Letter of Update

[Laryngophed]

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Good evening all,

I have a quick question about a letter of interest/update. First, I had a question for the admissions staff who couldn't answer it and referred me to the Dean. Long story short, the dean said that LoI/U are fine and are added to an applicants file. I've only been complete for a few days, but I'm OOS and fighting an uphill battle with my uGPA and gGPA being given so little weight in most places. So, to my questions:

1) My PI has decided to add me as an author to a paper I did some work for, however I'm not certain of the title yet, as it hasn't been submitted for publication. How should I address this?

2) I've been elected as VP of my grad department and hence representative to the graduate student government for my department. This just started in August, but is it worth mentioning that a bunch of future professors think of me as a "leader?"

3) My wife's family is from the state and though my wife never lived there, she has family there. Does this warrant mention?

4) Lastly, how do I say all of these things and talk about how interested I am in a few of the programs without coming off like a freaking, desperate needy, neurotic (😉) pre-med? Again, I'm OOS at this school but was offered a secondary after screening and was shocked by this. I figured I'd be an outright rejection but thought to give it a go anyway and when the secondary showed up, I got pretty amped up about the school. They seem pretty open to applicants in my position, so I obviously don't want to screw this up. Thanks again and have a great night!

I welcome all input, but I'd particularly like opinions from those who have written LOIs and matriculated. Thank you much for all of your responses!

 

[Laryngophed]

To the top before bed.

 

[Laryngophed]

Bump before I just wing this thing.

 

[austinap]

Good evening all,

I have a quick question about a letter of interest/update. First, I had a question for the admissions staff who couldn't answer it and referred me to the Dean. Long story short, the dean said that LoI/U are fine and are added to an applicants file. I've only been complete for a few days, but I'm OOS and fighting an uphill battle with my uGPA and gGPA being given so little weight in most places. So, to my questions:

1) My PI has decided to add me as an author to a paper I did some work for, however I'm not certain of the title yet, as it hasn't been submitted for publication. How should I address this?

2) I've been elected as VP of my grad department and hence representative to the graduate student government for my department. This just started in August, but is it worth mentioning that a bunch of future professors think of me as a "leader?"

3) My wife's family is from the state and though my wife never lived there, she has family there. Does this warrant mention?

4) Lastly, how do I say all of these things and talk about how interested I am in a few of the programs without coming off like a freaking, desperate needy, neurotic (😉) pre-med? Again, I'm OOS at this school but was offered a secondary after screening and was shocked by this. I figured I'd be an outright rejection but thought to give it a go anyway and when the secondary showed up, I got pretty amped up about the school. They seem pretty open to applicants in my position, so I obviously don't want to screw this up. Thanks again and have a great night!

I welcome all input, but I'd particularly like opinions from those who have written LOIs and matriculated. Thank you much for all of your responses!

It sounds like you want to write more of a letter of intent with some updates in it rather than just an update letter. Here's how I see the difference: letters of update you send to all the schools you're interested in / applying to. Letters of intent you only send to one school.

I'd frame it as a letter of intent, outline your reasons why you really like that school, and then go from there. You can work in the stuff about your wife's family in there by saying something like "while I am an out of state applicant for your program, I am familiar with the area because of xxxx and know that it is a good fit for me"

The paper thing is a bit tough since you're not a first author on it. I'd list it as something like "My lab has recently submitted a manuscript describing xxx on which I am an author..." but I'm not sure how much weight it will carry since you don't yet know where it's going, you don't know what author you're going to be, etc.

I'd also mention the VP thing, just don't make a huge deal out of it. Maybe mention how you were elected (by students or professors?) but I don't think you need to specifically point out that it means you're a leader.

Just be honest, outline your case logically, and don't make it too long and I think it will be well received.