Dilemma: should I send in a letter of intent?

[bozz]

There is one school in particular that I love. It is my #1 choice and I enjoyed my interview experience there thoroughly.

There is also another school that I like (similarly ranked) but is 1/3 the cost of school #1.

I've interviewed at these places but haven't been accepted.. and school #1 makes a decision before Christmas and is notorious for placing ton of people on their waitlist. Should I sent a letter of intent there? If it's my #1 choice, I wouldn't want to hang around waiting for a waitlist spot to send one in.

The other thing that makes it hard is that school #2 is much cheaper. I may very well be rejected at both schools.. who knows? But I really want school #1 to know they're my number 1 choice. When you send a letter of intent and get in, are you committed to going there? Because there are other factors that affect your decision as well.. such as $

 

[shemarty]

There is one school in particular that I love. It is my #1 choice and I enjoyed my interview experience there thoroughly.

There is also another school that I like (similarly ranked) but is 1/3 the cost of school #1.

I've interviewed at these places but haven't been accepted.. and school #1 makes a decision before Christmas and is notorious for placing ton of people on their waitlist. Should I sent a letter of intent there? If it's my #1 choice, I wouldn't want to hang around waiting for a waitlist spot to send one in.

The other thing that makes it hard is that school #2 is much cheaper. I may very well be rejected at both schools.. who knows? But I really want school #1 to know they're my number 1 choice. When you send a letter of intent and get in, are you committed to going there? Because there are other factors that affect your decision as well.. such as $

If you send a letter of intent, the letter essentially says "if you accept me i promise I will matriculate."

In that case, yes, you are promising that you will matriculate if they accept you.

If you're not 100% sure that school 1 is your top choice, then you can send them a letter of interest, which says "I really really really like this school and I am perfect for it. Please accept me!" but you are not promising to matriculate if they accept you

 

[katarina90]

Lol at the overuse of the word "dilemma" lately....

But no, I agree with shemarty. If you're not sure, then don't send a letter of intent. If you want to send something and you're not positive, send a letter of interest...

 

[oober]

There is one school in particular that I love. It is my #1 choice and I enjoyed my interview experience there thoroughly.

There is also another school that I like (similarly ranked) but is 1/3 the cost of school #1.

I've interviewed at these places but haven't been accepted.. and school #1 makes a decision before Christmas and is notorious for placing ton of people on their waitlist. Should I sent a letter of intent there? If it's my #1 choice, I wouldn't want to hang around waiting for a waitlist spot to send one in.

The other thing that makes it hard is that school #2 is much cheaper. I may very well be rejected at both schools.. who knows? But I really want school #1 to know they're my number 1 choice. When you send a letter of intent and get in, are you committed to going there? Because there are other factors that affect your decision as well.. such as $

I've heard people using the phrase: "If accepted, I will matriculate to your school, given that it is financially feasible." Although I'm not sure if it's considered a letter of intent once you put that condition in there. But yeah, once you write a letter of intent, you are essentially throwing away your chances at financial aid, since you are promising that you will go there.

 

[UVAbme2009]

1/3 the cost for a school that has a similar reputation? You are CRAZY if you pass that up if you ask me.

 

[student1799]

I've heard people using the phrase: "If accepted, I will matriculate to your school, given that it is financially feasible." Although I'm not sure if it's considered a letter of intent once you put that condition in there.

According to my postbacc program, the "financially feasible" clause is not really an out: if you promise to go once admitted, you're committed to that school. IMO, that's a really dangerous thing to do until you know what your options are--especially considering that it's only November.

In the OP's situation, I'd write an letter of interest instead. If you get into your #2 choice and get waitlisted at the top choice, you can always write a letter of intent at that point ("I will give up my acceptance to school X if offered admission at your school"). But such a letter won't be convincing unless there are NO conditions attached.

 

[gopher22]

There's no discrete difference between letters of interest and intent--just write it like you mean it and call it what you'd like. I think that the financial feasibility clause is perfectly acceptable. Also, when you're writing your letter, its probably helpful to include academic and extracurricular updates because pure desire might not be enough.

 

[fuzzywuz]

I've asked this before, but never got any input on it...

If I send LO interest.. in addition to activity update and reiterating my interest, I can possibly mention that the school is one of my top choice schools.

 

[bluesmd]

I've asked this before, but never got any input on it...

If I send LO interest.. in addition to activity update and reiterating my interest, I can possibly mention that the school is one of my top choice schools.

yeah this is totally ok

 

[bozz]

Thanks guys

I thought many people write letters of interest to multiple schools.. I plan to send mine to this one specifically and stand out.

Anyone have wording advice? "One of my top schools" sounds weird. Would something more ambiguous like "your school is at the top of my medical school list" be more appropriate?

 

[fuzzywuz]

Thanks guys

I thought many people write letters of interest to multiple schools.. I plan to send mine to this one specifically and stand out.

Anyone have wording advice? "One of my top schools" sounds weird. Would something more ambiguous like "your school is at the top of my medical school list" be more appropriate?

heh i like mine better! but i guess you can use that too

 

[katarina90]

Thanks guys

I thought many people write letters of interest to multiple schools.. I plan to send mine to this one specifically and stand out.

Anyone have wording advice? "One of my top schools" sounds weird. Would something more ambiguous like "your school is at the top of my medical school list" be more appropriate?

Imho, "your school is at the top of my medical school list" sounds kind of awkward, the wording of it...its almost like wanting to say "you're my top school" but avoiding it...

I would say something to the extent of "I was very pleased to interview at (your school), and appreciate the excellent opportunites and education (insert school here) offers. (Insert school here) is uniquely suited to my interests/needs/etc. because...(and then go on to talk about what you liked about them). (Insert school here) would be an excellent place to further my education, and is definitely among my top choices."

But that's just my opinion...I'm interested to see what others have to say.

 

[rowerlauren]

What about "X school is my top choice. I would be a great fit because of blah blah blah. If accepted and I am able to afford to attend I do not see myself matriculating anywhere else."

 

[fuzzywuz]

Imho, "your school is at the top of my medical school list" sounds kind of awkward, the wording of it...its almost like wanting to say "you're my top school" but avoiding it...

I would say something to the extent of "I was very pleased to interview at (your school), and appreciate the excellent opportunites and education (insert school here) offers. (Insert school here) is uniquely suited to my interests/needs/etc. because...(and then go on to talk about what you liked about them). (Insert school here) would be an excellent place to further my education, and is definitely among my top choices."

But that's just my opinion...I'm interested to see what others have to say.

Kinda like what I said... but it sounds a lot better

 

[bozz]

Kinda like what I said... but it sounds a lot better

Damn.. I like that too.. nice

 

[student1799]

(Insert school here) would be an excellent place to further my education, and is definitely among my top choices."

Why would you ever want to tell a school they're "one of" your top choices? IMO, that's worse than saying nothing at all. Let me make an analogy: imagine you're a guy trying to make headway with a girl. Would you say "You're beautiful and I love spending time with you," or "You're one of the better-looking girls I've dated"?

Tell the school how much you love THEM and leave it at that.