LOI vs "Update" Letter - Same thing?

[KaraKiz]

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So let me get this straight:

If a school waitlisted you post-interview, you send a letter of intent - this should not really be about updates. you should just express interest in the school, correct? how long was your letter of intent? 1 page? a few lines?

The letters where you send new grades, activities, plans, etc go to schools you have not heard anything from yet, right?

I thought you'd send the letter of update to schools you were waitlisted at and schools you havent heard from, but apparently you do not send update letters to schools you already interviewed at?

Thanks in advance for your responses.. you guys rock.. 🙂

 

[cowme]

If you were waitlisted at the school you know you want to attend, send a letter of intent ONLY if you know you will 100% attend the school. It is rude and unprofessional if you send an LOI and dont end up attending that school. I am writing an LOI today, and I'm thinking it will be 1/2 page my intentions and why, 1/2 page updates. If you write a letter of intent, it is wise to add updates of grades and EC's ONLY if they will help to impress to committee.

I am also writing update letters to five medical schools that haven't reached a decision yet. But instead of saying that I will 100% attend their schools, I am using a paragraph to inform them of my extremely high interest in the schools...even if I havent heard a final decision yet. They can only help to add to your file if a school sees interest shown.

 

[KaraKiz]

If you were waitlisted at the school you know you want to attend, send a letter of intent ONLY if you know you will 100% attend the school. It is rude and unprofessional if you send an LOI and dont end up attending that school. I am writing an LOI today, and I'm thinking it will be 1/2 page my intentions and why, 1/2 page updates. If you write a letter of intent, it is wise to add updates of grades and EC's ONLY if they will help to impress to committee.

I am also writing update letters to five medical schools that haven't reached a decision yet. But instead of saying that I will 100% attend their schools, I am using a paragraph to inform them of my extremely high interest in the schools...even if I havent heard a final decision yet. They can only help to add to your file if a school sees interest shown.

I'm sending a letter of update/interest to 1 school I interviewed at and really want to go to. I'll know their decision in February, so I went with the letter of interest/update as opposed to a letter of intent. Plus they asked us to send them updates, so I figured this would be ok and not come off as too pushy/desperate. Sound ok or still too pushy?

I'm going to send similar letters of interest/updates to 6 schools that I havent heard anything from yet.

Do you think its silly to send a letter to my state school? I was complete 10/20 and havent heard back yet. I know my grades/scores are above their averages, and everyone is telling me they are just really slow and to not worry, that I will hear back, etc.. I think a letter to them might be overkill. What do you guys think?

 

[coffeebythelake]

should a pre-interview update letter/letter of interest be sent through email or snail mail?

 

[MadHopsMD]

should a pre-interview update letter/letter of interest be sent through email or snail mail?

call them up...but I would do BOTH. Those adcom ppl are slow in responding...I know a friend who even faxed her's...

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

So let me get this straight:

If a school waitlisted you post-interview, you send a letter of intent - this should not really be about updates. you should just express interest in the school, correct? how long was your letter of intent? 1 page? a few lines?

The letters where you send new grades, activities, plans, etc go to schools you have not heard anything from yet, right?

I thought you'd send the letter of update to schools you were waitlisted at and schools you havent heard from, but apparently you do not send update letters to schools you already interviewed at?

Thanks in advance for your responses.. you guys rock.. 🙂

I don't think there is a set formula to these letters and when you are supposed to submit them. Just make sure you know what you are putting in the letter, and make sure the schools in question are not known for getting mad at proactive premed behavior.