LOI

[happysmilz]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey! The following questions apply to all residencies and ANY input is much appreciated- Let’s say you have chosen your #1 residency program and want to write a letter of intent declaring that you are their #1 rank choice:

A) Should I send an LOI only to Dean and Thank You Letters to all the other faculty/residents?

B) How long should the letter be?

C) Any good examples?

THANK YOU 😊

 

[blablabla1]

1. According to the rules of match, you're not allowed to tell residencies where you are ranking them. So sending a letter telling a program you're putting them at #1 is technically breaking the rules of match

2. Generally, the final rank list will have already been set and decided by the time you send the LOI. The match process is very different from dental school and faster paced and obviously much smaller in scale. So there is a solid chance the LOI will be meaningless

3. In the off chance that the LOI will mean anything, just write letters thanking the faculty you interviewed with and include something personal/unique from the interview itself. For example, if you were talking about a specific book, follow up with the faculty about that book. No need to send LOIs to residents.

 

[PerioDont]

I would not send an LOI. thank you to faculty is fine, residents is super weird.

 

[OMSDoc]

The first two replies sum it up well.

There are two issues: the rules and decorum.

blablabla1 is absolutely correct. The match rules do not allow either the program or the applicant to tell the other how they intend to rank the other. This rule is probably violated by some. Those who violate the rule show themselves to be individuals who think the rules don't apply to them. Believe me, you don't want to be within a country mile of anyone like that.

PerioDont is also correct. Even if they were allowed, such letters show an appalling lack of decorum. They are tacky.

It is best to send a hand-written thank-you note, only to the program director, immediately after the interview, stating how much you appreciate the opportunity to interview, that you were impressed with the program, and that you would be honored to train there.