Letter of Intent

[Sailor Senshi Dermystify]

How long should this be and is it still okay to send one?


Thanks

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Ismet]

1) Vast majority of schools will put zero weight into your "intent." It means nothing.
2) A very small number of schools are receptive to these kinds of letters. Usually these schools make it known. Go read the school's thread over in the school-specific discussion sub-forum to see if this is a thing.
3) A number of schools explicitly state, either during interview day or on their website, that they do not want LOI's. Sending one anyway may result in rejection due to failure to follow rules.

4) If you do decide to send one, it would be better if combined with an "update" letter so it's actually adding something of substance to your application more than just "I want to go here." If you don't have anything to update, then no more than 1 page

 

[MaxPlancker]

Long as a bathing suit. Short enough to keep the reader interested but long enough to cover the necessary areas. I'd say it's in your best interest to do no more than 2 pages single-spaced but generally 1 page will be more than enough to describe whatever details you need.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Long as a bathing suit. Short enough to keep the reader interested but long enough to cover the necessary areas. I'd say it's in your best interest to do no more than 2 pages single-spaced but generally 1 page will be more than enough to describe whatever details you need.

To be clear, this is sarcasm.

 

[MaxPlancker]

To be clear, this is sarcasm.

Hahaha didn't mean it that way but I can see how it could appear that way 😀

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

If you write a 1 page single spaced letter of intent they will think you're insane (and probably not read it)

Love the bathing suit analogy though!

 

[NotaCop]

If you don't have anything to update, then no more than 1 page, double spaced.

If I received a formal letter that was double spaced, it would be going straight in the trash. That's like showing up to a wedding in basketball shorts. It's out of place, immature, and not proper etiquette. You just don't do it.

Rest of your advice is sound though.

 

[Ismet]

If I received a formal letter that was double spaced, it would be going straight in the trash. That's like showing up to a wedding in basketball shorts. It's out of place, immature, and not proper etiquette. You just don't do it.

Rest of your advice is sound though.

Lol that's what I get for writing responses at 2am in a headache-induced fog. I was going more for "keep it short" and I agree that double spaced would be atrocious 😛

 

[NotaCop]

Lol that's what I get for writing responses at 2am in a headache-induced fog. I was going more for "keep it short" and I agree that double spaced would be atrocious 😛

Ah yes the witching hour fugue state, some of my best/worst work has come out of that unique state of mind!

Love it or hate it, us premeds know it all too well lol

 

[SnakeDoc9497]

1) Vast majority of schools will put zero weight into your "intent." It means nothing.
2) A very small number of schools are receptive to these kinds of letters. Usually these schools make it known. Go read the school's thread over in the school-specific discussion sub-forum to see if this is a thing.
3) A number of schools explicitly state, either during interview day or on their website, that they do not want LOI's. Sending one anyway may result in rejection due to failure to follow rules.

4) If you do decide to send one, it would be better if combined with an "update" letter so it's actually adding something of substance to your application more than just "I want to go here." If you don't have anything to update, then no more than 1 page

OP, they hit the nail on the head. Please really sit down and think about what it is you are going to tell them in this letter that you did not already convey in your application/secondary. I wouldn't even recommend sending one unless I had some form of an update to my application. It is safe to assume schools get a LOT of these, even when they say don't send them (people think, "oh, that can't apply to my situation...no way")

Just be sincere with yourself first, then if you decide to send one, be sincere with them. If you are on an unranked waitlist I can see how this would be beneficial