Good or bad idea to send letter of intent?

[psychneuro33]

For background, I interviewed at an MD school and was waitlisted today. After my interview (10/01), I sent a letter of interest due to advice I read about on here and reddit. The letter just expressed my interest and fit but no real updates.

Basically, I want to send a letter of intent because if I was accepted, I’ve decided I would 100% go to this school. I’ve gotten conflicting advice on this, 1. that I shouldn’t because I’ve already sent a letter of interest, and 2. that I should because it couldn’t hurt. I have small updates including: I’ve become the main medical assistant at the practice I’m working for, so I’d be a full time MA instead of part time AKA even more hands on clinical experience. Also, I’m a cofounder of a Facebook group with 2k members that focuses on important conversations about current social issues. I thought that’d be cool to include.

This school is 30 minutes from my entire family, while the DO school I was accepted to is 13 hours. While I’m super grateful for my acceptance, family is really important to me so it would be ideal to stay close to them.

Basically, is it worth it/smart to send a letter of intent with the updates I’ve listed above? If so, when should I send it? I think the school I’m waitlisted at revisits waitlisted applicants every time they meet.

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[Goro]

And how would you interpret a non binding contract from the desperate candidate?

Admissions Dean treat these things as lies.

The only time they do any good is with those MD schools that love to see candidates grovel, or are extremely needy.

 

[ontiquicuo]

Have you been accepted by another school that would make them envious?

 

[psychneuro33]

Have you been accepted by another school that would make them envious?

Just another DO school, I doubt they’ll care

 

[psychneuro33]

And how would you interpret a non binding contract from the desperate candidate?

Admissions Dean treat these things as lies.

The only time they do any good is with those MD schools that love to see candidates grovel, or are extremely needy.

So I’m going to go with no 🙁

 

[Med16484]

And how would you interpret a non binding contract from the desperate candidate?

Admissions Dean treat these things as lies.

The only time they do any good is with those MD schools that love to see candidates grovel, or are extremely needy.

For a school like Mayo how early would you recommend sending a letter of intent following an interview?

 

[Med Ed]

For background, I interviewed at an MD school and was waitlisted today. After my interview (10/01), I sent a letter of interest due to advice I read about on here and reddit. The letter just expressed my interest and fit but no real updates.

Basically, I want to send a letter of intent because if I was accepted, I’ve decided I would 100% go to this school. I’ve gotten conflicting advice on this, 1. that I shouldn’t because I’ve already sent a letter of interest, and 2. that I should because it couldn’t hurt. I have small updates including: I’ve become the main medical assistant at the practice I’m working for, so I’d be a full time MA instead of part time AKA even more hands on clinical experience. Also, I’m a cofounder of a Facebook group with 2k members that focuses on important conversations about current social issues. I thought that’d be cool to include.

This school is 30 minutes from my entire family, while the DO school I was accepted to is 13 hours. While I’m super grateful for my acceptance, family is really important to me so it would be ideal to stay close to them.

Basically, is it worth it/smart to send a letter of intent with the updates I’ve listed above? If so, when should I send it? I think the school I’m waitlisted at revisits waitlisted applicants every time they meet.

Your signature indicates that you applied to 8 MD schools. If you got into all 8, would you 100% attend the one that just waitlisted you?

 

[Goro]

For a school like Mayo how early would you recommend sending a letter of intent following an interview?

May

 

[DNAJB6]

And how would you interpret a non binding contract from the desperate candidate?

Admissions Dean treat these things as lies.

The only time they do any good is with those MD schools that love to see candidates grovel, or are extremely needy.

Where can I find this list of needy schools? I want to make sure I include several needy schools on my school list. I'm also not above groveling if it would help. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, but if that's what it takes to be accepted to an allopathic medical school, I'm willing to embarrass myself a little. 🙂

 

[psychneuro33]

Your signature indicates that you applied to 8 MD schools. If you got into all 8, would you 100% attend the one that just waitlisted you?

Yes

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Did you mention during the interview that your family lives close by and living close to family is very important to you?

 

[psychneuro33]

Did you mention during the interview that your family lives close by and living close to family is very important to you?

I mentioned it a lot in my secondary essays and during the interview when they asked me why this school, that was one of the reasons

 

[KnightDoc]

I mentioned it a lot in my secondary essays and during the interview when they asked me why this school, that was one of the reasons

Then it's probably safe to assume that sending them a letter saying it again isn't going to add any new information.

 

[psychneuro33]

Then it's probably safe to assume that sending them a letter saying it again isn't going to add any new information.

Well like I said in my original post I was going to focus on the updates rather than why I want to go there

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

I am not sure about including FB social group conversations given the current political climate. Good number of faculty could be conservative.

 

[candbgirl]

Well like I said in my original post I was going to focus on the updates rather than why I want to go there

Well since you asked, I’d hold off until you have a real update. You interviewed and wrote a letter of some type in October and your interview and letter didn’t roll you over into an acceptance. And it’s still October. Wait until you have something really significant to update about. They know about your ties to the community, they know you are interested. There isn’t anything else to say at this point. Your new job is very new(or you would have included it in your interview or the letter) and I agree with @EdgeTrimmer. Be careful of anything on Facebook. ADCOMS have been known to visit Facebook to check things out. Unless you are very sure of the content, tone and vibe be careful of opening yourself up in this area.

 

[psychneuro33]

I am not sure about including FB social group conversations given the current political climate. Good number of faculty could be conservative.

good point

 

[psychneuro33]

Well since you asked, I’d hold off until you have a real update. You interviewed and wrote a letter of some type in October and your interview and letter didn’t roll you over into an acceptance. And it’s still October. Wait until you have something really significant to update about. They know about your ties to the community, they know you are interested. There isn’t anything else to say at this point. Your new job is very new(or you would have included it in your interview or the letter) and I agree with @EdgeTrimmer. Be careful of anything on Facebook. ADCOMS have been known to visit Facebook to check things out. Unless you are very sure of the content, tone and vibe be careful of opening yourself up in this area.

Thanks for the advice. The job I mentioned I’ve had for 2 years and it is on my app, but on my app I only work as an MA part time. Due to recent staffing changes, I was made the sole MA and would be working with patients directly full time instead of part time.

 

[candbgirl]

Thanks for the advice. The job I mentioned I’ve had for 2 years and it is on my app, but on my app I only work as an MA part time. Due to recent staffing changes, I was made the sole MA and would be working with patients directly full time instead of part time.

Give it sometime. Maybe in January ? Especially if you have other things to update by that time.

 

[Med Ed]

Thanks for the advice. The job I mentioned I’ve had for 2 years and it is on my app, but on my app I only work as an MA part time. Due to recent staffing changes, I was made the sole MA and would be working with patients directly full time instead of part time.

This is always a difficult situation to find oneself in, but your application was reviewed and a judgment was rendered. Nibbling around the edges over some more MA hours isn't going to change things. The good news is that you weren't rejected. Search through the school-specific thread from last year to identify when most of the waitlist movement occurs, and send a concise update/letter of intent shortly before that window of time. It may not have any impact, but at least the school will know that you're still invested. Good luck.

 

[psychneuro33]

This is always a difficult situation to find oneself in, but your application was reviewed and a judgment was rendered. Nibbling around the edges over some more MA hours isn't going to change things. The good news is that you weren't rejected. Search through the school-specific thread from last year to identify when most of the waitlist movement occurs, and send a concise update/letter of intent shortly before that window of time. It may not have any impact, but at least the school will know that you're still invested. Good luck.

Thanks, I appreciate it

 

[kaoticvanity]

And how would you interpret a non binding contract from the desperate candidate?

Admissions Dean treat these things as lies.

The only time they do any good is with those MD schools that love to see candidates grovel, or are extremely needy.

and which one are those? asking for a friend.

 

[Goro]

and which one are those? asking for a friend.

Mayo
U Penn
Jefferson
Gtown

 

[DNAJB6]

Mayo
U Penn
Jefferson
Gtown

You have no idea how happy this list makes me.