LOI question

[Sangria]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I interviewed somewhere and it didn't go too well but I really loved the school. So I was thinking of writing an LOI before even being waitlisted. Just say how much I loved the school and update them on my ECs. Is this a good call or not? Also, could this disqualify me from any merit-based aid, since they'll see that I really want to go there even without financial incentives?

 

[DrMattOglesby]

good question. I am considering writing a LOI (intent, not interest) to a school that has yet to waitlist (or accept/reject) me. I am aware of some of the pros and cons behind doing this...but it'd be nice to hear what others have done before us.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Is this a letter of interest or intent? I think a letter of interest can't really hurt you, but a letter of intent might very well hurt you for scholarships.

 

[unsung]

good question. I am considering writing a LOI (intent, not interest) to a school that has yet to waitlist (or accept/reject) me. I am aware of some of the pros and cons behind doing this...but it'd be nice to hear what others have done before us.

I'd go with a letter of interest myself, as it will probably not affect your chances of getting good financial package, whereas a letter of intent might very well kill it. Plus, the very fact that you're sending a letter of interest BEFORE even getting a decision does the same job for you as a letter of intent would, I think, but with less of an air of desperation. It's like with dating, desperation just doesn't translate well... it makes one a less attractive applicant, I think?

I sent out a letter of interest post-interview to a school I really want to go to... will get their decision sometime soon. If it works out, will let you guys know 😉

 

[AZFutureDoc]

What's all this talk about LOIntents messing up financial aid?????

 

[GoSpursGo]

What's all this talk about LOIntents messing up financial aid?????

Schools use financial aid primarily to recruit the students they really want. If you tell them up front that you'll go there if you're accepted, some schools will then not see any reason to give you money.

 

[alwaysaangel]

What's all this talk about LOIntents messing up financial aid?????

Neurotic premeds. Very few schools actually give merit based aid or aid in attempt to sway applicants. Most are need-based.

So its pretty rare that it would matter, for an LOI to affect your financial aid offers you would need to be applying to a school that does give merit aid. And you would have to be something they would bother wooing...something pretty unusual that you are offering to the school. Either ridiculously aweome ECs or ridiculously awesome grades or diversity that the school lacks.

For 95% of premeds considering writing an LOI it wouldn't make any difference.

 

[enjoydrywax]

Schools use financial aid primarily to recruit the students they really want. If you tell them up front that you'll go there if you're accepted, some schools will then not see any reason to give you money.

I thought receiving scholarship (i.e free money and not financial aid, which to me constitutes loans etc) was pretty damn rare in this game. I would say from a probabilistic standpoint that an applicant will probably not be so highly in demand that any school would be willing to drop money as incentive.

I guess the way I see it is if you want to send in a letter of intent go for it because from a strictly statistical standpoint you probably weren't going to get scholarships anyway.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I thought receiving scholarship (i.e free money and not financial aid, which to me constitutes loans etc) was pretty damn rare in this game. I would say from a probabilistic standpoint that an applicant will probably not be so highly in demand that any school would be willing to drop money as incentive.

I guess the way I see it is if you want to send in a letter of intent go for it because from a strictly statistical standpoint you probably weren't going to get scholarships anyway.

This is true. I'm just explaining why you might not want to, but in reality, it's no big deal.

 

[JulyMorning]

Send a letter of interest before you hear from them. If you are waitlisted, you can always send another letter - this time a letter of intent.
In your letters, remember to tell them why they would be a good fit for you, and how you would be a good fit for them. Good luck!

 

[DrMattOglesby]

Send a letter of interest before you hear from them. If you are waitlisted, you can always send another letter - this time a letter of intent.
In your letters, remember to tell them why they would be a good fit for you, and how you would be a good fit for them. Good luck!

thanks for the advice julymorning. sounds very reasonable to me. 👍

 

[Sangria]

alright, I'm gonna do it. Can't make it worse

 

[ar2388]

ok so what kinds of things does one include in an LOI? i wa?s thinking of writing to one particular school and saying something about hwo impressed i was with the school and the people i met there and how i can see my?self loving going to medical school there... what else do i write? like specifically.... lol

 

[alwaysaangel]

ok so what kinds of things does one include in an LOI? i wa?s thinking of writing to one particular school and saying something about hwo impressed i was with the school and the people i met there and how i can see my?self loving going to medical school there... what else do i write? like specifically.... lol

Basically tell them what you will do for them and what they will do for you - with specific examples. Check out my mdapps for an example.

 

[ar2388]

Basically tell them what you will do for them and what they will do for you - with specific examples. Check out my mdapps for an example.

jeez that is so long!!

 

[dienekes88]

ok so what kinds of things does one include in an LOI? i wa?s thinking of writing to one particular school and saying something about hwo impressed i was with the school and the people i met there and how i can see my?self loving going to medical school there... what else do i write? like specifically.... lol

The letter of intent that I wrote was 3/4 of a page detailing exactly why I wanted to attend the school:
1. student body - very diverse talents and interests. My classmates are awesome people in general.
2. educational model - the curriculum at my school is changing after my class, but I came here because I wanted lecture-based learning for the first couple years.

I also wrote about how I could contribute to the community. This... was kinda hard to write without sounding like a douchebag. I don't know if it helped or hurt, but I can say that it didn't kill my app.

 

[thegreenlight]

Should the letter be mailed or e-mailed? I sent mine by mail a few weeks ago, but I'm wondering if I should also send a copy via e-mail just to be safe.

 

[talbo]

i sent it both via snail mail and e-mail, and then i asked the admissions office if it was received. you can just ask the admissions office if a letter was received.

 

[alwaysaangel]

jeez that is so long!!

1 page with heading and signature - not that long. 🙂

 

[blue star]

This thread has been really helpful! I had little idea of what details to include in a LOI. Thanks everyone for posting!

 

[squrlgrl007]

The school I want to write to does not have rolling admissions, so would a letter of intent or a letter of interest be more appropriate?

I interviewed back the end of October, is it too late to send a LOI?

To those who have/will send a LOInterest: Did you address it to one particular individual (perhaps a dean or ad com member who spoke to you during the interview) or to the Ad com in general? Also, did you include your AMCAS ID in your letter (either in the heading or after the signature), or just your name?