How do you write an LOI?

[ixitixl]

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I'm thinking about writing an LOI since I've been waitlisted at my first choice school and the odds of me getting in around aroud 30% at least according to the email the adcom sent me. Any suggestions on if writing an LOI will help my chances? If so, how do I go about writing an effective one?

 

[Rendar5]

well, I'd just let them know that they are your first-choice school and if accepted, you will go there. And let them know all of the things you liked about the school: basically why they are your first-choice.

 

[jlee9531]

well many ways you can try and do this...

some may suggest the letter method where you just nicely compose a letter stating why you feel the school is a good fit for you and why you want to go there etc...

others might say that a bullet point method in pointing out your reasons for liking the place is effective...

but the main thing is to make sure you let the school know they are your top choice and that you defintely want to go there for your reasons...

good luck.

 

[Freakedout]

It seems to me a letter method would look more professional
But to each their own I guess

 

[ixitixl]

Do you think that it would be worth my time to write an LOI? I was waitlisted last Friday or rather, it's not officially a waitlist but they said they are unable to make a decision at the moment and that I have neither been accepted nor rejected. Any thoughts?

 

[jlee9531]

yeah sure....

take some time to write out a good one....

then send it in a few days or so....

when does the actual waitlist come out tho?

 

[ixitixl]

The school doesn't make an official waitlist until March 15th. It seems to be somewhat of a common date for a lot of schools. So, in regards to writing a GOOD LOI, what are some no-no's?

 

[Spitting Camel]

Originally posted by js2003
Hi,

From all the schools to which I applied to, I am really interested in about 3 of them. If I write a letter to these 3 schools stating that I'm really interested in your schools, would these letters fall under the "LOI" category, and, thus, should only be written to the school that is my top choice school? Or, is it okay to write to all these 3 schools stating I'm really interested in them...any advice? Thanks.

Since you posted this on THREE threads, just write them all without mentioning that if you are accepted, you would go there. You would have gathered this if you read the latest 20 threads on LsOI!

 

[docmemi]

should i write at the end, "If accepted, I would withdraw my application from other medical schools and certainly attend X."

 

[prmd4555]

Is it okay to write an LOI to a school you interviewed, at absolutely love and want to attend that is not rolling so you won't hear your decision untill March?

 

[valliumv]

well don't say you'll withdraw other applications--I think saying that X is your first choice school and that you would attend if accepted is enough.

if you say you will withdraw your apps, you actually have to. and what if you really like another school where you get invited to interview?

its debatable how much attention each school pays to LOIs--don't screw yourself up by binding your self to a school that you may or may not get into and also may or may not like! I know you say its your first choice...I interviewed at a school I thought was my first choice and then I visited another school that I ended up loving. now I may be screwed if I get into both.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by ixitixl
I'm thinking about writing an LOI since I've been waitlisted at my first choice school and the odds of me getting in around aroud 30% at least according to the email the adcom sent me. Any suggestions on if writing an LOI will help my chances? If so, how do I go about writing an effective one?

The suggestions above are nice if you truly want to send one; however, a letter of LOI is not necessary. LOIs, unfortunately, will not help. The committees meet and make their rank list. The LOI will not move you up that list.

 

[ChiaPet312]

anthony:

do you think a loi will work if you send it before the admissions committee meets?

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by ChiaPet312

do you think a loi will work if you send it before the admissions committee meets?

Unfortunately no. It will have little bearing. I know you don't want to hear this, but thank you letters and LOI do not help. If they make you feel more at eased, then I highly suggest that you send them. But do so knowing that it will not do much. The letters usually get tossed or filed away.

One way of looking at it is: most applicants will desire an acceptance, and therefore, the committee will make their rank list independent of the desires of individuals. If their number 1 pick doesn't come, then there's always number 2, 3, 4, etc...

 

[ckent]

Well, I am going to have to respectfully disagree with Dr. Doan on this LOI matter. I know that I had a classmate who had a lower MCAT and GPA but slightly better extracurriculars then me in college, and we both were wait-listed at this school. We applied to roughly the same schools, but I was receiving better interviews then he was. He sent a LOI to this school that we both were wait-listed at and he got in, and I did not and never did get in. Granted, this is only anecdotal evidence (or it could be a randomized control study with n=2😉 ), but it's enough for me to strongly encourage people to send LOI in to any school that they are wait-listed. Unless you are incoherent or curse in your LOI, it probably won't hurt.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by ckent
Well, I am going to have to respectfully disagree with Dr. Doan on this LOI matter. I know that I had a classmate who had a lower MCAT and GPA but slightly better extracurriculars then me in college, and we both were wait-listed at this school. We applied to roughly the same schools, but I was receiving better interviews then he was. He sent a LOI to this school that we both were wait-listed at and he got in, and I did not and never did get in. Granted, this is only anecdotal evidence (or it could be a randomized control study with n=2😉 ), but it's enough for me to strongly encourage people to send LOI in to any school that they are wait-listed. Unless you are incoherent or curse in your LOI, it probably won't hurt.

Hey buddy, it's ok to disagree, but you're wrong. 🙂

Trust me, I've been involved with the admissions process and the LOI and TY don't impact much if at all. 🙁


It's likely that your friend was ranked higher than you to begin with. Perhaps he did better with his interviews at the school?

But like I said, if it makes you feel better, then send them.

 

[CalBeE]

Originally posted by Andrew_Doan
Unfortunately no. It will have little bearing. I know you don't want to hear this, but thank you letters and LOI do not help. If they make you feel more at eased, then I highly suggest that you send them. But do so knowing that it will not do much. The letters usually get tossed or filed away.

One way of looking at it is: most applicants will desire an acceptance, and therefore, the committee will make their rank list independent of the desires of individuals. If their number 1 pick doesn't come, then there's always number 2, 3, 4, etc...

Actually i do believe that LOI makes a difference at certain schools. I've read that Wake Forest, for eg., keep tracks of how many times an applicant calls on the phone, in order to show to adcom as evidence of that applicant's interest in the school. A LOI probably has similar effects

Hopkins, however, may be different. They're probably used to people telling them that Hopkins' their first choices, so LOI may not do much (Nevertheless, I sent in one to Hopkins cause it's still my first choice as of now)

*Sigh* I haven't even received an interview offer at Hopkins, but I'm just trying my best at an interview slot.

 

[bullhorn]

Einstein is definitely one of these schools that LOIs are effective. They accept a ton of people who wind up going to higher ranked institutions. To prevent this, their best bets are to also accept people (off the waitlist..or that they would normally waitlist) that have indicated Einstein as their first choice in the form of a LOI. It is pretty common knowledge at least in regards to Einstein. I think schools that fall in this range experience similar issues and may well have similar policies.

But that is my uneducated pre med opinion. Like everything, I think it depends on teh schools. At this point, I DO know enough to know that the med school admissions process does not have a formula that every school adheres to.

 

[beatleschick]

I'm just wondering: how long are LOI's usually?

 

[docmemi]

id say 1-2 pages. but ask others as well.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by trojan2004
id say 1-2 pages. but ask others as well.

2 pages is way too long.

Less than a page, or better yet. NONE. 😉

j/k'ing here. Do what will make you feel better.