Letters of intent - When and what to send?

[Hitch]

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I'm talking about the letter/email that people send to their top few programs. I have a few questions. When do you send them? Is it already late for this kind of thing? When do programs have their final rank meeting? Also, what do you say in these things? Is it just a brief line or two or do you spout for a while about the program? Also, who do you send them to and what's better, email or paper? Thanks.

 

[pat]

I'm also wondering when programs do their lists. I think they are due before ours, right? The reason I want to know is that I want to send a letter to my #1 program, but I still have an interview on Feb 1 and I want to go there first to make sure. But if I wait until the first week of Feb will it be too late for them to take my love letter into account?
I was planning on only sending a letter or email to my #1 - because if you send something to the other top programs that doesn't say they are your number one, it seems like it might be worse than saying nothing at all.

 

[DrRobert]

Every program is different, so I don't think it's possible to answer your question.

One thing is uniform: ALL programs have until Feb. 22nd to submit their lists, just like the applicants.

 

[sz]

I'm talking about the letter/email that people send to their top few programs. I have a few questions. When do you send them? Is it already late for this kind of thing? When do programs have their final rank meeting? Also, what do you say in these things? Is it just a brief line or two or do you spout for a while about the program? Also, who do you send them to and what's better, email or paper? Thanks.

I sent my first one today via email to the PD of my 1st choice. Still debating whether I should send a letter of "strong interest" to my 2nd and 3rd choices.
as far as what to say .... I thanked them for giving me a chance to visit their program, them outlined what I admired about their program, told them why I felt I would be a good fit and finally told them I'd rank them #1 and ended it.
I don't know either when that final meeting takes place.

 

[missdr]

from what i have heard from my advisor and various PDs is that they usually meet the week after the last interview date...this will obviously vary from program to program but will usually fall right about NOW! i am going to get my letter to my top choice in either tomorrow or monday and it will be typed and mailed (just my preference). certified my list yesterday adn boy does it feel GOOD!!!! 😀

 

[rugtrousers]

it will be typed and mailed (just my preference)

typed and mailed = slow
e-mailed = instant

 

[missdr]

i know, i know...to each his own but i have already had several semi-casual email conversations with the PD at my #1 and I want something formal in my app file when it comes to the match party (or whatever weirdness goes on behind closed doors)...i don't think PDs always print out the emails and put them in your file...not that it probably matters AT ALL but that's just my own neurosis... 😉

 

[penguins]

i don't think PDs always print out the emails and put them in your file...not that it probably matters AT ALL but that's just my own neurosis... 😉

For what it is worth, at several program... while the interviewer has been flipping through my file in front of me...the back few pages ARE my emails. Not that I ever said anything important usually. One program I had emailed after not getting an interview saying how much I wanted to be there (due to geography) and a portion was highlighted (although I didn't see close enough to know what part).
BTW, I have also seen that my app is scored. I see 4.0/4 written on pages, each thing -letters, personal statement, USMLE score sheets, etc- have a number on them. There seems to be lots of numbers written on the cover page of the app as well.