another letter of intent question

[owenmichael]

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Ok here is my situation.
I interviewed at a school which is my top choice. I want to write a letter of intent and say its my top choice. But I'm worried that after I do, I will hear back from another school that could sway me away.

Would it be wrong to write the letter "of intent."
I am simply going to explain why the school is my top choice and how I think I could contribute to the class (I am not going to say that I am withdrawing if I get accepted because I won't)

What do you guys think?

 

[DeadorAlive]

If you're waiting on another school that "could sway you away" then it doesn't sound like your first choice. Only do the letter of intent if you're 100% sure it's your top choice, other schools (or scholarships) notwithstanding.

 

[jbone]

Do whatever the hell you want. Write them all a letter of intent. Take control of your situation and when the time is up, you'll have the cards stacked in your favor. Even if you can be "swayed", write a letter of intent anyway. Good luck. 👍

 

[diosa428]

I don't think telling a school that they are your "top choice" is the same thing as a letter of intent. I think a letter of intent says that you will withdraw from any schools you are holding acceptances at and matriculate if you are accepted.

 

[owenmichael]

I don't think telling a school that they are your "top choice" is the same thing as a letter of intent. I think a letter of intent says that you will withdraw from any schools you are holding acceptances at and matriculate if you are accepted.

my bad, and thats what I want to do, tell them their my top choice (as of right now), but I am not going to offer withdrawing my acceptances... ethical?

 

[diosa428]

my bad, and thats what I want to do, tell them their my top choice (as of right now), but I am not going to offer withdrawing my acceptances... ethical?

It seems reasonable to me to tell a school that it's your top choice, as long as you're not promising to matriculate, they can't hold you to anything.

 

[DrKitty]

my bad, and thats what I want to do, tell them their my top choice (as of right now), but I am not going to offer withdrawing my acceptances... ethical?

I think you can write whatever you want in order to maximize your chances, but I think your letter will be stronger and have more impact on them (made them listen?) by actually saying that you are ready to withdraw from other schools' acceptances. This statement will truly prove to them that their school is INDEED your first choice. Also, you might want to wait until you are done interviewing at all other schools in order to make such a decision.

 

[etudiante04]

What if you are waitlisted (postinterview) at one school and put "on hold" (postsecondary, preinterview) at another school? Would it be OK to write an LOI to both schools?

 

[diosa428]

What if you are waitlisted (postinterview) at one school and put "on hold" (postsecondary, preinterview) at another school? Would it be OK to write an LOI to both schools?

It is very unlikely that writing a LOI to a school that you haven't interviewed at yet will increase your chances. A better idea is to write an update letter with a paragraph about why you're interested in the school. However, regardless, it is a terrible idea to write a letter of intent to two schools. A letter of interest is fine, but schools can communicate and if they find out that you wrote them both a letter of intent, then they will most likely both reject you. Picture this: you get in to both schools. In March schools can see where you've been accepted. So school A looks and sees that you're also holding an acceptance at school B. School A calls school B and tells them that you promised to matriculate at school A. Then school B says, no etudiante04 told US that. Then they both withdraw your acceptances and you are SOL.

 

[konverse]

Do whatever the hell you want. Write them all a letter of intent. Take control of your situation and when the time is up, you'll have the cards stacked in your favor. Even if you can be "swayed", write a letter of intent anyway. Good luck. 👍

lol jbone
i like the way u think but i have some issues with the outcome on all other applicants if we did that...

back to the original Q -- does everyone realize that time is on your side? give it a bit, wait and see how things pan out and then make your decision with the most amount of information possible. <but don't ride the fence forever>. if u already interviewed and did reasonably well your file ain't gonna be burned. adcoms too are testing the waters no sense in shaking the pot too much if you're not sure which way it's gonna tip.