Any tips on writing letters for interview offers

[hopefulM.D.]

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I had only one view offer, and I am worried about not getting others...what kind of letter should i write...long short etc?

 

[Slippery Pete]

I had only one view offer, and I am worried about not getting others...what kind of letter should i write...long short etc?

don't bother...

unless you have a significant update to mention (e.g. grades, etc)

 

[CarleneM]

i did this for three schools and so far, i have interviews at two of the 3 schools. cornell hasn't taken the bait but upenn and johns hopkins did. Definitely keep the letter under a page and mention specific reasons you are interested in the school. It can be geographic, a specific researcher, anything. I then had a paragraph that was an update and attached a CV. My CV happens to look pretty good, i think, an perhaps is easier to interpret than the AMCAS application. I think it really helped at least catch their attention. showing interest is definitely a worthwhile thing. someone here had posted that a dean said that one of the reasons they got picked for an interview was calling to check on their status since it showed interest, so i'd say go for it.

 

[hopefulM.D.]

i did this for three schools and so far, i have interviews at two of the 3 schools. cornell hasn't taken the bait but upenn and johns hopkins did. Definitely keep the letter under a page and mention specific reasons you are interested in the school. It can be geographic, a specific researcher, anything. I then had a paragraph that was an update and attached a CV. My CV happens to look pretty good, i think, an perhaps is easier to interpret than the AMCAS application. I think it really helped at least catch their attention. showing interest is definitely a worthwhile thing. someone here had posted that a dean said that one of the reasons they got picked for an interview was calling to check on their status since it showed interest, so i'd say go for it.

Thanks for the info CarleneM

 

[Haybrant]

i did this for three schools and so far, i have interviews at two of the 3 schools. cornell hasn't taken the bait but upenn and johns hopkins did. Definitely keep the letter under a page and mention specific reasons you are interested in the school. It can be geographic, a specific researcher, anything. I then had a paragraph that was an update and attached a CV. My CV happens to look pretty good, i think, an perhaps is easier to interpret than the AMCAS application. I think it really helped at least catch their attention. showing interest is definitely a worthwhile thing. someone here had posted that a dean said that one of the reasons they got picked for an interview was calling to check on their status since it showed interest, so i'd say go for it.

hey carlene; this is stuff that ive been doing and it seems to have worked at one place; happens to be one of my top choices🙂. But i wanted to send to JHU and I called to get their fax number to send it in; however they told me they dont want any updates sent in unless they requested it. Did they request an update from you or did you just send it in? I think ill send anyway but just curious; thanks!

 

[hopefulM.D.]

I did T.A. work for almost 1.5 years....I am going to be a T.A. again for an O-chem lab section...would that be enough to write a letter for an interest in interviews???

 

[CarleneM]

hey carlene; this is stuff that ive been doing and it seems to have worked at one place; happens to be one of my top choices🙂. But i wanted to send to JHU and I called to get their fax number to send it in; however they told me they dont want any updates sent in unless they requested it. Did they request an update from you or did you just send it in? I think ill send anyway but just curious; thanks!

nah, i just sent it in without them requesting it. it didn't hurt me but can't say whether or not it contributed to their decision to interview me. i would send it (over snail mail) since it seems like these adminstrative assistants (at all schools, not just jhu) tell different people different things about when letters are being sent out, what cryptic emails mean, when interviews end, etc.

 

[Slippery Pete]

i did this for three schools and so far, i have interviews at two of the 3 schools. cornell hasn't taken the bait but upenn and johns hopkins did. Definitely keep the letter under a page and mention specific reasons you are interested in the school. It can be geographic, a specific researcher, anything. I then had a paragraph that was an update and attached a CV. My CV happens to look pretty good, i think, an perhaps is easier to interpret than the AMCAS application. I think it really helped at least catch their attention. showing interest is definitely a worthwhile thing. someone here had posted that a dean said that one of the reasons they got picked for an interview was calling to check on their status since it showed interest, so i'd say go for it.

fu-ck that

you would've gotten interviews at those joints anyway.

"taken the bait" --you gotta be kiddin me

schools dont have time to read pointless drivel like pre-interview loi's (i being interest). if they wanna interview u, they will.

my advice to the op: if things are lookin grim, start workin on improvin ur application NOW for nxt yr; dont wait around 'til the fat lady sings with a false sense of hope.

😀

😀

😀

👎

 

[caligirl714]

what does an update letter include besides grades?

i just finished school and have 3 jobs right now and was offered a TA lab position at my University...is that enough for an update or not even worth it?

thanks

 

[tacrum43]

i did this for three schools and so far, i have interviews at two of the 3 schools. cornell hasn't taken the bait but upenn and johns hopkins did. Definitely keep the letter under a page and mention specific reasons you are interested in the school. It can be geographic, a specific researcher, anything. I then had a paragraph that was an update and attached a CV. My CV happens to look pretty good, i think, an perhaps is easier to interpret than the AMCAS application. I think it really helped at least catch their attention. showing interest is definitely a worthwhile thing. someone here had posted that a dean said that one of the reasons they got picked for an interview was calling to check on their status since it showed interest, so i'd say go for it.

what's a CV?

 

[docinthemaking]

what's a CV?

Curriculum Vitae or a resume.

 

[Haybrant]

fu-ck that

you would've gotten interviews at those joints anyway.

"taken the bait" --you gotta be kiddin me

schools dont have time to read pointless drivel like pre-interview loi's (i being interest). if they wanna interview u, they will.

my advice to the op: if things are lookin grim, start workin on improvin ur application NOW for nxt yr; dont wait around 'til the fat lady sings with a false sense of hope.

😀

😀

😀

👎

i disagree; i wrote a letter to a top tier school that I dont think quite saw how good a match i am just from my amcas and I think it helped land an interview. My stats are good but not nearly like some people that got rejected from this school. But if you really feel like you fit at a particular school it's worth the shot of trying it; its not like you cant work on improving you application for next year at the same time. Lets just say it isnt something that is likely to hurt you unless you arent honest and sincere about it.

 

[MD Rapper]

x

 

[Kal-El]

How would you guys send and update of your grades? Did you attach an unofficial copy of your transcript to the letter?

 

[Kal-El]

bump

 

[nikibean]

I sent a letter of intent to UCSF and UC Davis.
I also sent two new recs to each school that were pretty heavy(famous or professors at their med schools) and that they hadn't seen due to their 5 letter limit and the time frame in which I received my secondary.
I also sent in my transcript from a summer biochem course, and that was official.
In my letter of intent, I included what I've been doing since my post-bac program, why specifically I am interested in their school, and why I think I deserve an interview. UCSF has been very encouraging every time I speak to them on the phone ("yes we want to see this and we're starting to look at our "on holds" this week...") - they said to "keep your application fresh."
If that means telling a school that you're a TA, then so be it. But think about that implication: not only are you a TA, you hold a position of responsibility. How does that prepare you for their school? What does that say about your character. Toot your g*damned horn. I feel like it's my last chance for something, might as well do it. As we say on the river, "if you're gonna go, go big..."

 

[nikibean]

Hey for those of you who got interviews after letters of interest, how long did that take?
a month? two? a week?
give a time frame, please... 😀

 

[sunsweet]

I wrote update letters to yale and cornell a few weeks ago but still haven't heard anything. Is there anything else I can do? maybe email the dean?

 

[Dr. Donkey]

I'm in the same position as you with these schools. I sent my update letters and all, but I'm not sure if it's worth doing that much more. I think people tend to look at these schools as lower ranked top tier schools because their average stats and, of course, their ranking is slightly lower than the schools like Harvard, Duke, JHU, etc. However, I'm thinking that they are not much less selective, and therefore you get a bunch of people applying and kindof expecting an interview, only to be dissappointed. Anyone else agree?

I wrote update letters to yale and cornell a few weeks ago but still haven't heard anything. Is there anything else I can do? maybe email the dean?