Letter of Intent - How to write one?

[Drako]

Hihihi,
I am having a hard time trying to write a letter of intent. I don't know what format is this letter suppose to take. What goes in it? what to say? How to say it? How long should it be? Should it be formal or should it be spoken from the heart? Any idea? Advice? help? information? URLs? Tks tks tks!!

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[Ceez]

Did you get waitlisted too?

I plan on writing letters for two schools today. Here's what I plan on incorporating:

-Why I want to go to the school?
-How I would fit into the school?
-Updates (i.e. new ECs)

I also plan on sending additional LORs. I am by no means an expert on letters of intent, but this is what I plan to do.

 

[Bruno]

Drako and Ceez...in your letters, are you planning to say that you will withdraw all of your other applications if accepted to that school? I have already sent letters of intent using the material Ceez provided, but I have not yet sent a letter that I would withdraw. Thanks.

 

[Patiently Waiting]

Ceez pretty much summed up what I planned on putting in my letter of intent. Why you love so-and-so school and how you're a good match for the school...and that you will withdraw from all of the schools you've been accepted/waitlisted as soon as get accepted to the school.

 

[Ceez]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Bruno:
•Drako and Ceez...in your letters, are you planning to say that you will withdraw all of your other applications if accepted to that school? I have already sent letters of intent using the material Ceez provided, but I have not yet sent a letter that I would withdraw. Thanks.•••••Well, UCLA is my top choice and I plan on telling them that. I'm assuming they'll know that I will withdraw my application from other schools if they accept me.

 

[brickmanli]

It's also good to make the letter as personal as possible, as opposed to listing all the good things about the school like in a brochure. On my letter (which worked) I wrote about what happened on the day of my interview, how happy the students were, and how I would be proud to join such a closely knit group of people.

Don't be afraid to make the letter longer. My was a full two pages.

 

[Ceez]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by brickmanli:
•It's also good to make the letter as personal as possible, as opposed to listing all the good things about the school like in a brochure. On my letter (which worked) I wrote about what happened on the day of my interview, how happy the students were, and how I would be proud to join such a closely knit group of people.

Don't be afraid to make the letter longer. My was a full two pages.•••••Whom did you address your letter to? I'm not sure if I should say "Dear Dr. Dean" or "Dear Admissions Committee."

 

[brickmanli]

Definitely find out the name of the Director of Admissions or the Dean of Admissions, it's usually the signature on your waitlist letter. You should also inquire with your interviewers and ask for their advice. Sometimes they'll tell you whom to write to. It doesn't hurt to write similar letters to your interviewers as well, though I haven't tested this theory. Address your letters to the admissions office, but Attn: Dr. Whatever.

 

[MorningLight2100]

Hi Drako,

I would address it directly to the dean of admissions (or whomever heads admissions at the school in question). It will be more personalized, and you'll be going straight to the source.

I also think that it might be beneficial to style your letter based upon how well you know the recipient. In one of my cases, my interviewer was the Dean of Admissions, with whom I'd corresponded a few times since the interview, so my letter to him was markedly more casual and personal (although still professional) than were letters to other schools.

Have you also thought of a few things that you love about the school that might be a bit unique to your perspective? What I mean to say is, it might be wise to avoid just spitting out what you read in the viewbook. Can you think of anything special that you will do w/ the opportunities that the school offers you? Does the community with which the school interacts have special meaning to you?

You sound like you're on the right track w/ everything. .. go get em, Drako!

 

[BushBaby]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by brickmanli:
•Definitely find out the name of the Director of Admissions or the Dean of Admissions, it's usually the signature on your waitlist letter. You should also inquire with your interviewers and ask for their advice. Sometimes they'll tell you whom to write to. It doesn't hurt to write similar letters to your interviewers as well, though I haven't tested this theory. Address your letters to the admissions office, but Attn: Dr. Whatever.•••••I just emailed my interviewer and I also emailed the dean. The letter to the interviewer was 2 paragraphs long and I only had 1 kiss-@$$ paragraph for the dean.

 

[Trowa]

I know this may sound like a stupid question, but for people that wrote the letter of intent, did you handwrite it or type it?

 

[Doctora Foxy]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Trowa:
•I know this may sound like a stupid question, but for people that wrote the letter of intent, did you handwrite it or type it?•••••typed it. I also bought expensive paper to send in my updates b/c my printer paper was too flimsy. <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[BeckyG]

I think Drako has good advice here. Only thoughts are: keep the letter to one page, address it to the dean of admissions and the admissions committee. Basically say what was said: "UCSF SoM is my absolute #1 choice. In fact, my interest in attending UCSF is so strong that I would like to provide you with a letter of intent at this time. If UCSF SoM offers me a place in the incoming Fall 2002 class, I would accept UCSF's offer, release the seat I am currently holding at another medical school and withdraw all of my outstanding applications. This letter of intent is provided only to UCSF and to no other medical schools." Something like that as the opener para. Then say something personal about your connection to the school - why it is a good fit, etc, for you and for them. Hope this is helpful!

- Becky

 

[Doctora Foxy]

bump

This thread gets me in the mood to write my letters

Any other ideas? Becky, that was really helpful, thank you!

 

[sorrento]

bumping this up ... what would you all advise in this situation: I really love a school where I am waitlisted, but I am not quite prepared to say that I will definitely give up my current spot if accepted there. Do you think schools sneer at this stage at letters of interest that aren't quite letters of intent?? Help! I don't want to write a wimpy letter but am afraid of commitment ...

 

[Drako]

I talked to my undergraduate head couselor two days ago. She thinks that at this stage of the game, especially when the waitlist if a ranked waitlist, a letter of intent is just a mere formality. It will not affect the AdCom decision to give you an acceptance or not, regardless of how polished your letter of intent might be. She also thinks that it will not harm you either because a school would not rank you lower than your original spot if you write a bad letter of intent or one that they do not like.

I also talked to another person who knows the ins and outs of admissions. He also thinks that a letter of intent is a formality.

 

[sorrento]

Okay, thanks Drako. If some view it as just a formality, then there's no harm done if I don't promise my first born child, right? Nothing lost, too, by reminding them that I'm still here and thinking of them fondly.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

What do you think about emailing these letters and then sending it on paper later on? GW suggested I email it. Do you think that's weird? And would they print out the email?

 

[waiting123]

Hey Doctora Foxy,
I think that emailing it would only work if you had the dean's email address or the exact person whom you are writing it too. I would not trust emailing it to the secretaries and expect them to print it out. If you email it, then send it on paper. Personally, I am just going to mail them cause I dont want to bother them twice and even if it does take longer. Hope that helps.

 

[BlackPuma]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Doctora Foxy:
•What do you think about emailing these letters and then sending it on paper later on? GW suggested I email it. Do you think that's weird? And would they print out the email?•••••lol emailing it....why won't u just tell the secretary to hold a tape recorder next to the phone and you read off ur letter of intent

that way, it would be fresh from ur lips :wink:

 

[sorrento]

I would do both (email and mail) - only because I just had a "I accept a place on your waitlist" returned to me three weeks after I'd mailed it!