letter of intent - waitlisted

[slackerjock]

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When should i write this bad boy?

What should i write?

 

[jtown]

When should i write this bad boy?

What should i write?

ditto.
i just got an email from uc davis putting me on hold.... the third school at which i'm on hold.

also, to whom do you write?

 

[constructor]

ditto.
i just got an email from uc davis putting me on hold.... the third school at which i'm on hold.

also, to whom do you write?

are you guys talking about pre- or post- interview hold?

 

[Reckoning]

When should i write this bad boy?

What should i write?

Right now. Address it to whomever signed your waitlist letter. I got off a waitlist two weeks after being placed on it. Make it sincere and make it good. Good luck!

 

[CaMD]

Right now. Address it to whomever signed your waitlist letter. I got off a waitlist two weeks after being placed on it. Make it sincere and make it good. Good luck!

You got off a post-interview waitlist 2 weeks after being placed on it? I thought we had to wait til after May 15 to get off waitlists!

 

[sfbear]

If it's not actually your first-choice school, you might want to write a letter of interest instead (what you've been doing, why you love the school, why you'd be perfect there. . . ). Since interviews don't end until April, a letter of intent - unless you really are sincere - may not carry as much weight right now as it would when you've finished interviewing.

 

[Brain]

Is it best to write the letter yourself, or ask a prof to do it?

 

[Reckoning]

You got off a post-interview waitlist 2 weeks after being placed on it? I thought we had to wait til after May 15 to get off waitlists!

I think in most cases, true. But this is not a law. Each office calls their own shots.

 

[sfbear]

Is it best to write the letter yourself, or ask a prof to do it?

Why not do both?

 

[constructor]

well, the reason i asked if it was pre-interview or post-interview hold is because i think it makes the situation different. if you're on pre-interview hold, you have much less to lose and sending letters might actually make them look at your file more often and hence perhaps give you an inteview. when you're on hold after an interview, you have a lot more to lose, and there is always the risk of annoying the adcoms with letters that come off sounding insincere or impatient, so i am reluctant to send in letters after a post-interview waitlist until much later on when there's a lot of movement.

 

[sfbear]

I think that the impact letters have post-interview really depends on the school. I'm sure there are schools that would be annoyed, but one school where I am waitlisted advised me to send letters to make sure the dean didn't forget my name. I'd say it doesn't hurt to ask the adcom if there's anything you can do to improve your standing and how update letters are typically received.

 

[jtown]

for me, it's post-interview....
i'm also on pre-interview hold at UCSD, but i'm sweating that one a lot less...

davis was awesome. i liked it a lot more than i had hoped and it is my top choice right now...

i am going to write a letter tonight after work, but i feel like every competitive pre-med on a hold list probably also writes a letter (whether or not they mean it), thus watering down the effectiveness of a technique like that.... maybe i'm just cynical, though.

 

[sfbear]

do you know anyone that's enrolled there? you could get them to write a letter on your behalf. that helped my cousin get in off the middle of the waitlist last year . . .

 

[japhy]

absolutely do NOT have a professor write this letter for you. i can't beleive you would even think that.

the purpose of writing a loi it to express YOUR strong desire to attend that school. having anyone else write it for you will only dilute that message. i have many friends on interview and selections committees. to be honest they don't pay any attention to these letters. but it is different at other schools.

they are interested in getting updates: new grades, new volunteer and other experiences. but a loi doesnt do much.

 

[sfbear]

I agree - a professor or anyone else can't write this for you, so I want to be clear that in my earlier post I meant that the letter written on my cousin's behalf was in addition to her letters of interest/intent, not instead of. Some schools care about these letters, some don't. Davis seems to be fairly open to them, so I would reccomend that the OP send regular letters of update, and as May approaches, letters of support as well.

 

[frenchcrew]

Is it okay to say in your letter of intent that the school is your first choice?

 

[Dr. Donkey]

That is, indeed, the point of a letter of intent (to be precise, it's saying you will attend the school if accepted). A letter of interest on the other hand would just be you fluffing the admissions people and telling them how great you think their school is

Is it okay to say in your letter of intent that the school is your first choice?

 

[sunsweet]

That is, indeed, the point of a letter of intent (to be precise, it's saying you will attend the school if accepted). A letter of interest on the other hand would just be you fluffing the admissions people and telling them how great you think their school is

so do you just say-"I will definitely attend if accepted"? is there a better or more elegant way to say it? is it ok to be so direct?

 

[Uegis]

Would you just address the letter to the admissios office or the dean of admissions? I need to write one too. Alas, I am in purgatory right now.

 

[Dr. Donkey]

The consensus seems to be to address the letter to the dean of admissions.

Would you just address the letter to the admissios office or the dean of admissions? I need to write one too. Alas, I am in purgatory right now.

 

[Dr. Donkey]

Basically, yes. Though I'm sure you yourself can find a slightly more eloquent manner of expression if you give it some consideration. In this process, it helps to think of youself as a flee-bitten dog asking your gluttonous master for a scrap from the table. Roof.

so do you just say-"I will definitely attend if accepted"? is there a better or more elegant way to say it? is it ok to be so direct?

 

[medstylee]

a letter of intent should be pretty meaningful. just take it into consideration that, once you write one, it'll be hard for you to write a letter of the same magnitude again without being redundant. think about the timing of the letter. if you send it now and the school doesn't start looking at its waitlist until may (which many schools do), the letter might get lost in the pile. in that case, it might make more of a difference if you send it in later. this is especially true for schools which claim to not have a ranked waitlist. from my experience on waitlists last year, it seems like sometimes sending a letter around the time the waitlists start to move might catch the attention of admissions committee or it might bump your app up to the top of the pile. but, like some people have mentioned, some schools have more active waitlists and people are being pulled off now, even. so, try to dig up past posts about the particular school and see how their waitlist operates. that should give you an idea of when to send the letter. best of luck.

 

[sunsweet]

Basically, yes. Though I'm sure you yourself can find a slightly more eloquent manner of expression if you give it some consideration. In this process, it helps to think of youself as a flee-bitten dog asking your gluttonous master for a scrap from the table. Roof.

Well, that certainly makes me feel much better. Lol, j/k. thanks for the response.

 

[sunsweet]

a letter of intent should be pretty meaningful. just take it into consideration that, once you write one, it'll be hard for you to write a letter of the same magnitude again without being redundant. think about the timing of the letter. if you send it now and the school doesn't start looking at its waitlist until may (which many schools do), the letter might get lost in the pile. in that case, it might make more of a difference if you send it in later. this is especially true for schools which claim to not have a ranked waitlist. from my experience on waitlists last year, it seems like sometimes sending a letter around the time the waitlists start to move might catch the attention of admissions committee or it might bump your app up to the top of the pile. but, like some people have mentioned, some schools have more active waitlists and people are being pulled off now, even. so, try to dig up past posts about the particular school and see how their waitlist operates. that should give you an idea of when to send the letter. best of luck.

If we're sending an LOI to a non-rolling school that hasn't sent out any decisions yet, is it better to write an LOI now before they even considered your app (so they see it when they first review your app) or is it better to get WLed and then send in the LOI? I think the chances of me getting WLed at this school are greater than actually getting an initial acceptance.

 

[ramblinwreckie]

If we're sending an LOI to a non-rolling school that hasn't sent out any decisions yet, is it better to write an LOI now before they even considered your app (so they see it when they first review your app) or is it better to get WLed and then send in the LOI? I think the chances of me getting WLed at this school are greater than actually getting an initial acceptance.

I have the same exact question. My tour guide at Columbia really recommended it, but he didn't say when he sent his in (before decision or after being waitlisted). If I could decide on a top school and it happened to be non-rolling, I would send it in soon. Stupid indecisiveness.

 

[D_LOVE]

Post-Interview, is it best to wait to hear back from the school before sending a letter of intent?

 

[sweatybrain]

Post-Interview, is it best to wait to hear back from the school before sending a letter of intent?

I sent mine almost immediately after I got back from my interview, because I was pretty sure it was my number one choice and I'd attend if I were fortunate enough to be accepted. (Note that since I"m an international, it is very unlikely that I'd get significant financial aids from any of the schools on my list. Therefore, I wasn't waiting around to hear from school about the $$$).

If I were waitlisted at this school, would be appropriate to have a professor write me an additional letter of recommendation to say how I might contribute to and be a good fit at the school?

 

[Dr. Donkey]

I would definitely send it post-interview, before decisions. That way they will consider it in their initial decision too. The purpose of the LOI is to say you will return the adcom's love and their love might come before you get waitlisted.

Post-Interview, is it best to wait to hear back from the school before sending a letter of intent?

 

[D_LOVE]

I would definitely send it post-interview, before decisions. That way they will consider it in their initial decision too. The purpose of the LOI is to say you will return the adcom's love and their love might come before you get waitlisted.

I just wanted to make sure that it doesn't sound desperate, especially soon after an interview (2/11)

 

[PBMaxx]

I just wanted to make sure that it doesn't sound desperate, especially soon after an interview (2/11)

The tone of your letter (rather than the timing of your LOI) will do more to address that issue. Go ahead and send it in, but make sure you discuss your intent intelligently, and support it with specifics and concrete reasons-- even if they are "feelings" (e.g. "After visiting your School and meeting with the faculty and students, I feel that I would be a good fit for XXX SOM." etc.)

 

[gbiz]

I sent a letter of intent last month, after I learned my waitlist fate to my top choice, and addressed it to the the dean of admissions.

A month later, I sent an update letter/letter of intent adressed to the admissions comittee.

I plan on sending a much more detailed letter of intent around May 15th, and adress that to the dean of admissions again. THats a total of three leters, and I dont think that is over the top. The director of admissions told me he didnt think a letter of intent would help, but it wouldnt hurt and in my situation he would send one in. He encouraged updates to me on two separate occasions.

I dont know if I made the right choices, but Im just saying what Ive done 🙂

 

[APTX]

I was recently placed on hold at my first choice, Case Western, and I think there's about two months before final decisions are made. Should I send a letter of intent to the admissions committee AND the dean, or would that be pushing it. Also...should I mention the other school(s) I've been accepted to and give reasons why I would choose to attend Case anyday?

 

[gbiz]

Give specific reasons if you have them!!!

The final letter I am going to write to UMich will have a hell of a lot more specifics then my first one did; the one I am going to be sending right around May 15th.

I loved Case also 🙂 Its my second choice. That tuition made sure it didn't creep up closer to my number 1!

When I wrote my first one, I too had to decide if to send it to the dean of admissions or to the adcom in general, and I chose the dean for the letter of intent b/c I thought it would fit better adressed to him. Also, I doubt any dean will throw it out; if it doesnt even get to the dean, it will get to your file.

When I sent a letter to update, I sent that to the adcom in general, b/c I thought it would be better addressed to the entire adcom.


Those are my thoughts.

 

[macktong]

what do you guys think having a prof to call up the admissions committee for me? Do you think that will help?

 

[alec689]

what do you guys think having a prof to call up the admissions committee for me? Do you think that will help?

I think the impact of having a prof call up the adcom depends on a number of things (the prof's connections to the school, the way the adcom responds to additional letters of rec., etc.). Also, unless the professor knows someone personally on the adcom, it might be strange for him/her to call (as opposed to write a letter). But if your prof knows someone on the adcom, I don't think it could hurt to have him/her call.

I think showing your interest in any way possible is definitely a good thing, so whatever you choose to do, as long as it expresses your interest in the school, will probably help your chances.

Just my two cents... 🙂

 

[ERJunkie]

I have received the same feedback. During the tour the Admissions Coordinator of one school told us if we are waitlisted, to send additional letters of rec as well as letters of interest. After being waitlisted I sent two additional letters of rec from the PhDs I currently work with and a letter to the Admissions Coordinator updating her about the letters. Also, after about 1 week, I sent the Dean a thorough Email of why I wanted to attend med school here and since I will be in town in two weeks, asked if I can meet with her. I will also plan to submit another letter in about 1 month to show interest in the school. I am not sure if this is too much because I think it is a very subjective argument; I hope they will view this assertion in a positive light.

I sent a letter of intent last month, after I learned my waitlist fate to my top choice, and addressed it to the the dean of admissions.

A month later, I sent an update letter/letter of intent adressed to the admissions comittee.

I plan on sending a much more detailed letter of intent around May 15th, and adress that to the dean of admissions again. THats a total of three leters, and I dont think that is over the top. The director of admissions told me he didnt think a letter of intent would help, but it wouldnt hurt and in my situation he would send one in. He encouraged updates to me on two separate occasions.

I dont know if I made the right choices, but Im just saying what Ive done 🙂

 

[APTX]

I have received the same feedback. During the tour the Admissions Coordinator of one school told us if we are waitlisted, to send additional letters of rec as well as letters of interest. After being waitlisted I sent two additional letters of rec from the PhDs I currently work with and a letter to the Admissions Coordinator updating her about the letters. Also, after about 1 week, I sent the Dean a thorough Email of why I wanted to attend med school here and since I will be in town in two weeks, asked if I can meet with her. I will also plan to submit another letter in about 1 month to show interest in the school. I am not sure if this is too much because I think it is a very subjective argument; I hope they will view this assertion in a positive light.

Which dean are we supposed to send letters to, the associate dean of admissions or the dean of the medical school? Do med school deans pay much attention to letters addressed to them, or would it be better to send it to the admission deans instead?

 

[slackerjock]

i sent a 2 paragraph letter of intent to my interviewer, first via email and then mailed a copy to her office. i wonder if i should have sent it to the "dean of admissions" or whatever...

 

[PBMaxx]

I plan on writing an early, informal intent email directly to the dean of admissions stating that I will accept a position from the waitlist. I will then later (maybe end of April) send a formal, snail-mail letter to the adcom.

Sound good? I hope so.

 

[slackerjock]

I plan on writing an early, informal intent email directly to the dean of admissions stating that I will accept a position from the waitlist. I will then later (maybe end of April) send a formal, snail-mail letter to the adcom.

Sound good? I hope so.

have you had any prior contact with the dean of admissions?

 

[nadica31]

Hi,
does anyone have a sample of how the letter od intent should look like, and if i was trying to get in the md/phd program, do you guys think i should address it to the director of the program, the committee or the dean of the med school?
Thanks

 

[PBMaxx]

have you had any prior contact with the dean of admissions?

Limited contact, but he was the one to sign the letter assigning me to the alternate pool, and he intimated that he would be the one actually making the phonecalls if/when we were offered admission.

 

[eag]

Is it frowned upon to have the letter of interest be longer than a page? Is a page an a half too long?

 

[Kazema]

The LOI should be as long as it takes to convey your point. Don't waste any words by using any vague statements that anyone else could make.

 

[Scarletbegonias]

here's a good link with info on letters of intent:
http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~ericwang/Application/w_list.html