How many "Intent Statements" is too many?

[mbe36]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Story:

Wrote a LOI post-interview and was waitlisted.

Should I restate my intent a SECOND time when expressing my interest in remaining under consideration and coming of the waitlist category?

Also, do other schools see your intent statement/ do the schools communicate with each other???

I am on two waitlists and am curious to see if making an intent statement to one school would make me less desirable to the school that did not get the intent statement.

THANKS

 

[flip26]

yes, no...

 

[Ponger]

Story:

Wrote a LOI post-interview and was waitlisted.

Should I restate my intent a SECOND time when expressing my interest in remaining under consideration and coming of the waitlist category?

Also, do other schools see your intent statement/ do the schools communicate with each other???

I am on two waitlists and am curious to see if making an intent statement to one school would make me less desirable to the school that did not get the intent statement.

THANKS

Perhaps your second letter shouldn't just be about intent. Make it an update letter or letter of interest/fit and then slip in intent at the end.

No, schools don't see other schools' intent letters. That'd be ridiculous, a national med school database of LOI's.

 

[dw2158]

Perhaps your second letter shouldn't just be about intent. Make it an update letter or letter of interest/fit and then slip in intent at the end.

this. make sure you have something interesting to update them on!

 

[TexasPhysician]

Schools pay little attention to letters of intent/updates anyway. Don't expect anything to come of these either way.

 

[Handy388]

I cannot morally write two LOI.

I wrote a LOI to a school which I later withdrew from.

I sent a Letter of Interest to the school that I poised to attend although by interview I knew it's the place I want to go to.

 

[jarmen]

Schools pay little attention to letters of intent/updates anyway. Don't expect anything to come of these either way.

i dont know about this. most every school recommends sending one if u want to be seriously considered and most students i talk to who have been accepted from waitlists said they sent LOI. It makes sense if u ask me. Schools are trying to build a class as early as possible and idealy only want to accept people who they know are gonna come, so a LOI basically tells them you are of of those people.

that said, sending two letters of intent seems useless (particularly if u went the first one before being waitlisted). I agree with the above posters, update/fit/what u would contribute letters with mention of ur intent would prolly be the best way to go

 

[AdmiralChz]

I wrote an LOI to the school I withdrew from... but it was a tough decision and I knew that that place just wasn't the right place for me after thinking it over again and again.

And places like GW with tons and tons of applications actually do value LOIs.

 

[Longshanks]

Just don't write the same thing to each school you write too. I forget where it was but I read about admissions people talking about a few cases where applicants did something noteworthy or creative but made it a big deal or the same exact thing to multiple schools and once they found out they dropped the applicant.

 

[TexasPhysician]

i dont know about this. most every school recommends sending one if u want to be seriously considered and most students i talk to who have been accepted from waitlists said they sent LOI. It makes sense if u ask me. Schools are trying to build a class as early as possible and idealy only want to accept people who they know are gonna come, so a LOI basically tells them you are of of those people.

that said, sending two letters of intent seems useless (particularly if u went the first one before being waitlisted). I agree with the above posters, update/fit/what u would contribute letters with mention of ur intent would prolly be the best way to go

You are assuming that every pre-med morally only sends 1 letter of intent and would 100% act on it. The truth is tons of medical students send multiple letters of intent and update letters. Admissions KNOWS this. They aren't stupid. They have a waitlist set up, and they know who they will accept if they have open spots. Just because you "promise" to come there doesn't mean you somehow become more attractive of an option. Medical schools have people lined up to get in.

 

[mbe36]

I cannot morally write two LOI.

I wrote a LOI to a school which I later withdrew from.

I sent a Letter of Interest to the school that I poised to attend although by interview I knew it's the place I want to go to.

This is two letters to the same school. Not LOI's to differents schools.

I am just worried about communication between schools. For example, would my LOI make me look less attractive to the non-LOI school. I cannot risk that type of gamble.

I am on two waitlists right now and am a re-applicant. They are both schools are considered dream schools and honestly was not expecting an interview from both. I would be honored to attend either. However, I wrote a LOI to one of them after my interview.

 

[kingofthehill]

They have a waitlist set up, and they know who they will accept if they have open spots. Just because you "promise" to come there doesn't mean you somehow become more attractive of an option. Medical schools have people lined up to get in.

No they don't. No med school knows among their waitlisted applicants who has accepted offers from other schools and has decided to go elsewhere from those who are still "available" and would say yes. So, they certainly do not know whom exactly they will end up accepting. I agree that a promise to attend if accepted does not significantly change an applicant's chances, but schools that welcome such correspondence usually do pay attention to it. Three individuals who sit on adcoms across the country have each told me that they usually prefer to select those who have shown some interest so they can be sure to fill vacancies quickly and with minimal hassle. I did not apply to any of these 3 schools, so they had no reason to tell me anything but the truth.

 

[talbo]

You are assuming that every pre-med morally only sends 1 letter of intent and would 100% act on it. The truth is tons of medical students send multiple letters of intent and update letters. Admissions KNOWS this. They aren't stupid. They have a waitlist set up, and they know who they will accept if they have open spots. Just because you "promise" to come there doesn't mean you somehow become more attractive of an option. Medical schools have people lined up to get in.

I recently sent a LOIntent to my top choice and only to them, to the other schools I might send LOInterest... It's disheartening to hear that admissions think that we send multiple letters of intent because I did not... and do not believe it's ethical to do that.

 

[TexasPhysician]

No they don't. No med school knows among their waitlisted applicants who has accepted offers from other schools and has decided to go elsewhere from those who are still "available" and would say yes. So, they certainly do not know whom exactly they will end up accepting. I agree that a promise to attend if accepted does not significantly change an applicant's chances, but schools that welcome such correspondence usually do pay attention to it. Three individuals who sit on adcoms across the country have each told me that they usually prefer to select those who have shown some interest so they can be sure to fill vacancies quickly and with minimal hassle. I did not apply to any of these 3 schools, so they had no reason to tell me anything but the truth.

Don't understand this comment.......? I never said the schools were psychic. I just implied that they know who they are going to send the next acceptance letter to.

All students that applied and interviewed have shown interest. There is just no reasoning behind the idea that schools will accept students because they sent an extra letter. Schools want the best students period. Why take a lesser student because they sent you a letter?

If you have heard differently, then I think you are getting a lot of "talk" from admissions. Sure they want interested students. Sure they like students that will be happy there. I'm not saying anything differently. I know a student that was told by the Dean of a medical school that they would be accepted. He came right up to her and told her. It was her first choice school and she made it clear should would be there next year. She didn't get accepted. I know it happened because I was there!

I'm not saying it is right, and I don't mean to be rude. I just don't want people to get their hopes up for no reason. The application process is a grueling experience that sometimes involves blatant lies. I'm told it is the same way when applying to residency. Most program directors tell you they will rank you really high....blah blah blah. You just can't trust them.

I do wish everyone the best of luck applying though.

 

[Ponger]

All students that applied and interviewed have shown interest. There is just no reasoning behind the idea that schools will accept students because they sent an extra letter. Schools want the best students period. Why take a lesser student because they sent you a letter?

A letter can just serve to keep your application fresh in the adcoms' minds. They may very well take a person who writes a letter, over someone who didn't, because the letter writer is just the WL candidate that stands out the most. On an unranked WL, just being on the top of the adcoms' minds is a boost.

Now on a ranked WL, a LOI is pretty moot.

 

[kingofthehill]

All students that applied and interviewed have shown interest. There is just no reasoning behind the idea that schools will accept students because they sent an extra letter. Schools want the best students period. Why take a lesser student because they sent you a letter?

Yeah, they were interested at the time they applied, but things can change, and this is why some schools want to know who's still game come May 15. Not all schools, but some.

 

[eyang22286]

No, schools don't see other schools' intent letters. That'd be ridiculous, a national med school database of LOI's.

actually, that would be straight up scary

 

[JamesBond15]

Story:

Wrote a LOI post-interview and was waitlisted.

Should I restate my intent a SECOND time when expressing my interest in remaining under consideration and coming of the waitlist category?

Also, do other schools see your intent statement/ do the schools communicate with each other???

I am on two waitlists and am curious to see if making an intent statement to one school would make me less desirable to the school that did not get the intent statement.

THANKS

Wow, I am pretty much in the same situation. Sent LOI post-interview and got waitlist. Now I am thinking about sending another letter just to say that I am still interested and would love to attend. However, I don't have any new updates. So the letter won't have anything new, don't know if it will be okay to send. Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[TexasPhysician]

A letter can just serve to keep your application fresh in the adcoms' minds. They may very well take a person who writes a letter, over someone who didn't, because the letter writer is just the WL candidate that stands out the most. On an unranked WL, just being on the top of the adcoms' minds is a boost.

Now on a ranked WL, a LOI is pretty moot.

I guess anything is possible, but you also assume that unranked lists aren't highly political. If you don't already have somebody at the school that is fighting for you, your chances drop significantly. This could be a close friend of the family who works at the school or just the person you interviewed with. Believe me. There is enough faculty bugging admissions to accept so and so to trump any letter you send. A happy faculty member is more important to the Dean of Admissions.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Yeah, they were interested at the time they applied, but things can change, and this is why some schools want to know who's still game come May 15. Not all schools, but some.

How do you know who is game come April 15, June 15, etc.? Should you send a letter every couple weeks? Again I respect that you want something to boost your chances, but a letter is of little importance if any. Something like 50% of people that apply to medical school don't get in any given year. It isn't hard to find someone on your waitlist that is willing to fill your last spot.

 

[flip26]

How do you know who is game come April 15, June 15, etc.? Should you send a letter every couple weeks? Again I respect that you want something to boost your chances, but a letter is of little importance if any. Something like 50% of people that apply to medical school don't get in any given year. It isn't hard to find someone on your waitlist that is willing to fill your last spot.

Some schools want these updates and expressions of interest and intent, while some don't.

Regardless, I think they are vastly over valued by pre-meds. And over thought, too. All of the parsing of the difference between "interest" vs "intent" is a waste of time.

Follow the lead of the school. If they say they want to get these letters, send them. If not, don't.

Pretty simple.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

How do you know who is game come April 15, June 15, etc.? Should you send a letter every couple weeks? Again I respect that you want something to boost your chances, but a letter is of little importance if any. Something like 50% of people that apply to medical school don't get in any given year. It isn't hard to find someone on your waitlist that is willing to fill your last spot.

Granted, this is anecdotal evidence, but here's my story:

I was waitlisted at my top choice school. I called the admissions office, and surprisingly, the dean of admissions was willing to speak with me. We talked for about 15 minutes - about my application, how they work the waitlist process, etc. Near the end of the conversation, he said this is what I needed to do - he said he didn't want to pressure me so I didn't have to tell him right now, but to think about it and if that school was definitely my #1 choice, write him a letter stating that. He said if I did that, it would be a strong consideration come waitlist season. I wrote the letter, and guess who called me on May 15?

 

[student1799]

All students that applied and interviewed have shown interest. There is just no reasoning behind the idea that schools will accept students because they sent an extra letter. Schools want the best students period. Why take a lesser student because they sent you a letter?

I think this is too pessimistic. Yes, schools want the most qualified students, but they also want the most motivated and enthusiastic students. If an applicant makes the WL, the school has decided that they are qualified to attend the school. If an opening occurs in the class and there is a choice between 2 applicants, who do you think is going to get it? The one who has shown the most interest in the school.

I have been told by several schools that they judge an applicant's interest by their frequency of contact with the school (calls or emails); once a month is seen as frequent but not annoying. So I have been sending letters of interest to all my WL schools roughly once a month. Around May 1st, I'm going to pick one school to send a letter of INTENT to, and state unequivocally that I will attend if accepted, in the hopes of getting off that WL soon after May 15th.

I don't think it exactly hurts you to send a letter of interest vs. Intent, but it is to your advantage to make the strongest statement of commitment to the school that you truthfully can. The more committed you are, the more seriously the school will take your interest.

I agree with a prior poster that all of this has less impact if the WL is ranked, but even then it couldn't hurt. I don't think it's EVER a bad idea to tell a school how much you like them.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Granted, this is anecdotal evidence, but here's my story:

I was waitlisted at my top choice school. I called the admissions office, and surprisingly, the dean of admissions was willing to speak with me. We talked for about 15 minutes - about my application, how they work the waitlist process, etc. Near the end of the conversation, he said this is what I needed to do - he said he didn't want to pressure me so I didn't have to tell him right now, but to think about it and if that school was definitely my #1 choice, write him a letter stating that. He said if I did that, it would be a strong consideration come waitlist season. I wrote the letter, and guess who called me on May 15?

In that one instance where the Dean told you to do something, I would have done the exact same thing and I am glad it worked for you. If anyone else is being told by the Dean to do this, please follow the advise.

My question to you is: Why would he/she want a letter if you already called and expressed your interest to him/her personally? Odds are you were already at the top of the Dean's list and he/she wanted a nice piece of paper to justify his/her next pick to someone else. Tons of people (applicants and faculty/staff) harass the Dean on a daily basis about applicants.

Again it just seems odd to me that your personal "word-of-intent" is not enough unless there is some background reason he/she isn't telling you.

Almost 100% guarateed you were next off that list, regardless.

 

[quirks]

Definitely send at least one letter (LOIntent/LOInterest/Update letter) to a school that has wait listed you if you're still considering going there, even if you've sent something before you were wait listed. It can't hurt.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I think this is too pessimistic. Yes, schools want the most qualified students, but they also want the most motivated and enthusiastic students. If an applicant makes the WL, the school has decided that they are qualified to attend the school. If an opening occurs in the class and there is a choice between 2 applicants, who do you think is going to get it? The one who has shown the most interest in the school.

I have been told by several schools that they judge an applicant's interest by their frequency of contact with the school (calls or emails); once a month is seen as frequent but not annoying. So I have been sending letters of interest to all my WL schools roughly once a month. Around May 1st, I'm going to pick one school to send a letter of INTENT to, and state unequivocally that I will attend if accepted, in the hopes of getting off that WL soon after May 15th.

I don't think it exactly hurts you to send a letter of interest vs. Intent, but it is to your advantage to make the strongest statement of commitment to the school that you truthfully can. The more committed you are, the more seriously the school will take your interest.

I agree with a prior poster that all of this has less impact if the WL is ranked, but even then it couldn't hurt. I don't think it's EVER a bad idea to tell a school how much you like them.

I'm not saying a letter will hurt your chances. I still don't think it will help any. You yourself say you send multiple letters EVERY month. When admissions is competitive and political (i guarantee you it is both), a letter holds little weight anyway. Second, they know students send out letters to multiple schools just like you just admitted to. People that don't send letters at all are still getting off waitlists as well.

Unless the Dean tells you to do something, I just don't see the purpose.

 

[megan143]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=106811

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

In that one instance where the Dean told you to do something, I would have done the exact same thing and I am glad it worked for you. If anyone else is being told by the Dean to do this, please follow the advise.

My question to you is: Why would he/she want a letter if you already called and expressed your interest to him/her personally? Odds are you were already at the top of the Dean's list and he/she wanted a nice piece of paper to justify his/her next pick to someone else. Tons of people (applicants and faculty/staff) harass the Dean on a daily basis about applicants.

Again it just seems odd to me that your personal "word-of-intent" is not enough unless there is some background reason he/she isn't telling you.

Almost 100% guarateed you were next off that list, regardless.

Because as I said, he didn't want to put me on the spot/pressure me. The point of the phone call (for me) wasn't to make a statement of intent, it was to get more info.

And yes, I have no clue where I was on their WL prior to that. Just saying, at least one dean directly said that a LOI was a strong addition to your file.

 

[mbe36]

FYI- I spoke with the admissions director from the school on Tues. She indicated my initial statement was good enough.

 

[UVAbme2009]

I have sent four letters of intent/update letters.

Sent the first in October. "I know it's early, but..."

Sent the next in the middle of February. "I realize the end of interview season is quickly approaching..."

*Got interview the next week*

Sent the next post-interview in March. "I love this school..."

Sent the fourth one today. "Here is what I have accomplished this year, why I am a much better student today than a year ago, and how I plan on making an impact here..."

I'll send more if I need to. Hopefully I don't. 🙂

 

[disorder]

this is an excellent question and i was wondering this myself.

i had a late interview this season, sent in a LOI shortly after. now, i am debating sending another?

quick e-mail to the dean possibly? CALL the dean?