Letter of Intent

[drhealer]

After interviewing for my top choice school, I have been "waitlisted" by them and would like to send in a letter of intent. How should I structure the letter? How do people generally write such letters? How long is it supposed to be?

I am currently thinking of using the following structure:
- Paragraph 1 = reiterate the "why" for this school and how I would attend it in a heartbeat if I were to be accepted (will obviously use more professional and polished language)
- Paragraph 2 = provide recent updates (pubs, new projects, how I hope to continue doing this at the school, etc...)
- Paragraph 3 = close it up; reiterate the why and express intention to attend school

I'd appreciate any feedback and help on this. Thanks!

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[Med Ed]

'Tis the season.

I know you're anxious to do something, but the school has passed judgment on your complete application and put you on the WL. No finely-crafted letter of intent, however bursting with sincerity it may be, is going to change that.

Back when schools still received multiple-acceptance reports from the AAMC, I would have said not to bother with a LOI. With the MARs now gone, there may be some merit to them as a marker of continued interest. But it's too soon.

You're better off waiting until the spring, shortly before WL movement begins in earnest (check last year's school-specific threads to estimate). Send a concise message of intent to admissions (not 3 paragraphs, 2.85 of which will never be read). Sending something then increases your odds of it being read and incorporated into any last-minute decisions regarding WL order. If you have another acceptance at that point you can try to leverage that, although it may backfire.

If you have any good updates (and the school accepts them) you can forward them separately as a way to keep in touch. Unfortunately no matter what you do it is unlikely to have an effect on the ultimate outcome. We get buried in updates/LOIs each year and very few of them turn out to mean anything. The signal-to-noise ratio is simply to small.

 

[gyngyn]

Timing is everything. Now is not the time.

 

[lacrossegirl420]

n = 1, but from my experiences last cycle letters of intents/interests don't seem to really help.
a lot of schools (during interviews) even flat out told us they didn't consider them.

 

[drhealer]

Excellent. Thank you guys so much for your comments and honest input. Really appreciate it!

n = 1, but from my experiences last cycle letters of intents/interests don't seem to really help.
a lot of schools (during interviews) even flat out told us they didn't consider them.

Timing is everything. Now is not the time.

'Tis the season.

I know you're anxious to do something, but the school has passed judgment on your complete application and put you on the WL. No finely-crafted letter of intent, however bursting with sincerity it may be, is going to change that.

Back when schools still received multiple-acceptance reports from the AAMC, I would have said not to bother with a LOI. With the MARs now gone, there may be some merit to them as a marker of continued interest. But it's too soon.

You're better off waiting until the spring, shortly before WL movement begins in earnest (check last year's school-specific threads to estimate). Send a concise message of intent to admissions (not 3 paragraphs, 2.85 of which will never be read). Sending something then increases your odds of it being read and incorporated into any last-minute decisions regarding WL order. If you have another acceptance at that point you can try to leverage that, although it may backfire.

If you have any good updates (and the school accepts them) you can forward them separately as a way to keep in touch. Unfortunately no matter what you do it is unlikely to have an effect on the ultimate outcome. We get buried in updates/LOIs each year and very few of them turn out to mean anything. The signal-to-noise ratio is simply to small.

 

[MDMechEngr]

Timing is everything. Now is not the time.

This was my experience. Sent the LOI to my top choice (wait listed) 14 days before I had to CTE to my #2 choice. Told them I would give up the A at my #2 choice and immediately CTE to their school if given an A. Got the A within 72 hours of sending the LOI. I had leverage b/c my #2 school was a darn good one.

 

[BeMoConsulting]

Hi there! To answer your questions about the actual structure of a letter of intent, this is what we suggest:

Opening: Open your letter with a formal greeting, using the addressee’s full name and title.
Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself by full name, as a current applicant to a specific school or program, as well as the date of your interview. Explain your reason for writing – to establish this school as your top choice, to remind them of why you are a good fit for the program, and to offer any updates or describe any accomplishments you've had since submitting your application (if applicable).
Paragraph 2: Provide your genuine reasons for choosing this school as your top preferred school. What aspects of the program, curriculum, research opportunities or other initiatives particularly stand out to you, and why are these central to your decision to send this letter? You should also demonstrate why you are an ideal candidate for this school and discuss the ways you could uniquely contribute to their campus community.
Paragraph 3 (optional): Provide any updates since submitting your application and interviewing, if applicable.
Closing: Reiterate your interests and offer sincere thanks for taking the time to review your letter.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Timing is everything. Now is not the time.

Is it ever smart to send one after interviews but before decisions?

 

[Med Ed]

Is it ever smart to send one after interviews but before decisions?

No.