Is a Letter of Interest stronger than a Letter of Intent with a weak app?

[ImNotBritish]

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I've been waitlisted at my state school. It is the only school to which I applied (I know most will disagree with that, but it was the right choice for me). Obviously, they are my first and only choice. However, I happen to have a pretty weak MCAT. With that in mind, I feel a little silly saying "If you let me in, I promise I'll attend." To be frank, I'd be really lucky if they let me in, and they wouldn't exactly be getting the best deal on a strictly numbers basis. So, will they just laugh at me if I write an update/Intent letter like I'm some sort of hot commodity? On the other hand, they don't know that they are the lone school on my list, so I don't want them to think I'm only mildly interested by sending a letter of interest. Thoughts?

 

[luckyducky87]

Why don't you just be honest and say that you will attend if they accept you? Since that, in fact, is the case. if your mcat score is that big of a problem, then I'm sure they will view you lointent or lointerest in a similar manner.

 

[riceman04]

I've been waitlisted at my state school. It is the only school to which I applied (I know most will disagree with that, but it was the right choice for me). Obviously, they are my first and only choice. However, I happen to have a pretty weak MCAT. With that in mind, I feel a little silly saying "If you let me in, I promise I'll attend." To be frank, I'd be really lucky if they let me in, and they wouldn't exactly be getting the best deal on a strictly numbers basis. So, will they just laugh at me if I write an update/Intent letter like I'm some sort of hot commodity? On the other hand, they don't know that they are the lone school on my list, so I don't want them to think I'm only mildly interested by sending a letter of interest. Thoughts?

Well if a school decides to interview you, despite your "weak" MCAT score it is OK to assume they would most likely be willing to admitt you. And you can even say your waitlist (and not outright post-interview rejection) is a testament to their interest in you. Now is your time to put the "low numbers" issue behind you and be as proactive as possible. Convey to them why you really want to attend their medical school.

It is not in any schools interest just to interview someone and waitlist him/her to help his/her self-esteem.

best of luck

 

[Shawnpremed]

First of all, med schools eventually WILL find out about all the schools you apply to, especially since you're waitlisted for them. You're not entitled to a lot of privacy when it comes to appls.

Are you a junior? Why would you only apply to 1 school if you have low MCAT scores? Were you thinking of applying again next yr?

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I've been waitlisted at my state school. It is the only school to which I applied (I know most will disagree with that, but it was the right choice for me). Obviously, they are my first and only choice. However, I happen to have a pretty weak MCAT. With that in mind, I feel a little silly saying "If you let me in, I promise I'll attend." To be frank, I'd be really lucky if they let me in, and they wouldn't exactly be getting the best deal on a strictly numbers basis. So, will they just laugh at me if I write an update/Intent letter like I'm some sort of hot commodity? On the other hand, they don't know that they are the lone school on my list, so I don't want them to think I'm only mildly interested by sending a letter of interest. Thoughts?

I think you are way overanalyzing this, and really no one can tell you if either a letter of intent or a letter of interest will help you, much less the relative impact of one or the other.

You need to send a letter to this school saying - I want to go here for x,y,z reasons, and I think I would be a good fit here for a,b,c reasons. Make a case for your interest in the school, and make it explicitly clear that you will attend if you are accepted.

 

[19nbj58]

First of all, med schools eventually WILL find out about all the schools you apply to, especially since you're waitlisted for them. You're not entitled to a lot of privacy when it comes to appls.

Are you a junior? Why would you only apply to 1 school if you have low MCAT scores? Were you thinking of applying again next yr?

False. The med schools you applied to can eventually see your acceptances, but cannot see where you applied.

 

[mbe36]

False. The med schools you applied to can eventually see your acceptances, but cannot see where you applied.

Do they see where you are waitlisted?

 

[19nbj58]

Do they see where you are waitlisted?

IIRC the answer is no, but do a quick search to double check.