Is it appropriate to send a sincere LOI soon after an interview? Holding 17 II’s ready to let go of

[subdermallight]

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So, a little background. I applied later in the cycle (compete by early-mid October) to 40 allopathic schools with a LM 68, years of research/pubs, URM(maybe), and a significant personal story. I was very surprised and fortunate to receive 17 interview invitations (I’ve been to 6 so far, starting mid Dec), with 11 interviews scheudled next week through mid Feb. Currently I have no acceptances yet, presumably because it’s quite early given most my interviews so far have just happened during January.

The school I most recently interviewed at has been my number one for almost 2 years. It was the first secondary I submitted, and my significant other lives in that city. On interview day I found the school was so impressive and aligned so closely with my own personal mission that even if my SO didn’t live there, it would still be my number 1. I didn’t know that would be the case but it looks like the stars just aligned.

So, I’m supposed to be receiving the school’s decision quite soon. I want them to know how I feel before the committee meets to go over my application, possibly before they even have a chance to put me on the waitlist. My question is, what’s the appropriate response here? Should I immediately send a genuine letter of intent and mention my 17 interview invites or could that rub them the wrong way? Maybe a letter of interest instead? Should I even mention the number of interviews I will turn down if accepted? Not only would attending many more interviews be costly, but I don’t want to hold up interview spots needlessly for these other schools if I could just be accepted now at my number 1 and open up the spots.

Thank you for the input.

 

[chaim123]

So, a little background. I applied later in the cycle (compete by early-mid October) to 40 allopathic schools with a LM 68, years of research/pubs, URM(maybe), and a significant personal story. I was very surprised and fortunate to receive 17 interview invitations (I’ve been to 6 so far, starting mid Dec), with 11 interviews scheudled next week through mid Feb. Currently I have no acceptances yet, presumably because it’s quite early given most my interviews so far have just happened during January.

The school I most recently interviewed at has been my number one for almost 2 years. It was the first secondary I submitted, and my significant other lives in that city. On interview day I found the school was so impressive and aligned so closely with my own personal mission that even if my SO didn’t live there, it would still be my number 1. I didn’t know that would be the case but it looks like the stars just aligned.

So, I’m supposed to be receiving the school’s decision quite soon. I want them to know how I feel before the committee meets to go over my application, possibly before they even have a chance to put me on the waitlist. My question is, what’s the appropriate response here? Should I immediately send a genuine letter of intent and mention my 17 interview invites or could that rub them the wrong way? Maybe a letter of interest instead? Should I even mention the number of interviews I will turn down if accepted? Not only would attending many more interviews be costly, but I don’t want to hold up interview spots needlessly for these other schools if I could just be accepted now at my number 1 and open up the spots.

Thank you for the input.

LOIs have little affect on committee members. If you are a good fit for the school, you will either be accepted or waitlisted. If you get waitlisted, then send an LOI. Right now, it probably won't do much. For all you know, a decision has already been made.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Without an acceptance, an LOI is essentially worthless.

 

[subdermallight]

LOIs have little affect on committee members. If you are a good fit for the school, you will either be accepted or waitlisted. If you get waitlisted, then send an LOI. Right now, it probably won't do much. For all you know, a decision has already been made.

If it won’t hurt then why not send it now? Committee hasn’t met, they told us when our apps will be reviewed

 

[subdermallight]

Without an acceptance, an LOI is essentially worthless.

So you think a letter of strong interest (ie., no explicit to comittment to this one school over others) would be more appropriate given I’m not dropping any acceptances?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

So you think a letter of strong interest (ie., no explicit to comittment to this one school over others) would be more appropriate given I’m not dropping any acceptances?

Right now I don’t think there’s any point in sending anything. You applied there and attended an interview. They know you’re very interested. And without an acceptance that you’re willing to drop, saying you’re very interested is just stating the obvious with no compelling reason to look at you any differently than they did before.

Edit: Just to add to this, I actually missed the part where your SO lives there. As Med Ed said, that's actually worth letting them know.

 

[freedoctor17]

I will have to disagree aalittle with some of the here but im also just another applicant. You clearly have significant ties to the location and if you are 100% sure you would go there then I would send it. Talk about what you liked about the school and why you really want to go there. But also it really depends on the school as well. There were one or two schools that told us they won't mean too much but a few said they consider them and like to see level of interest from people. As long as the school didnt say they dont want them then I think it's worth sending. Check the school specific threads and see what people have said in the past. The worst thing would be if they said they dont want any and you missed it or something and send one. Would just look bad.

 

[Goro]

So, a little background. I applied later in the cycle (compete by early-mid October) to 40 allopathic schools with a LM 68, years of research/pubs, URM(maybe), and a significant personal story. I was very surprised and fortunate to receive 17 interview invitations (I’ve been to 6 so far, starting mid Dec), with 11 interviews scheudled next week through mid Feb. Currently I have no acceptances yet, presumably because it’s quite early given most my interviews so far have just happened during January.

The school I most recently interviewed at has been my number one for almost 2 years. It was the first secondary I submitted, and my significant other lives in that city. On interview day I found the school was so impressive and aligned so closely with my own personal mission that even if my SO didn’t live there, it would still be my number 1. I didn’t know that would be the case but it looks like the stars just aligned.

So, I’m supposed to be receiving the school’s decision quite soon. I want them to know how I feel before the committee meets to go over my application, possibly before they even have a chance to put me on the waitlist. My question is, what’s the appropriate response here? Should I immediately send a genuine letter of intent and mention my 17 interview invites or could that rub them the wrong way? Maybe a letter of interest instead? Should I even mention the number of interviews I will turn down if accepted? Not only would attending many more interviews be costly, but I don’t want to hold up interview spots needlessly for these other schools if I could just be accepted now at my number 1 and open up the spots.

Thank you for the input.

Read this:
HomeSkool's Guide to Letters of Intent

Second letter of intent? Help!

 

[Potatoes&Avocados]

Congrats on the 17 IIs! That is unreal

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Congrats on the 17 IIs! That is unreal

He applied to 40 schools with a good app. That is a lot but not unreal given how many schools he applied to.

Good for him though because unless he’s a complete psychopath, he is almost guaranteed to get in somewhere.

 

[subdermallight]

He applied to 40 schools with a good app. That is a lot but not unreal given how many schools he applied to.

Good for him though because unless he’s a complete psychopath, he is almost guaranteed to get in somewhere.

Would you know the average ratio of applications to II’s for matriculants? I thought for 50% of matriculants was 5 to 1 (~15 applications, 3 interviews, 1 acceptance)

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Would you know the average ratio of applications to II’s for matriculants? I thought for 50% of matriculants was 5 to 1 (~15 applications, 3 interviews, 1 acceptance)

Yeah that’s right. That’s why I said it’s a lot but not unreal.

 

[subdermallight]

Yeah that’s right. That’s why I said it’s a lot but not unreal.

Yea not be any means unreal. I didn’t even apply to many top 40 schools. I wanted to maximize my chances by applying in range and mission overlap. Worked a lot better than I thought. Was just hoping for 3 II’s

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Yea not be any means unreal. I didn’t even apply to many top 40 schools. I wanted to maximize my chances by applying in range and mission overlap. Worked a lot better than I thought. Was just hoping for 3 II’s

Yeah you’re doing great. You should be pretty comfortable knowing you’re almost guaranteed to be going to med school. I hope you’ve been doing interview prep! 🙂

 

[subdermallight]

Appreciate it Dr.935. It’s hard to celebrate without an acceptance but I’m finally letting it settle in a little bit haha. I did a bunch of interview prep with good feedback and the interviews have felt great so far. It’s funny how you know you’re taking the right path in life when you can just be your genuine self, on paper and in interview, and feel totally understood and accepted.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Appreciate it Dr.935. It’s hard to celebrate without an acceptance but I’m finally letting it settle in a little bit haha. I did a bunch of interview prep with good feedback and the interviews have felt great so far. It’s funny how you know you’re taking the right path in life when you can just be your genuine self, on paper and in interview, and feel totally understood and accepted.

Yep. That’s also part of how I knew which school was right for me.

Also, it’s still Mr. I start med school in July lol.

 

[subdermallight]

Yep. That’s also part of how I knew which school was right for me.

Also, it’s still Mr. I start med school in July lol.

Mr. 935*

 

[Med Ed]

and my significant other lives in that city.

You should send a LOI. State that the school is your number one choice, enumerate the reasons, and include the fact that your significant other lives there. That last bit is one of the few truly compelling things that can be included in a LOI.

Conclude it by saying that if the school accepts you, you will withdraw from the application cycle and commit to matriculate there.

 

[subdermallight]

You should send a LOI. State that the school is your number one choice, enumerate the reasons, and include the fact that your significant other lives there. That last bit is one of the few truly compelling things that can be included in a LOI.

Conclude it by saying that if the school accepts you, you will withdraw from the application cycle and commit to matriculate there.

Looks like I’ve got myself a letter to write. Thank you Med Ed.

 

[puahate]

Darn, 17 IIs. That is amazing

 

[bananafish94]

I definitely would. If you have 17 interviews you are extraordinary and have leverage because they will probably want you anyway. It sounds like you have legitimate personal reasons for wanting to attend that school, so it sounds like a great idea to me.