If you send a school a letter of intent saying that you will go there if accepted, do you have to go if they accept you?
Letter of intent?
- Thread starter shadoctor
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Unless you have no integrity, you should. What if they sent you an offer, you accepted, and then they decided to take it back? But No, I doubt they'd take you to court over it or anything.
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say u sent a letter of intent while you are in the waiting list. do they just place the letter in your folder for it to be reviewed after may 15th, or do they take you off the list and send an acceptance right away (if they like the letter)?
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the short answer would be for people not to submit a letter of intent until they can truly make an informed decision about the school. that would be the moral thing to do. If you believe that those letters actually help your chances of getting in, you have to consider why they would help: adcoms would be putting their trust in your good word. If you violate that trust, then how low has the admissions process driven you?
what if you sent the letter, get an interview and just dont get good vibes from the school. What if you feel out of place and didnt fit in with the student body. What if the facilities werent what you expected and you got a way better offer from another school?
What would everyone do?
As I said, this has NOT happened to me. Im just wondering if I send a letter of intent and end up finding somewhere that im happier....
What would everyone do?
As I said, this has NOT happened to me. Im just wondering if I send a letter of intent and end up finding somewhere that im happier....
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You shouldn't send a letter of intent unless you're sure you want to go, which would mean that you've seen the facilities, met the students, and made an informed decision.
well, i wouldn't do it unless i was sure..but i'm pretty sure the school won't do anything to you. It's just a real $hit thing to do.
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I'd not have sent the letter unless I was sure.
Why do you care what they would do?
can you send a letter of intent BEFORE getting an interview? i thought its only after you already had an interview.
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There's nothing that says you can't send one whenever you like. My personal feeling is that a strong letter of interest pre-interview is fine, but a letter of intent is probably overkill unless you have some particular reason why you are totally familiar with the school and can make an informed judgement about why it would be right for you.
In a way, it would be like applying EDP, which is great in limited circumstances (tied to a particular area, previous ties to the institution, a very particular research interest, etc.) but not a good idea for the average applicant.
In a way, it would be like applying EDP, which is great in limited circumstances (tied to a particular area, previous ties to the institution, a very particular research interest, etc.) but not a good idea for the average applicant.
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I've always been told to send an LOI only when waitlisted/held after an interview- otherwise I can't really see a purpose to it, especially if they're not going to interview you anyway, I doubt telling them even before any decision has been made about your application, that you really want to go there will affect their decisions- they have plenty of other students to worry about. However, on the waitlist, they're going to have to really start to pick and choose the students who they think will actually attend if given an acceptance, saving themselves the time and hassle of calling waitlisted students the day before classes begin. At least, that is where I would consider an LOI the most valuable. Hard to really judge when to send it, especially if you're waiting on other schools however.
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I don't think it is that big of a deal. If you would actually go to that school send a letter, but only late in the season. If you decide you don't want to go to that school, that is fine also. I'm am sure there are many other people who would love to take your spot, and the school wants people who want to be there 
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Well, if you wanted to attend the school when you wrote the LOI but said school isn't making it financially feasible for you to go while another school is offering you more, I don't see why it would be a problem...
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Actually, I don't mean to burst any bubbles, but I think it varies from school to school. For example, I called a school this morning about my status - I'm in the possible interview pool, which is apparently pretty common at that school - and I asked about an LOI or any additional info. They told me that was actually a great idea in pushing to get an interview, if I had anything to say about why I think I'd be a good fit with their school. So, I think, if you seriously want to get interviewed at a school, because you think that it'd be a good fit with your style, and what you've heard, and they aren't adverse to that, then by all means, I would send it.
I think one of the main reasons for them not minding the letter of intent is because that school has no essays aside from AMCAS. As much as those apps are always easy to complete, they can be brutal, because you can't say anything specific to their school...
So, it varies, and if you want to send one...call the office, see what they think...
I think one of the main reasons for them not minding the letter of intent is because that school has no essays aside from AMCAS. As much as those apps are always easy to complete, they can be brutal, because you can't say anything specific to their school...
So, it varies, and if you want to send one...call the office, see what they think...
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I'm sending a letter indicating my "strong interest" in a school where I've already interviewed. I want the adcom to know that I am very interested in the program before they review my file to determine accept/reject/waitlist 
What do you guys think? I might wait for some replies before I drop the letter in the mail...
What do you guys think? I might wait for some replies before I drop the letter in the mail...
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I'm sending a letter indicating my "strong interest" in a school where I've already interviewed. I want the adcom to know that I am very interested in the program before they review my file to determine accept/reject/waitlist
What do you guys think? I might wait for some replies before I drop the letter in the mail...
Hmm...I really don't think, that if they were going to reject you right off the bat based on your interview, that you should send that letter. There is nothing that you can say in a letter that will make them waitlist you, if they are going to reject you. I would wait for their reply. If you are waitlisted, that LOI should definitely go in the mail, as long as you have something to reiterate or say that you felt did not come up in your interview. And...if you're looking to reiterate something, just make sure you're not beating a dead-horse. LOIs are good, but only if you have something really genuine to say.
I'm basically paraphrasing this from a few books that I've read and that thread from that Adcoms guy.
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Its not a letter of intent-its just a letter indicating that I am very interested in the program. There is some new info in the letter-my husband received a job offer in the city where the school is located and he is planning on accepting the offer contigent on my acceptance to a school in that city. Also, I'm OOS so I think this "ties" me to the state that funds the school. The school did not reject any interviewees until March or April of last year (according to SDN posters). They place interviewees in a post-interview "hold" category. But that was last year-they might be giving out rejections earlier this year...
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You normally send LOIs after the interview. This way you can make an informed decision.
Personally, I think sending an LOI before an interview looks bad and kind of reduces its impact. You're saying "I have made my mind up before ever touring the facilities and speaking with staff". I don't think this looks good.
OP- If you send in you LOI and reneg, I think it's a pretty dubious start to a career based on trust.
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This reminds me of an engaged George Costanza trying to get a date with Marissa Tomei........
In my opinion, it really depends on why you think you are so interested in attending that school in the first place. I only applied to one school, and I sent a letter in after submitting my amcas explaining why I was only applying to that school and why I was unable to apply early decision. If you are indeed applying to other schools that you feel you'd really like to attend if extended an offer, then I'd seriously hold off on sending a letter. It doesn't say much for your character if you do otherwise and re-neg on it. Afterall, if life circumstances would require you to request a hardship based transfer later on, you wouldn't want to burn that bridge, right?
In my opinion, it really depends on why you think you are so interested in attending that school in the first place. I only applied to one school, and I sent a letter in after submitting my amcas explaining why I was only applying to that school and why I was unable to apply early decision. If you are indeed applying to other schools that you feel you'd really like to attend if extended an offer, then I'd seriously hold off on sending a letter. It doesn't say much for your character if you do otherwise and re-neg on it. Afterall, if life circumstances would require you to request a hardship based transfer later on, you wouldn't want to burn that bridge, right?
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well, I might write a letter under the pretense of "new information" and just let them know that your husband was offered a job, and yadda yadda yadda. But, like the last post said...I'm not sure about writing a letter unless you would absolutely pick that school over all others...UNTIL you get a decision...
I guess, these types of letters are sensitive issues, and it really depends how it comes off in the end. Sometimes people sound desperate, but since you have new info, that is a super plus, cuz of your husband, I would bring it forward...
I guess, these types of letters are sensitive issues, and it really depends how it comes off in the end. Sometimes people sound desperate, but since you have new info, that is a super plus, cuz of your husband, I would bring it forward...
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I guess this issue sorta gets to me. Most schools will at least let you go there through loans, right? Sure, you don't know wxactly how much scholarship money you might get but I think you can get a a pretty good idea how schools will play out in terms of financial aid. Private school will probably be more than the in state school.
It just reminded me of a guy who sent LOI's to three schools he was on waiting list. Basically, you're making promises you can't keep. I just feel you should really think about it before you do it. I waited until I was sure before I sent mine in. Just my 2 cents.
