Letter of Intent Protocol

[FreckleFart99]

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Hey all,

So it's been a (relatively to some) barren cycle for me, but I have the good fortune of having an II at a great school on the horizon. I plan to let the school know, after I interview, that I intend to matriculate if given admission. Actually I want to let them know that I can guarantee that I will matriculate if given the opportunity (truthfully because it is a school I thought initially was a reach, not due to a lack of options). I was wondering how I go about that, should I wait for an initial decision of "waitlist", how do I avoid coming off as either hubristic or desperate, and what do some more experienced people think about a letter of intent's efficacy?

I've tried searching and had trouble finding anything very helpful.

Thanks in advance.

 

[FreckleFart99]

Nobody knows about LOIs? 🙁

 

[Lannister]

From what I've read on here it seems like letters of intent are relatively useless. But I sent one anyways. I mean, I doubt it would hurt you.

Edit: I should elaborate, sorry. Mine was also an update letter, and the school I sent the letter to specifically said, "if you're put on post-interview hold and we don't hear from you after that, we'll assume you're no longer interested".

 

[darknecrosforte]

AFAIK, ~90% of schools will completely ignore your letter and some will read it and THEN throw it away. I have been explicitly told by Western U, Pomona that the letter might help for the WL, but you need more chill in your body.

 

[bearintraining]

Nobody knows about LOIs? 🙁

bundle with an update if you can.

I think it's always best to send the update/LOI soon after the interview such that they have the best/most information to make a decision with. I think, in my opinion, that it gives you the highest likelihood of getting in. think of it this way:

situation 1: no LOI or update
You either get waitlisted or accepted

situation 2: LOI after waitlist
it might be enough to push you over, but it may not do anything

situation 3: LOI immediately after interview
you either get waitlisted or accepted.
If you get accepted, the LOI either helped, or didn't mean anything.
If you get waitlisted, the LOI wasn't enough. In which case it wouldn't have been enough in situation 2 either.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Hey all,

So it's been a (relatively to some) barren cycle for me, but I have the good fortune of having an II at a great school on the horizon. I plan to let the school know, after I interview, that I intend to matriculate if given admission. Actually I want to let them know that I can guarantee that I will matriculate if given the opportunity (truthfully because it is a school I thought initially was a reach, not due to a lack of options). I was wondering how I go about that, should I wait for an initial decision of "waitlist", how do I avoid coming off as either hubristic or desperate, and what do some more experienced people think about a letter of intent's efficacy?

I've tried searching and had trouble finding anything very helpful.

Thanks in advance.

Schools will usually take this guarantee much like residency programs take a guarantee that you are ranking them number one... That is, they don't really put much faith in it. You get people that will say this and then end up turning them down because they found some school they like better and the schools will stop believing it. I wouldn't worry about sending this letter unless a school specifically asks for it. If you had an update that had something relevant and new for your application, that has a chance of sometimes helping.

 

[JustAPhD]

Wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people per cycle send these "you're my number 1" letters to every school they get an II at, even further diluting the letter's worth even if in your situation you actually mean it.

 

[Mansamusa]

Send a really strong thank you letter

 

[Oranges2]

just do it if it's really your number one, but yeah i agree you should bundle it up with an update. don't think these will hurt unless it's poorly written

 

[samac]

Does the school accept update letters? Some don't. If they don't don't send any kind of LOI You'll just be annoying.
If you have nothing to update them with I wouldn't just send a letter saying "heyyyy I really wanna go here" I wouldn't send anything.

 

[sunshine02]

From what I've read on here it seems like letters of intent are relatively useless. But I sent one anyways. I mean, I doubt it would hurt you.

Edit: I should elaborate, sorry. Mine was also an update letter, and the school I sent the letter to specifically said, "if you're put on post-interview hold and we don't hear from you after that, we'll assume you're no longer interested".

Did you upload it to some sort of portal or did you email it to someone?

 

[Lannister]

Did you upload it to some sort of portal or did you email it to someone?

In the hold email they told us to email it directly to a specific person.

 

[Edentern11]

i dont think it will hurt you if you do it but I dont think it will necessarily make a huge difference.

 

[Goro]

Every applicant in the history of the world has said exactly the same thing. The Admissions dean knows you're lying and will jump to school X in a heartbeat.

They knew you were interested when you sent the app in.

If you want to guarantee an acceptance, include a six figure donation check.

Hey all,

So it's been a (relatively to some) barren cycle for me, but I have the good fortune of having an II at a great school on the horizon. I plan to let the school know, after I interview, that I intend to matriculate if given admission. Actually I want to let them know that I can guarantee that I will matriculate if given the opportunity (truthfully because it is a school I thought initially was a reach, not due to a lack of options). I was wondering how I go about that, should I wait for an initial decision of "waitlist", how do I avoid coming off as either hubristic or desperate, and what do some more experienced people think about a letter of intent's efficacy?

I've tried searching and had trouble finding anything very helpful.

Thanks in advance.

To follow up on my learned young colleague, if a school states "No LOI or updates", and you go ahead and send them anyway, then you'll be viewed as

a) not being able to follow simple directions
b) a special snowflake who thinks that rules and directions don't apply to them.

Imagine what that will do to one app!

Does the school accept update letters? Some don't. If they don't don't send any kind of LOI You'll just be annoying.
If you have nothing to update them with I wouldn't just send a letter saying "heyyyy I really wanna go here" I wouldn't send anything.

 

[whatsupdr]

I sent a little update with my thank you letter after my interview. I hope that wasnt too much.

 

[FreckleFart99]

Every applicant in the history of the world has said exactly the same thing. The Admissions dean knows you're lying and will jump to school X in a heartbeat.

They knew you were interested when you sent the app in.

If you want to guarantee an acceptance, include a six figure donation check.




To follow up on my learned young colleague, if a school states "No LOI or updates", and you go ahead and send them anyway, then you'll be viewed as

a) not being able to follow simple directions
b) a special snowflake who thinks that rules and directions don't apply to them.

Imagine what that will do to one app!

Does the school accept update letters? Some don't. If they don't don't send any kind of LOI You'll just be annoying.
If you have nothing to update them with I wouldn't just send a letter saying "heyyyy I really wanna go here" I wouldn't send anything.

For the record I'm not lying but thank you, I think I won't send an loi unless I'm on a wait list.

 

[Goro]

Wait list or no, an LOI won't help.

For the record I'm not lying but thank you, I think I won't send an loi unless I'm on a wait list.

 

[FreckleFart99]

Wait list or no, an LOI won't help.

That settles it. Thank you goro.

 

[p0gono]

Respectfully, that is definitely not universally true. Admissions deans/directors at two recent interviews I attended have said, if we are wait listed, that making our feelings about the school known is "extremely helpful".

 

[gyngyn]

Respectfully, that is definitely not universally true. Admissions deans/directors at two recent interviews I attended have said, if we are wait listed, that making our feelings about the school known is "extremely helpful".

This was probably intended for the waitlisted candidate who has been accepted to a "better" or cheaper school. The timing would be best right around the time the waitlist starts moving, not now.
We can assume that someone holding no acceptances will come so they are not the likely target of this advice.

 

[p0gono]

This was probably intended for the waitlisted candidate who has been accepted to a "better" or cheaper school. The timing would be best right around the time the waitlist starts moving, not now.
We can assume that someone holding no acceptances will come so they are not the likely target of this advice.

Yeah, that sounds right. The schools that have said things like this (from my experience) are all selective enough that waitlisted candidates would most likely get acceptances to other great schools.

 

[Goro]

To follow up on my learned colleague's wise words, I ask: How would anyone interpret a non binding contract from a desperate applicant????

This was probably intended for the waitlisted candidate who has been accepted to a "better" or cheaper school. The timing would be best right around the time the waitlist starts moving, not now.
We can assume that someone holding no acceptances will come so they are not the likely target of this advice.

 

[FreckleFart99]

To follow up on my learned colleague's wise words, I ask: How would anyone interpret a non binding contract from a desperate applicant????

I have no authority but what I assumed is that the word of a future doctor is valuable and besmirching it by lying in clear documentation would be bad.

 

[justadream]

I have no authority but what I assumed is that the word of a future doctor is valuable and besmirching it by lying in clear documentation would be bad.

Let's say in your LOI you say "HMS is my #1 choice" but end up not attending HMS.

This wouldn't really be lying because:

1) Preferences can change (e.g., HMS might be my #1 today but Hopkins might be my #1 tomorrow after my spouse moves to Baltimore)
2) Financial situation (HMS might be your #1 choice school if money were equal but money is often not equal)

 

[padfootmd]

Let's say in your LOI you say "HMS is my #1 choice" but end up not attending HMS.

This wouldn't really be lying because:

1) Preferences can change (e.g., HMS might be my #1 today but Hopkins might be my #1 tomorrow after my spouse moves to Baltimore)
2) Financial situation (HMS might be your #1 choice school if money were equal but money is often not equal)

Hence why so many people on here, adcoms in particular, say they're useless

 

[gyngyn]

I have no authority but what I assumed is that the word of a future doctor is valuable and besmirching it by lying in clear documentation would be bad.

It's more like pillow talk. He means it at the moment.

 

[sunshine02]

I see that an LOI doesn't really make any difference, but if an applicant submits one, will it definitely be read over or looked at? Or is it common for it to not be looked at at all?

 

[Goro]

Our Adcom never once has seen one. So if human eyeballs look at them, they belong to our wily old Admissions dean only.

I see that an LOI doesn't really make any difference, but if an applicant submits one, will it definitely be read over or looked at? Or is it common for it to not be looked at at all?

 

[sunshine02]

Our Adcom never once has seen one. So if human eyeballs look at them, they belong to our wily old Admissions dean only.

Do you guys have a portal system? If so, when you discuss an applicant and pull up his/her application from the portal, wouldn't you see the uploaded LOIs and updates?

 

[whatever5]

Step 1 - Write a long detailed letter explaining how you feel.

Step 2 - Don't send it. Delete the file.

Step 3 - Have an emotional breakthrough after said experience.

But for real, don't bother. They can tell you haven't been accepted anywhere else, so they know you'll go there.

 

[Goro]

They don't come to Adcom members. I've definitely never seen a love letter.

Do you guys have a portal system? If so, when you discuss an applicant and pull up his/her application from the portal, wouldn't you see the uploaded LOIs and updates?

 

[WhiteHatDoc]

A letter of intent doesn't hurt and if it lets the program know of your commitment level to the program, even if it improves your chances by a slight margin, then the more power to you. Even if it ends up becoming a waste of time, you've moved on from it and it isn't like they will reject you for it. Low downside, potential upside - go for it as long as you're being truthful!

 

[calisurfer19]

This was probably intended for the waitlisted candidate who has been accepted to a "better" or cheaper school. The timing would be best right around the time the waitlist starts moving, not now.
We can assume that someone holding no acceptances will come so they are not the likely target of this advice.

The movement of the waitlist is more directed towards those schools with an unranked waitlist though, correct? So for those schools with a ranked waitlist then, is it reasonable to assume that just before the final committee meeting or if it's at a later date, just before the waitlist ranking is created, would be the best time for an LOI?

I've met the qualifiers (accepted to 2 cheaper schools which are equal to or "better" in some respects) and I also have dozens of family members living in the area of the only school I will be sending an LOI. Does this mean that the weight my LOI holds, if any at all, would be increased?

One final question - I do realize that word of those who send in LOIs is always called into question, but what about those who serve(d) in the military? Granted, military applicants could fall to less than honorable tactics in order to gain admission, but there has to be some degree of trust when one of us states that we will withdraw all other applications if we're accepted, right?

My apologies if I hijacked this thread, and hopefully that last question doesn't stir up too much of a debate.

 

[samac]

The movement of the waitlist is more directed towards those schools with an unranked waitlist though, correct? So for those schools with a ranked waitlist then, is it reasonable to assume that just before the final committee meeting or if it's at a later date, just before the waitlist ranking is created, would be the best time for an LOI?

I've met the qualifiers (accepted to 2 cheaper schools which are equal to or "better" in some respects) and I also have dozens of family members living in the area of the only school I will be sending an LOI. Does this mean that the weight my LOI holds, if any at all, would be increased?

One final question - I do realize that word of those who send in LOIs is always called into question, but what about those who serve(d) in the military? Granted, military applicants could fall to less than honorable tactics in order to gain admission, but there has to be some degree of trust when one of us states that we will withdraw all other applications if we're accepted, right?

My apologies if I hijacked this thread, and hopefully that last question doesn't stir up too much of a debate.

Military holding weight for an LOI? Not at all.

We're back to, unless a school asks for an update or specifically says they want LOIs, they just don't really matter.

 

[deleted718115]

If you want to guarantee an acceptance, include a six figure donation check.

Why do adcoms even allow bribery to happen?
What kind of doctor/person do they think the candidate will be if he/she feels comfortable with bribing her way into a position?
It appalls me that faculty or adcoms take cheating/professionalism/integrity breach in med school very seriously but turn a blind eye on a similar behavior.

 

[Mad Jack]

Hey all,

So it's been a (relatively to some) barren cycle for me, but I have the good fortune of having an II at a great school on the horizon. I plan to let the school know, after I interview, that I intend to matriculate if given admission. Actually I want to let them know that I can guarantee that I will matriculate if given the opportunity (truthfully because it is a school I thought initially was a reach, not due to a lack of options). I was wondering how I go about that, should I wait for an initial decision of "waitlist", how do I avoid coming off as either hubristic or desperate, and what do some more experienced people think about a letter of intent's efficacy?

I've tried searching and had trouble finding anything very helpful.

Thanks in advance.

LOIs are silly. It's like a beggar telling you he'd totally accept the money in your wallet- obviously he would, that thought being communicated in no way changes whether you're going to give him your money. If I'm ever an adcom down the line, I'm going to devote time writing sarcastic responses to LOIs for the lulz- "It is my understanding that, when and if we accept you, you will accept our acceptance. I hereby just want to let you know that, in such an event, should it occur, we fully intend to accept your acceptance of our acceptance. Thank you for your interest, and good luck."

 

[Mad Jack]

bundle with an update if you can.

I think it's always best to send the update/LOI soon after the interview such that they have the best/most information to make a decision with. I think, in my opinion, that it gives you the highest likelihood of getting in. think of it this way:

situation 1: no LOI or update
You either get waitlisted or accepted

situation 2: LOI after waitlist
it might be enough to push you over, but it may not do anything

situation 3: LOI immediately after interview
you either get waitlisted or accepted.
If you get accepted, the LOI either helped, or didn't mean anything.
If you get waitlisted, the LOI wasn't enough. In which case it wouldn't have been enough in situation 2 either.

Keep in mind a poorly written LOI, either in tone or substance, could certainly hurt you. If you've already put your best foot forward, why risk fudging things by sending a letter that is largely meaningless?

 

[Officer Farva]

Can't believe a LOI is relatively useless. If I were an adcom, I believe it would show tenacity. I would rather have a student who is enthusiastic about attending than some guy who is settling for the school.

 

[Mad Jack]

Can't believe a LOI is relatively useless. If I were an adcom, I believe it would show tenacity. I would rather have a student who is enthusiastic about attending than some guy who is settling for the school.

They're meaningless because you can send an LOI to every school. And because they know if they're not your real number one and Harvard gives you a call tomorrow, you'll drop them like a bad habit.

 

[Officer Farva]

They're meaningless because you can send an LOI to every school. And because they know if they're not your real number one and Harvard gives you a call tomorrow, you'll drop them like a bad habit.

Ah I see. The schools are self-conscious 😉

 

[Mad Jack]

Ah I see. The schools are self-conscious 😉

They just know you're a player and that, at the end of the day, no matter what you're saying they might just be a side b****.

 

[Officer Farva]

They just know you're a player and that, at the end of the day, no matter what you're saying they might just be a side b****.

Made me spill my coffee laughing lol. And at the end, I believe that LOIs are useless since schools want to protect yield. But so what if they accept 60-70% of interviewees to fill a class?

 

[Curioso06]

I can see the argument that a school would mostly only consider a LOIntent when you've already been admitted to a "higher" ranked/tiered school. However, the major flaw with this argument is that what if you didn't apply to any other high tier schools (yet were qualified for them anyway)? What if you applied to your true top choice and wanted to attend for personal reasons that are self-evident in your application but that you are waitlisted anyway?

 

[gyngyn]

Ah I see. The schools are self-conscious 😉

No, we're just used to pillow talk.

 

[gyngyn]

I can see the argument that a school would mostly only consider a LOIntent when you've already been admitted to a "higher" ranked/tiered school. However, the major flaw with this argument is that what if you didn't apply to any other high tier schools (yet were qualified for them anyway)? What if you applied to your true top choice and wanted to attend for personal reasons that are self-evident in your application but that you are waitlisted anyway?

We don't much care.

 

[Officer Farva]

I can see the argument that a school would mostly only consider a LOIntent when you've already been admitted to a "higher" ranked/tiered school. However, the major flaw with this argument is that what if you didn't apply to any other high tier schools (yet were qualified for them anyway)? What if you applied to your true top choice and wanted to attend for personal reasons that are self-evident in your application but that you are waitlisted anyway?

Yea schools have way too many assumptions about how competitive some applicants are. Hypothetically, my girlfriend/wife might be restricted to Philly and I would only apply to all the Philly schools. No matter how smart someone is, it is impossible to guarantee that someone is Penn material so the other schools would be great options. Or in Boston, not everyone is Harvard material (even geniuses), but Tufts and BU would be nice.

 

[gyngyn]

The movement of the waitlist is more directed towards those schools with an unranked waitlist though, correct? So for those schools with a ranked waitlist then, is it reasonable to assume that just before the final committee meeting or if it's at a later date, just before the waitlist ranking is created, would be the best time for an LOI?

I've met the qualifiers (accepted to 2 cheaper schools which are equal to or "better" in some respects) and I also have dozens of family members living in the area of the only school I will be sending an LOI. Does this mean that the weight my LOI holds, if any at all, would be increased?

One final question - I do realize that word of those who send in LOIs is always called into question, but what about those who serve(d) in the military? Granted, military applicants could fall to less than honorable tactics in order to gain admission, but there has to be some degree of trust when one of us states that we will withdraw all other applications if we're accepted, right?

My apologies if I hijacked this thread, and hopefully that last question doesn't stir up too much of a debate.

After waitlist movement has started, at a school with an unranked waitlist, you can send a clear message that you would prefer the "lesser" school to the one that has accepted you. These are the only conditions in which I could recommend one of the these letters. You would only be holding one acceptance after April 30th anyway (unless waitlist movement starts before then!), but you should never withdraw from your only school until you have another acceptance in hand.

 

[sunshine02]

The movement of the waitlist is more directed towards those schools with an unranked waitlist though, correct? So for those schools with a ranked waitlist then, is it reasonable to assume that just before the final committee meeting or if it's at a later date, just before the waitlist ranking is created, would be the best time for an LOI?

I've met the qualifiers (accepted to 2 cheaper schools which are equal to or "better" in some respects) and I also have dozens of family members living in the area of the only school I will be sending an LOI. Does this mean that the weight my LOI holds, if any at all, would be increased?

One final question - I do realize that word of those who send in LOIs is always called into question, but what about those who serve(d) in the military? Granted, military applicants could fall to less than honorable tactics in order to gain admission, but there has to be some degree of trust when one of us states that we will withdraw all other applications if we're accepted, right?

My apologies if I hijacked this thread, and hopefully that last question doesn't stir up too much of a debate.

Yeah just because you served in the military doesn't mean adcoms will trust you more when you write your LOI

 

[Officer Farva]

Why do adcoms even allow bribery to happen?
What kind of doctor/person do they think the candidate will be if he/she feels comfortable with bribing her way into a position?
It appalls me that faculty or adcoms take cheating/professionalism/integrity breach in med school very seriously but turn a blind eye on a similar behavior.

Bribing to get into school. Is this even America? lol

 

[justadream]

Bribing to get into school. Is this even America? lol

If you make a large enough donation (5-10 million but likely more for schools like HMS) to the school, you can get into any school (college, graduate, or professional) in America.

This is fairly well-accepted at basically all schools.