Letter of Interest, Waitlisted (Did I submit it too late?)

[Novamagic]

Hello everyone!

As I have been just waitlisted on Boston University School of Medicine, I am seeking your input regarding the letter of interest especially the timing issue.

I in fact wrote a letter of interest (not really a letter of intent) even before I got the interview invitation from BU; consequently, I was thrilled when I got the email notifying me of the interview invitation which I received almost precisely two weeks after I sent the letter of interest.

My interview with BU was on Feb 4th, and after the interview, as I began to love BUSM even more, I made an application update by uploading an update letter on my BU secondary application on Feb 11th ( I have just started volunteering at a nursing home for seniors in March, and the update letter was created to let the admission committee know of my current activities), AND by uploading the revised version of the letter of interest on Feb 16th. This revised version of the letter was more of a form of an "essay" and came out much stronger than the original one in that every statement I made in here was followed by strong/relevant examples, reasons, and details that were all VERY specific to BUSM.

When I had the interview on Feb 4th, Dr. Witzburg (associate dean of admissions) told us that we would hear from them before March 15th, and it did happen.

Now as I am waitlisted, I am thinking perhaps the admission committee did not even get to see the revised statement when they met for the post-interview evaluation because I submitted it too late (approximately 11 days after the interview and about three weeks before the decision was sent). Since this kinda haunt me, can I have your honest opinions on this timing issue? In other words, do you think it is more likely that my statement went unnoticed or do you think I submitted it fast enough? ( I know some say the applicants should only send this type of update once they are waitlisted, but I decided to send it post-interview/before decision since BU has been my dreamschool for a long time).

I have heard that BU does not have much waitlist movement, but I will need to see what I can possibly do at this point...
Thanks a lot for any input in advance really!

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[BengaliBrat]

Hello everyone!

As I have been just waitlisted on Boston University School of Medicine, I am seeking your input regarding the letter of interest especially the timing issue.

I in fact wrote a letter of interest (not really a letter of intent) even before I got the interview invitation from BU; consequently, I was thrilled when I got the email notifying me of the interview invitation which I received almost precisely two weeks after I sent the letter of interest.

My interview with BU was on Feb 4th, and after the interview, as I began to love BUSM even more, I made an application update by uploading an update letter on my BU secondary application on Feb 11th ( I have just started volunteering at a nursing home for seniors in March, and the update letter was created to let the admission committee know of my current activities), AND by uploading the revised version of the letter of interest on Feb 16th. This revised version of the letter was more of a form of an "essay" and came out much stronger than the original one in that every statement I made in here was followed by strong/relevant examples, reasons, and details that were all VERY specific to BUSM.

When I had the interview on Feb 4th, Dr. Witzburg (associate dean of admissions) told us that we would hear from them before March 15th, and it did happen.

Now as I am waitlisted, I am thinking perhaps the admission committee did not even get to see the revised statement when they met for the post-interview evaluation because I submitted it too late (approximately 11 days after the interview and about three weeks before the decision was sent). Since this kinda haunt me, can I have your honest opinions on this timing issue? In other words, do you think it is more likely that my statement went unnoticed or do you think I submitted it fast enough? ( I know some say the applicants should only send this type of update once they are waitlisted, but I decided to send it post-interview/before decision since BU has been my dreamschool for a long time).

I have heard that BU does not have much waitlist movement, but I will need to see what I can possibly do at this point...
Thanks a lot for any input in advance really!

You might find more information on the waitlist support thread. Adcoms do post there, and sometimes answer specific questions about particular schools. More important, perhaps, is to let the fruitless speculation go. (Unless you have a machine that will transport you back in time AND allows you insight into decision makers' processes AND "proves" that a letter--and the timing of a letter--were crucial components of the decision AND that a different action by you would have produced a different outcome from them. That would be a really nifty machine to have, and, as a waitlisted and eager-to-matriculate applicant, I would certainly long for access to it myself.)

I'm not an authority, but my general impression, formed by months of neurotic reading of every post from this and previous years that MIGHT apply to me is that BU is lovable, that it is competitive, that letters of interest and intent don't make a huge difference at such a school. One adcomm from a "good school," posted that every applicant had written such a letter and that the committee disregarded them, having many other factors on which to decide. (Some, such as diversity of the class, unrelated to anything that the candidate could influence.)

If the statement went unnoticed, what will you do? If it was submitted too late, what will you do?

Sometimes current students offer to answer questions. If that is so at BU, I'd ask for advice on the thread specific to the school--still knowing that a student is not an expert.

But from the bottom of my heart, I hope that you get into the school that is best for you. If that is BU, I'm hoping that BU recognizes your worth and passion.

 

[Smurfette]

Moving to appropriate forum

 

[Finches]

I understand that as a pre-medical student, you want some semblance of control in this process. Hence, why a lot of premeds attribute so much power to these letters of interest/intent.

LOIs are absolutely, positively, indubitably, useless. No matter the beauty of your wording, nor the sincerity of your intent. You were not wait-listed because your magical letter was not read, nor would your letter be the reason for your acceptance should you get off the wait-list.

I wouldn't be surprised if schools like BU just trashed them. They get 11,000 applications. Eleven-effing-thousand.

 

[crossingthefingers]

At my BU interview date they joked a little about how everyone rushes to send them letters. I wouldn't worry about it too hard.

I do think there probably will be a good amount of waitlist movement as people realize how expensive the school is.

 

[maccu5000]

There may be waitlist movement this year, but Witzburg also said he doesn't like waitlists. In the last 2 years, the WL hasn't moved because the class filled up.

Witzburg also said to wait a little bit before sending them a love letter and make is sincere. It sounds like you did these things. I bet it was read.

 

[Goro]

You do realize that most med schools ignore LOI? How would you interpret a non-binding contract from a desperate applicant?

Hello everyone!

As I have been just waitlisted on Boston University School of Medicine, I am seeking your input regarding the letter of interest especially the timing issue.

I in fact wrote a letter of interest (not really a letter of intent) even before I got the interview invitation from BU; consequently, I was thrilled when I got the email notifying me of the interview invitation which I received almost precisely two weeks after I sent the letter of interest.

My interview with BU was on Feb 4th, and after the interview, as I began to love BUSM even more, I made an application update by uploading an update letter on my BU secondary application on Feb 11th ( I have just started volunteering at a nursing home for seniors in March, and the update letter was created to let the admission committee know of my current activities), AND by uploading the revised version of the letter of interest on Feb 16th. This revised version of the letter was more of a form of an "essay" and came out much stronger than the original one in that every statement I made in here was followed by strong/relevant examples, reasons, and details that were all VERY specific to BUSM.

When I had the interview on Feb 4th, Dr. Witzburg (associate dean of admissions) told us that we would hear from them before March 15th, and it did happen.

Now as I am waitlisted, I am thinking perhaps the admission committee did not even get to see the revised statement when they met for the post-interview evaluation because I submitted it too late (approximately 11 days after the interview and about three weeks before the decision was sent). Since this kinda haunt me, can I have your honest opinions on this timing issue? In other words, do you think it is more likely that my statement went unnoticed or do you think I submitted it fast enough? ( I know some say the applicants should only send this type of update once they are waitlisted, but I decided to send it post-interview/before decision since BU has been my dreamschool for a long time).

I have heard that BU does not have much waitlist movement, but I will need to see what I can possibly do at this point...
Thanks a lot for any input in advance really!

 

[gyngyn]

If you are holding no acceptances on April 1st, we will already be aware of your intense desire to attend. No "LOI" is needed.

If you have been accepted to Duke, let's say, and would prefer to attend BU, go ahead and let them know (after April 1st).

 

[nOchemallday]

If you are holding no acceptances on April 1st, we will already be aware of your intense desire to attend. No "LOI" is needed.

If you have been accepted to Duke, let's say, and would prefer to attend BU, go ahead and let them know (after April 1st).

I know you've talked (what seems like endlessly) on the topic of LOIs, but I have a somewhat related question if you don't mind:
If you're not holding any acceptances by the time schools can see, does that make you look any more or less desirable in terms of coming off a waitlist? And is there anything said applicant can do? The only thing I can think of is to keep in touch by sending updates at schools where they encourage you to send updates (and maybe even ones that don't?, but certainly not to schools that ask you not to).

Thanks

 

[gyngyn]

I know you've talked (what seems like endlessly) on the topic of LOIs, but I have a somewhat related question if you don't mind:
If you're not holding any acceptances by the time schools can see, does that make you look any more or less desirable in terms of coming off a waitlist? And is there anything said applicant can do? The only thing I can think of is to keep in touch by sending updates at schools where they encourage you to send updates (and maybe even ones that don't?, but certainly not to schools that ask you not to).

Thanks

Your desirablility is independent of your acceptances at other schools.
Where you are holding does influence the chance that you attend from the waitlist if admitted, though.
Thus, a student holding at an arguably better (or cheaper) school may be a more challenging choice for the admissions officer than an equally good one holding nowhere (or at a "lesser" school) as long as it's an unranked list.

 

[Goro]

Have a large donation check in hand. Love letters don't cut it.


And is there anything said applicant can do? The only thing I can think of is to keep in touch by sending updates at schools where they encourage you to send updates (and maybe even ones that don't?, but certainly not to schools that ask you not to).

 

[caffeinemia]

If this were a girl you were courting, think how creepy it would be. Really creepy.

 

[medic86]

If this were a girl you were courting, think how creepy it would be. Really creepy.

Ahhhh... middle school.

 

[caffeinemia]

Ahhhh... middle school.

Dear Jenny,

Do you like me? Pick one: Yes / No.

Bobby

EDIT:

Did I say Jenny? I meant "Boston U, SOM." Sorry baby. Sorry.

 

[technician]

I interviewed towards the beginning of January and was WL as well. It might not have anything to do with you, they just got a ton of applicants, many who are equally qualified to attend. I had a great interview too. At BU where you get one 45 minute scheduled interview, we spoke for about an hour and 45 minutes and I missed the following info session because it went so long. Maybe they just had too many applicants from my state or something, who knows.

 

[Novamagic]

If you are holding no acceptances on April 1st, we will already be aware of your intense desire to attend. No "LOI" is needed.

If you have been accepted to Duke, let's say, and would prefer to attend BU, go ahead and let them know (after April 1st).

Hello:
Thanks for your reply. This does make sense to me. I would like to ask you a few more question if you don't mind.
As I have found out from the school to which I am accepted that I have until June 15th ( I would say June 10th-the orientation, just to be safe) to withdraw from their classes, I am thinking of letting BU know of this "personal deadline" (this term was found on BU website where I had to go to confirm my waitlist status; it says that the applicants could let them know of such deadline (e.g., other acceptances, apartment rentals, etc) and they would try their best to work with the applicants).

1. Who do you think I should email, the admission office or the actual deans of admissions? Maybe I should email both?

If I were to email the admission office, since they are the people responsible for administrative work, I think I can honestly tell them where the deadline comes from (in other words, I can probably say that I am holding acceptance from other school but I would be thrilled to attend this school and it's my first choice if notified by June 10th).

2. However, the situation gets a little trickier when I am thinking of how to write such note to the dean. Although it is important for me to let them know of my situation, I am greatly concerned whether this inquiry would be taken as I am any less interested in joining this program. Do you think I should still give him the honest note, or do you think it would not be a good move?

3. This is a very fundamental question that probably should've brought up first, but do you think it is a wise thing for me to do this (to ask them to provide me the answer by a certain date)? I am an international applicant and have been accepted to MSU DO, and their classes do start early. I have been told that BU has not had much waitlist movement over the past few years, but I know I should just try my best in communicating with them and utilizing the time having left effectively.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[gyngyn]

1. No we already know the start dates for all schools and the traffic rules.
2. see #1. BU already knows you will come if accepted before the deadline.
3. see #1

 

[Novamagic]

1. No we already know the start dates for all schools and the traffic rules.
2. see #1. BU already knows you will come if accepted before the deadline.
3. see #1

Thanks for your reply.

Just making sure: as I mentioned above, the school that I am accepted to is MSU Osteopathic Medicine, and I was wondering if BUSM would know that fact and its start date ( I have heard from sdn that MDs and DOs don't share information with each other or the traffic rule)? That's why I am concerned and I was thinking of emailing BU to let them know of the deadline.

Do you still recommend me not to write anything to BUSM regarding this deadline?
Thanks.

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for your reply.

Just making sure: as I mentioned above, the school that I am accepted to is MSU Osteopathic Medicine, and I was wondering if BUSM would know that fact and its start date ( I have heard from sdn that MDs and DOs don't share information with each other or the traffic rule)? That's why I am concerned and I was thinking of emailing BU to let them know of the deadline.

Do you still recommend me not to write anything to BUSM regarding this deadline?
Thanks.

Sorry, I thought it was MI State.
BU already knows you will come with no acceptances on the multiple accepts list.
You can tell them about your "deadline" but a deadline at a DO school would have little effect in my experience, since we could still accept you later without breaking a traffic rule. It would be up to to decide to withdraw from MSU if you were offered a position after the deadline.

 

[peyton91]

At my BU interview day (accepted applicant), they made a very strong point of saying that they don't take the average, generic LOI seriously. Dean Witzburg said if you took some time to reflect on your choice for the next year after visiting BU and decide it is the right place for you, you should let them know in a well thought-out and articulate way. Maybe your LOI was too generic?

 

[Novamagic]

Sorry, I thought it was MI State.
BU already knows you will come with no acceptances on the multiple accepts list.
You can tell them about your "deadline" but a deadline at a DO school would have little effect in my experience, since we could still accept you later without breaking a traffic rule. It would be up to to decide to withdraw from MSU if you were offered a position after the deadline.

Thanks a lot for your response.
So in this case of waiting for the response from a MD program while holding DO acceptance, MD program will not take the start date of the DO school into account when deciding to admit the waitlisted applicant because the traffic rule does not apply here (in other words, the rule is valid only when discussing issues between MD programs)? Is this correct?

Then I will have to decide whether I should communicate with BU about the "deadline" or just wait as it seems that defining this " deadline" has more to do with MSU policy regarding money (refundable/non-refundable tuition) than the actual date of orientation/the start date of the classes.

 

[Novamagic]

At my BU interview day (accepted applicant), they made a very strong point of saying that they don't take the average, generic LOI seriously. Dean Witzburg said if you took some time to reflect on your choice for the next year after visiting BU and decide it is the right place for you, you should let them know in a well thought-out and articulate way. Maybe your LOI was too generic?

Thanks for your reply. First of all, Congratulations on your acceptance!!!🙂

I was also told the exact same thing from the dean Witzburg on my interview day (Feb 4th). I actually wrote the letter of interest (which looks like another personal statement+letter of interest/intent) twice; the first version was indeed a little bit generic, which motivated me to write the second version after my interview that was eventually submitted on Feb 16th at night (so it became available for their review on Feb 17th). The new statement was very specific as it included the impression I got from BU on my interview day as well as the names of specific courses available at BUSM I was excited about. The decision (waitlisted) was sent on March 13th, and I am thinking maybe I submitted the second version too late and they actually did not get to read it but only got to read the more generic version…🙁 Dr. Witzburg did tell us to wait a little bit before writing these statements, but to wait for approximately about two weeks before sending one (basically it was sent three weeks before the decision was sent) was not wise, because it was already close to when the decision was made? Honestly, I would almost feel better to have been waitlisted if I know such decision was made even after they got to read it; I just wanted to have my passion and efforts notified by them (they noticed it existed).

On a different note, may I ask when your interview was and when you received the decision? Have you written the LOI as well? Also, do you mind sharing your profile in terms of GPA and MCAT? (I would like to have a general idea of the profile of the accepted!🙂)

Thanks for your response once again!

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks a lot for your response.
So in this case of waiting for the response from a MD program while holding DO acceptance, MD program will not take the start date of the DO school into account when deciding to admit the waitlisted applicant because the traffic rule does not apply here (in other words, the rule is valid only when discussing issues between MD programs)? Is this correct?

Then I will have to decide whether I should communicate with BU about the "deadline" or just wait as it seems that defining this " deadline" has more to do with MSU policy regarding money (refundable/non-refundable tuition) than the actual date of orientation/the start date of the classes.

Yes and yes.

 

[Novamagic]

Yes and yes.

Thanks a lot for your reply. I have one more question about this (the traffic rules are hard to understand), and I am hoping that this will be the last question for you for this thread.

I have always been curious about this issue: So it is possible for an applicant who comes off the MD waitlist to drop out a DO school that he/she was initially attending and go to the first choice school if the financial situation works out, but I would like to ask and make sure whether or not this transition would technically be considered as a "transfer" or else that violates the admission policy of the MD school. I came up with this question because the situation is that the student "once" matriculates at a medical school (although it's a DO) but tries to go to another medical school after spending "some" time at the DO program if the decision from MD were to be made after the "deadline (first class start date of DO school)".

Your response indicates that BU will make the decision (whether to accept me or not) independently from MSUCOM. I have just determined that MSU tuition will be fully refunded if I withdraw from the classes before the class starts (by June 14th), but I may get no or some refund if I decide to withdraw anytime afterwards (so it is like a prorate tuition system, and of course, this scenario is something to consider only when BU decides to accept me). But I also know that the waitlist movement will most likely be observed later in the cycle. So what I am trying to do is to earn some time as much as I can. Let's say I get accepted off from the BU waitlist on June 30th. By the time, I must be at MSU having spent approximately two weeks and am willing to go to BU despite some loss in tuition. Will BU accept me as their new student despite the fact that I have already got to start the medical school (DO)? Does your previous answer regarding the traffic rule indicate that BU WILL still accept me if I was at a DO program although they will NOT accept me if I started attending at another MD program? I would not have these questions if I had more time to wait for BU to decide; MSUCOM starts very early and as I have heard that the movement would not even begin that early, I had to think about this possible scenario (regardless of the actual probability): get an acceptance notification from BU after I already start attending at MSUCOM.

I will need to contact BU Admission Office in order to discuss this, but I would greatly appreciate any information from you in advance.

 

[gyngyn]

BU will not know about your other acceptance as we do not communicate with DO schools regarding admissions.
No MD program can take you off the waitlist at another LCME accredited MD program once you have started orientation.
You will not be a transfer if accepted at BU after starting at MSU.