for all others.

  • Express Handling: $12 service fee per packet of letters, paid to HPLFS via cashiers office using HPLFS fee form. Express letters are sent by FedEx, which charges additional fees ranging from $18 to $35 per packet of letters, depending on destination. A valid credit-card number must be provided to the HPLFS office to cover FedEx charges. FedEx, not HPLFS, will bill your credit card.

  • Additional List of Schools: $5 for each time you submit a new school or list of schools to which to forward letters. The standard $7 per school letter forwarding fee still applies. (For example, if you add 2 schools to your original list, your total fees will be $5 new list fee + 2 x $7 letter  forwarding fee = $19). Your first list of schools is covered by the HPLFS account fee.

Forms for Letter-Forwarding Service:

All forms are in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.

 

Please download and  print out all forms.

Instructions - This form has detailed instructions for setting up an HPLFS file and having letters forwarded to the HPLFS Office. Includes supplemental instructions on paying fees by mail.

Application - Use this form to set up an account with HPLFS.

Fee Form - Use this form to pay fees at the SFSU Cashier, located in the lobby of the Administration Building (ADM). Fees can be sent by mail or paid by credit card on the internet or by phone (see Instructions form above).

List of Schools - Use this form to send names and addresses of health profession schools to which your letter packets should be sent. This information can also be sent to the HPLFS Office by e-mail, but cannot be accepted by phone.

Reference Verification Form - Give one signed form to each recommender - must be included with each original letter. Allows you to choose whether letter is confidential (waive right to see letter) or non-confidential (retain right to see letter).

Contact Information:

Office: Hensill Hall, Room 219, located on 19th Ave, midway between Winston Ave          (Stonestown Mall) and Holloway Ave.  Campus Map

Hours:

Monday - Friday, 9 am -12 noon and 1 pm - 5 pm.

         Please check outgoing phone message for up-to-date information.

Phone: 415-338-2410

Fax:     415-338-2295

         Please prominently display Health Professions Letter-Forwarding Service on cover sheet.

E-mail: hplfs@sfsu.edu

Mailing Address: Health Professions Letter-Forwarding Service

                               College of Science and Engineering, TH 323

                               San Francisco State University

                               1600 Holloway Ave.

                               San Francisco, CA 94132

Getting to SFSU by driving or public transportation.

Parking: Those coming from off-campus can park in the residential areas just east of 19th Ave. There is time-unlimited parking along 19th Ave and Junípero Serra Ave, but parking spaces are rarely available. More frequently available parking can be found along Winston Ave and the streets that abut onto it (2 hour limit), and along Holloway Ave and the streets that abut onto it (1 hour limit). Do not park in the Stonestown Shopping Center parking lot - you risk being towed. See MapQuest for a local area map.

 

Supervisor: Dr. Barry Rothman, Professor of Biology, SFSU

 

Useful Links:

Barry Rothman's Web Page - contains extensive information on preparing for health professions at SFSU.

American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)

American College of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (ACOMAS)

American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS)

Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS)

Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)

Veterinary Medicine Application Service (VMCAS)

 

Updated: 1/3/08