2 page LOI, too boringly long?

[TracksuitsRock]

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OK i feel like a tool for writing this because this is the most nauseatingly repetitive topic in this forum, but I am writing a letter of interest and it is almost two pages long! Is that ridiculous? For those who have written them, have you kept them succinct (1 page or less)? I am wordy.

 

[tigress]

This is a good question -- how long is too long? I'm writing an update letter/letter of interest as well, and it's just under one page but I still feel like it's very long. Anybody have any insight here?

 

[wildcat05]

I think up to one page is fine, but I definitely wouldn't go over one page.

 

[wildcat05]

I think up to one page is fine, but I definitely wouldn't go over one page. You just want to let them know that you are interested in their school and the main reasons why. Theres no need to write a full length essay!

 

[SigPi]

OK i feel like a tool for writing this because this is the most nauseatingly repetitive topic in this forum, but I am writing a letter of interest and it is almost two pages long! Is that ridiculous? For those who have written them, have you kept them succinct (1 page or less)? I am wordy.

If it's just a flat out LOI then yes, IMO that is way too long. Even if you are combining an update with a letter of interest (like, you cured cancer or something) then you should easily be able to fit that on a single page or less. Keep in mind the people who will potentially read it are very busy and have many, many applications alone to read.

Mine was an update and a letter of interest/intent. Told them about my new position, recent activies and that I heavily favored the school for X reasons. Also included why I thought the school would be a great fit for me (connect yourself in someway to the schools mission). All this neatly fit onto a 3/4 - 1 page, even with all the proper business letter formatting. Good luck to you!

 

[TracksuitsRock]

Thanks everyone!

 

[BMW M3]

Mine was 2 pages long, but it was hand written.

edit: yes, the letter was addressed to NYU

 

[bubbleyum]

good golly, what are you putting in your letter? how many different ways can you write "i really want to go to your school, it is my number one choice?"

i wrote an update letter, it was a little over half a page.

 

[06applicant]

good golly, what are you putting in your letter? how many different ways can you write "i really want to go to your school, it is my number one choice?"

i wrote an update letter, it was a little over half a page.

Do you all write update letters in paragraph form? I just want to send a quick update using bullets, kind of like a memo. Anyone do something like that?

 

[tigress]

(Sorry OP, I don't mean to hijack your thread.)

Well, my letter first says that I'm interested in the school and why, and then has an update. Since I interviewed on their first interview day, months and months ago, there is actually quite a bit to say: what I've been doing in my job, extra shadowing I've done, volunteer work with my synagogue, working on an election campaign, and activity with another political organization. So to describe all of that takes space, especially the part about my job, because I'm getting basically constant clinical exposure so I want to discuss that.

I do wonder how much I should say about the political stuff. I want to mention that I'm campaigning for a Senate candidate, and I think that's enough (without mentioning party affiliation), but as far as my other stuff, it's with a specific healthcare group, and just by mentioning the name it's obvious what their political platform is.

I'm not sure a bulleted letter would really work. I would stick to business letter format.

 

[bubbleyum]

ok i have another question about these letters.

when writing a thank you/letter of intent/interest, do you guys lay out all your strengthswhen you say you think your would be a good fit for their school? i am wondering if that would sound too cocky like i was praising myself to the admissions committee or something...

any thoughts?

 

[thegenius]

OK i feel like a tool for writing this because this is the most nauseatingly repetitive topic in this forum, but I am writing a letter of interest and it is almost two pages long! Is that ridiculous? For those who have written them, have you kept them succinct (1 page or less)? I am wordy.

It should not be two page long. Try two paragraphs.

 

[BMW M3]

blah.. double post

 

[BMW M3]

ok i have another question about these letters.

when writing a thank you/letter of intent/interest, do you guys lay out all your strengthswhen you say you think your would be a good fit for their school? i am wondering if that would sound too cocky like i was praising myself to the admissions committee or something...

any thoughts?

Not an expert, but this is my take on it. Med schools are like anyone of the opposite sex that is remotely interested in you: they love to hear what you think about them.

They already have your strengths/weaknesses in the personal statement as well as their secondary essay, but what they don't know is what you think of their school. I think the letter of intent should spell what YOU think the best qualities of the school are and why you like the school so much.

Good luck

 

[MrBurns10]

Here's a question for you guys...I interviewed at my top choice today and one of my interviewers was the dean of admissions. I plan on writing her a thank you note tonight, but I was also thinking about writing a letter of intent. Is it possible to sort of combine the two? I mean, I talked a little about what I liked about the school in the interview (I would have talked about it more but I wasn't asked this question), but I want to mention it again. Would it be okay to say "thanks so much for meeting with me" and then mentioning why I feel like the school is a good fit for me and that it's my top choice, or should I just stick with "thank you?" Also, I work at this school...is it okay to hand-deliver the note or should I just stick with the mail route? thanks for any opinions you have.

 

[adcomm]

short and sweet, baby, short and sweet. three paragraphs (intro, asskissing, closure) is plenty.

 

[ND2005]

short and sweet, baby, short and sweet. three paragraphs (intro, asskissing, closure) is plenty.

What about:

P1: Intro AND asskissing
P2: Update on activities
P3: closure

?

 

[bsteves4]

for the update portion of such a letter do you write a paragraph or bulleted list?

 

[happydays]

General guidelines for your LOI:

1. Handwritten
2. Use professional stationary
3. No more than one page.

The content is entirely up to you, but they should address why you love the school soooooo much, why you're a good fit, and how you'll cut off a finger to go there.

 

[MechE]

short and sweet, baby, short and sweet. three paragraphs (intro, asskissing, closure) is plenty.

Mine was just a little longer: intro, two paragraphs of asskissing, closure.

 

[USArmyDoc]

General guidelines for your LOI:

1. Handwritten
2. Use professional stationary
3. No more than one page.

The content is entirely up to you, but they should address why you love the school soooooo much, why you're a good fit, and how you'll cut off a finger to go there.

Really? They need to be hand written? I typed it out and signed them. I also made them around a half of page. I figured they are busy enough so I try to be a succinct as possible.

 

[Depakote]

Really? They need to be hand written? I typed it out and signed them. I also made them around a half of page. I figured they are busy enough so I try to be a succinct as possible.

I think typed and signed is fine. There are varying schools of thought on the subject... It all really comes down to personal preference.

 

[BMW M3]

There are varying schools of thought on the subject... It all really comes down to personal preference.

I agree; typed is fine, but you can easily edit it and sent it to another school whereas hand written shows that you put in the time and effort to personalize the letter

 

[USArmyDoc]

I agree; typed is fine, but you can easily edit it and sent it to another school whereas hand written shows that you put in the time and effort to personalize the letter

Very true. Next time, I'll make it handwritten. Good idea BMW M3! I'll wait for the responses from my schools first.

 

[Pewl]

Hey, can someone send me a copy of a letter of intent that they wrote? You can take out the names and the name of the school and such. I just really want to see the format of one of these LOI's.

PM me for my email.

 

[chandelantern]

Wow - I never even thought to handwrite a letter of intent/interest!?! Thank you letters, yes, but I think it's perfectly fine to type and sign a LOI.

I just wanted to add that I think there are other ways to write write updates/LOI that what is being mentioned here. I wrote a LOI and update letter back in November, before these threads were in circulation, and apparently broke all the rules you guys are talking about! My LOI was about 3/4 page - a normal letter length. My updates were 2 pages, for a total of 3 typed pages. I didn't just list my new/recent experiences (major research that wasn't on my application, an international medical trip that wasn't on my app, new positions, etc.) but explained these experiences and how they relate to my future, etc. Concise? probably not, no, but I don't think it was inappropriate. apparently it didn't matter because I was accepted 2-3 weeks later (yes, it's a top tier school.)

My advice: this may be your last chance to "sell yourself" to the school as well as convince them this is where you want to be. Don't repeat anything on your application (primary or secondary) or that you talked about at great lengths in your interview. Put new stuff on the update only, and if that warrents a whole page by itself (or more) then put it. Make sure you edit it and have someone read it over too.

 

[MeowMix]

General guidelines for your LOI:
1. Handwritten
2. Use professional stationary
3. No more than one page.

I am not sure where you got your guidelines, but personally I would not advise an applicant to submit a handwritten letter. If you feel driven to display your exquisite handwriting, then please do so, but it's really not necessary (and if I were Dean, I'd prefer something printed because it's much easier on the eyes). And it's frustrating to not be able to delete mistakes!

 

[45408]

I agree; typed is fine, but you can easily edit it and sent it to another school whereas hand written shows that you put in the time and effort to personalize the letter

eh, I'd rather read a typed letter if I were reviewing them. I intend to make it specific enough that the letter is custom - besides, I'll be saying "I WILL ATTEND IF YOU ACCEPT ME"

 

[ND2005]

General guidelines for your LOI:

1. Handwritten
2. Use professional stationary
3. No more than one page.

The content is entirely up to you, but they should address why you love the school soooooo much, why you're a good fit, and how you'll cut off a finger to go there.

I would never handwrite. I don't want schools to look at my handwriting and think they have an 8 year old applying to their program.