Is it ok to mention the name of another school in your LOI?

[sunsweet]

say if you're writing a letter of interest pre-interview, is it ok to say that you've interviewed at a lot of good schools, like XX, but you're still very interested in Y because of ---? or if you're writing a letter of intent, say the same thing but then say that your experience at this particular school was the best? so my first question is whether this is "acceptable" or considered bad practice, and my second more paranoid question is whether word will get around to the school you mention and hurt your chances there. thanks!

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[stinkycheese]

say if you're writing a letter of interest pre-interview, is it ok to say that you've interviewed at a lot of good schools, like XX, but you're still very interested in Y because of ---?

No.

 

[lilmo]

ditto. don't do it.

 

[NYCDesi]

Say school A is your absolute top choice and you got into schools B, C and D. Can you write an LOI to school A saying that you are willing to forego the acceptances at schools B, C and D (which I plan to mention by name) for school A?

 

[flash]

I don't see the upside, they're not going to accept you b/c you are willing to turn down b,c,d. If you feel that mentioning that you have already been accepted generally speaking, w/o names, fits with whatever you are writing, then that might be ok, imo. But I would speak to it very generally if you want to use mention to build more of a case for your enthusiasm.

 

[PhotoMD]

Say school A is your absolute top choice and you got into schools B, C and D. Can you write an LOI to school A saying that you are willing to forego the acceptances at schools B, C and D (which I plan to mention by name) for school A?

No! It's just name-dropping, and reviewers know it.

 

[medstyle]

When you ask out a girl, its always a good idea to mention that you've dated hotter girls than her, just so she knows that for some reason you still like her more.

-Casanova

 

[watsupdoc15]

When you ask out a girl, its always a good idea to mention that you've dated hotter girls than her, just so she knows that for some reason you still like her more.

-Casanova

Haha...good analogy

 

[UCLAstudent]

Don't do it.

 

[Samus Aran]

When you ask out a girl, its always a good idea to mention that you've dated hotter girls than her, just so she knows that for some reason you still like her more.

-Casanova

haha

and to answer the op's question, no, i wouldn't do it.

 

[Haybrant]

are you sending the LOI to the dean or to the adcom/your file?

 

[sunsweet]

ok, point taken. thanks everyone!

are you sending the LOI to the dean or to the adcom/your file?

I think I'm going to say dear [admissions dean] and members of adcom. I've read on sdn pros and cons for writing to the dean and for writing to the adcom, so I figured I might as well just put both. any thoughts?

 

[Shaz]

Say school A is your absolute top choice and you got into schools B, C and D. Can you write an LOI to school A saying that you are willing to forego the acceptances at schools B, C and D (which I plan to mention by name) for school A?

this sounds okay to me. it emphasizes your interest in school A.