Letter of Intent

[TurkDorian]

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When sending a letter of intent, what are you supposed to include?

 

[Goro]

The same things you'd say to the girl of your dreams. And this is exactly how Admissions Deans will treat them as well.

How would you interpret a non-binding contract from a desperate applicant?

 

[NickNaylor]

The same things you'd say to the girl of your dreams. And this is exactly how Admissions Deans will treat them as well.

How would you interpret a non-binding contract from a desperate applicant?

Completely agree with @Goro. They are generally useless UNLESS you have some clear tie to the institution and the admissions committee thinks you might be on the fence about attending their institution. For example, there might be an applicant from the city of medical school X that went somewhere else for undergrad but still has family located in the city. A letter of intent from that applicant would likely hold more weight than a letter from a random applicant who has nothing really to offer other than they applied.

 

[gyngyn]

Completely agree with @Goro. They are generally useless UNLESS you have some clear tie to the institution and the admissions committee thinks you might be on the fence about attending their institution. For example, there might be an applicant from the city of medical school X that went somewhere else for undergrad but still has family located in the city. A letter of intent from that applicant would likely hold more weight than a letter from a random applicant who has nothing really to offer other than they applied.

Only if they are already holding an acceptance at a school at least as good (or cheaper!).
An LOI from someone holding no acceptances is the very definition of @Goro's post.

 

[NickNaylor]

Only if they are already holding an acceptance at a school at least as good (or cheaper!).

Sorry, you are correct - I should've added the caveat that letters of intent are generally a "last play" sort of maneuver that requires some degree of leverage to be effective. Though I do think that even if you're an applicant with no acceptances and have clear ties to a specific area it still may hold some (if reduced) value.

 

[silvermecca]

I was accepted to other schools but not my first choice. Sent a LOI and accepted nine days later. It worked magic for me or Divine Intervention! Whatever! I'm in!

 

[Banco]

As said already, they are most likely to work if you have some sort of leverage (better school, cheaper school), or some connection to the school/area.