Sending out Letter of Interests

[OntologicalDamnation]

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I currently have 7 IIs (got 3 of them this past week) but I'm thinking about sending letter of interests to a few schools that I still think I have a shot at before adcoms are working again (shortly after New Years). I submitted most of my apps around Labor Day and I already have a pretty solid LOI template from when I sent a LOI to Mayo, so it won't take me too long to write a few more to 5 or so schools. Anyways, should I bother doing this? I've heard that it's worked for people in the past but yet again, I've been getting good momentum in receiving IIs these past few weeks and I feel like it'll continue to take off in January and maybe even February.

 

[deleted969405]

I currently have 7 IIs (got 3 of them this past week) but I'm thinking about sending letter of interests to a few schools that I still think I have a shot at before adcoms are working again (shortly after New Years). I submitted most of my apps around Labor Day and I already have a pretty solid LOI template from when I sent a LOI to Mayo, so it won't take me too long to write a few more to 5 or so schools. Anyways, should I bother doing this? I've heard that it's worked for people in the past but yet again, I've been getting good momentum in receiving IIs this past and I feel like it'll continue to take off in January and maybe even February.

While I think letters of intent hold weight after an interview (assuming you have other MD acceptances to flash and the school your sending it to isnt a T20), I don't think letters of interest pre-II will make any positive impact (may even be a negative one) as everyone who applied and paid the $100 is technically interested.

 

[OntologicalDamnation]

While I think letters of intent hold weight after an interview (assuming you have other MD acceptances to flash and the school your sending it to isnt a T20), I don't think letters of interest pre-II will make any positive impact (may even be a negative one) as everyone who applied and paid the $100 is technically interested.

That's true. My thinking was more along the lines of that because I haven't sent out any sort of update since I submitted back in September, they may presume that I am no longer interested in the school.

 

[xkcd6330]

The conventional wisdom on here is not to send pre-II letters of interest, but personally I feel like if it’s been several months since you applied, and the interview season is starting to wind down, then why not send one? It’s probably not super likely to help, but I don’t really see it hurting you.

 

[mitzapizza]

I know this is n=1 but I submitted a LOI + update to a school 2 weeks ago after not receiving an II for months, and this week I received from them. I plan on sending LOI + updates to the rest of my schools and hopefully they turn into interview invites.

 

[OntologicalDamnation]

The conventional wisdom on here is not to send pre-II letters of interest, but personally I feel like if it’s been several months since you applied, and the interview season is starting to wind down, then why not send one? It’s probably not super likely to help, but I don’t really see it hurting you.

Yeah, I'll just keep the letter conservative in length. Schools try to yield protect, so it would seem that with the remaining interview invites they are sending out in January and February, they would want to send them out to the qualified applicants who actually want to go there.

 

[Goro]

I currently have 7 IIs (got 3 of them this past week) but I'm thinking about sending letter of interests to a few schools that I still think I have a shot at before adcoms are working again (shortly after New Years). I submitted most of my apps around Labor Day and I already have a pretty solid LOI template from when I sent a LOI to Mayo, so it won't take me too long to write a few more to 5 or so schools. Anyways, should I bother doing this? I've heard that it's worked for people in the past but yet again, I've been getting good momentum in receiving IIs these past few weeks and I feel like it'll continue to take off in January and maybe even February.

Waste of time. They're know you're interested since you sent them an app.

 

[KnightDoc]

That's true. My thinking was more along the lines of that because I haven't sent out any sort of update since I submitted back in September, they may presume that I am no longer interested in the school.

To the contrary, there is no reason to assume you lost interest since you paid a fee and submitted an application. The stronger (and usually, but not always true!) assumption is that they have no interest in you if they have been conducting interviews for 5 months since you submitted and you haven't been contacted.

It's an SDN myth that LOIs pre-II mean anything, because some people confuse cause and effect when they submit an LOI and subsequently receive an II. From an adcom's perspective, why would begging for an II make you a more attractive candidate than those who don't beg? Because you have nothing else and are therefore more likely to matriculate?? I just don't get it!

 

[deleted969405]

To the contrary, there is no reason to assume you lost interest since you paid a fee and submitted an application. The stronger (and usually, but not always true!) assumption is that they have no interest in you if they have been conducting interviews for 5 months since you submitted and you haven't been contacted.

It's an SDN myth that LOIs pre-II mean anything, because some people confuse cause and effect when they submit an LOI and subsequently receive an II. From an adcom's perspective, why would begging for an II make you a more attractive candidate than those who don't beg? Because you have nothing else and are therefore more likely to matriculate?? I just don't get it!

I mean I get why people do it and I think there may be some merit to it. For example, I have a few A, but have also heard absolutely nothing back from a few schools. That being said, I can assume that I have some traits that schools like based on my multiple acceptances (in other words, I know my worth). By sending in a letter of interest, I am essentially saying "Hey, I'm still here, and even after 5 months and X many acceptances, I am still interested in your program and have not forgot about you (because there are many schools at this point that I have forgotten about lol)!". I don't think that a letter of interest necessarily has to sound like you are begging for an interview.
Now I do have to make a disclaimer that this won't work if you don't have an A. At that point, I can see where you make the point of schools thinking "who the heck is this guy and why is he pestering us with so many emails?" Also, a LOI probably will hold no value (and perhaps negative value), if sent to a T20

 

[KnightDoc]

I mean I get why people do it and I think there may be some merit to it. For example, I have a few A, but have also heard absolutely nothing back from a few schools. That being said, I can assume that I have some traits that schools like based on my multiple acceptances (in other words, I know my worth). By sending in a letter of interest, I am essentially saying "Hey, I'm still here, and even after 5 months and X many acceptances, I am still interested in your program and have not forgot about you (because there are many schools at this point that I have forgotten about lol)!". I don't think that a letter of interest necessarily has to sound like you are begging for an interview.
Now I do have to make a disclaimer that this won't work if you don't have an A. At that point, I can see where you make the point of schools thinking "who the heck is this guy and why is he pestering us with so many emails?" Also, a LOI probably will hold no value (and perhaps negative value), if sent to a T20

I think you are the exception to the rule insofar as many people with multiple As wouldn't have an interest in sending pre-II LOIs.

You clearly are an attractive candidate, but obviously not to everyone. It's just that, post interview, an expression of interest or intent, particularly if you have other equal or better acceptances, can be meaningful since they already expressed interest in you through the II, and now know where you stand relative to everyone else through an interview report.

Pre-II, what can it really mean? For whatever reason they passed you over. Now they are either supposed to say "ooh, he's desperate, let's bring him in" or "ooh, someone else wants him, let's bring him in"? I just don't think it works that way. I think people send them because they are anxious and don't know what else to do, and then some people get IIs they were going to get anyway and proceed to confuse cause and effect, post here, and continue the cycle.

By the way, no matter what you think you are writing, if you send a LOI pre-II, or post-II without an A, you are begging, they know it, and it really doesn't look like anything else. For the umpteenth time, you paid a fee and filled out a secondary, do they really need a LOI to know you are interested? Withdrawing is an indication you lost interest; failing to send a LOI is not!!! 🙂

 

[deleted969405]

I think you are the exception to the rule insofar as many people with multiple As wouldn't have an interest in sending pre-II LOIs.

You clearly are an attractive candidate, but obviously not to everyone. It's just that, post interview, an expression of interest or intent, particularly if you have other equal or better acceptances, can be meaningful since they already expressed interest in you through the II, and now know where you stand relative to everyone else through an interview report.

Pre-II, what can it really mean? For whatever reason they passed you over. Now they are either supposed to say "ooh, he's desperate, let's bring him in" or "ooh, someone else wants him, let's bring him in"? I just don't think it works that way. I think people send them because they are anxious and don't know what else to do, and then some people get IIs they were going to get anyway and proceed to confuse cause and effect, post here, and continue the cycle.

By the way, no matter what you think you are writing, if you send a LOI pre-II, or post-II without an A, you are begging, they know it, and it really doesn't look like anything else. For the umpteenth time, you paid a fee and filled out a secondary, do they really need a LOI to know you are interested? Withdrawing is an indication you lost interest; failing to send a LOI is not!!! 🙂

IDK, my perspective is just different I guess. This process is a numbers game, and there's some schools that I haven't heard from that I am still interested in. I guess the point I am making is this:
When you send it a LOI (letter of interest, not intent), you want the person who is looking at your file to see it. If you email admissions and it's not put in your file, the LOI made no contribution at all. But if someone who is reviewing your file sees that you have displayed interest throughout the cycle, it shows that you really want to attend. Sure, there are other people who want to attend as well, but if the school is not a T20 and not the applicants state school, I can GUARANTEE you that they have been forgotten (for example, I forgot if I applied to Tulane or Tufts, but it doesn't matter to me anyways, if they send an II, I'll reject them. Similarly, there are many schools for which I even deleted the portal system from my bookmark pages and haven't visited in months). I mean, think of it like a job where you get a plethora of qualified candidates and one who you haven't invited for an interview (who is not a terrible candidate, but just average), sends a follow up displaying their interests. Personally, I would for sure set up an interview with them. Maybe that's because for me, one of the most important traits is taking initiative. But I do see where you are coming from and don't disagree with your points, I just have a different POV.

TLDR: there are a lot of variables for sending in pre or post II but pre decision LOI, but I believe there are some situations where it can be sent

 

[KnightDoc]

IDK, my perspective is just different I guess. This process is a numbers game, and there's some schools that I haven't heard from that I am still interested in. I guess the point I am making is this:
When you send it a LOI (letter of interest, not intent), you want the person who is looking at your file to see it. If you email admissions and it's not put in your file, the LOI made no contribution at all. But if someone who is reviewing your file sees that you have displayed interest throughout the cycle, it shows that you really want to attend. Sure, there are other people who want to attend as well, but if the school is not a T20 and not the applicants state school, I can GUARANTEE you that they have been forgotten (for example, I forgot if I applied to Tulane or Tufts, but it doesn't matter to me anyways, if they send an II, I'll reject them. Similarly, there are many schools for which I even deleted the portal system from my bookmark pages and haven't visited in months). I mean, think of it like a job where you get a plethora of qualified candidates and one who you haven't invited for an interview (who is not a terrible candidate, but just average), sends a follow up displaying their interests. Personally, I would for sure set up an interview with them. Maybe that's because for me, one of the most important traits is taking initiative. But I do see where you are coming from and don't disagree with your points, I just have a different POV.

TLDR: there are a lot of variables for sending in pre or post II but pre decision LOI, but I believe there are some situations where it can be sent

Yeah, but it's really not like filling a job at all. It's not a single manager looking for a single hire, where motivation and hunger might be relevant factors.

I really think we all personalize the process way too much. My takeaway from what the adcoms here have said is that the process is very impersonal (at least until you get to the point of pulling from a WL and yield becomes a factor), and nobody on the other end cares how much a candidate not already selected for an II wants one.

Honestly, I really don't think LOIs hurt (unless, as has been said, they are poorly written and then actually read), but nothing I have heard from those in a position to know indicates they are worth the effort. That said, you are definitely entitled to your POV, and should absolutely send them if they help you feel like you are doing everything possible to achieve your goals.

 

[TheRealBatmanMD]

To the contrary, there is no reason to assume you lost interest since you paid a fee and submitted an application. The stronger (and usually, but not always true!) assumption is that they have no interest in you if they have been conducting interviews for 5 months since you submitted and you haven't been contacted.

It's an SDN myth that LOIs pre-II mean anything, because some people confuse cause and effect when they submit an LOI and subsequently receive an II. From an adcom's perspective, why would begging for an II make you a more attractive candidate than those who don't beg? Because you have nothing else and are therefore more likely to matriculate?? I just don't get it!

OP did get 3 IIs this past week, so I don't believe schools have lost interest in him. However, given his trend, I agree that he should ditch the LOIs and just stick it out for the next 2 months.

 

[KnightDoc]

OP did get 3 IIs this past week, so I don't believe schools have lost interest in him. However, given his trend, I agree that he should ditch the LOIs and just stick it out for the next 2 months.

Yes, of course. I only meant, with no communication months after submission, the greater likelihood is that the school has no interest in the applicant as opposed to the applicant having no interest in the school.

 

[openstage]

I just thought of an interesting parallel- and no disrespect is meant. If someone with cancer asked a doctor if praying might help their chances, what would many doctors be thinking in their heads? And then what would we they tell that family? In many cases they’d say “Absolutely pray.” The family prays, because they want to believe they did every single thing, no matter how far fetched, or lacking in research.

Sending a LOI might be like this - in your heart of hearts, you know it may be futile for 99% of the time, but you’ll hope for that 1%. You’re not ready to give up.

BTW - We are dealing with very serious cancer in my immediate family. So we do a lot of reflection through that lens.

 

[hydrophobicmed]

I mean I get why people do it and I think there may be some merit to it. For example, I have a few A, but have also heard absolutely nothing back from a few schools. That being said, I can assume that I have some traits that schools like based on my multiple acceptances (in other words, I know my worth). By sending in a letter of interest, I am essentially saying "Hey, I'm still here, and even after 5 months and X many acceptances, I am still interested in your program and have not forgot about you (because there are many schools at this point that I have forgotten about lol)!". I don't think that a letter of interest necessarily has to sound like you are begging for an interview.
Now I do have to make a disclaimer that this won't work if you don't have an A. At that point, I can see where you make the point of schools thinking "who the heck is this guy and why is he pestering us with so many emails?" Also, a LOI probably will hold no value (and perhaps negative value), if sent to a T20

are the schools going to verify that you have an A? or did you send a screenshot of your A's?

 

[KnightDoc]

I just thought of an interesting parallel- and no disrespect is meant. If someone with cancer asked a doctor if praying might help their chances, what would many doctors be thinking in their heads? And then what would we they tell that family? In many cases they’d say “Absolutely pray.” The family prays, because they want to believe they did every single thing, no matter how far fetched, or lacking in research.

Sending a LOI might be like this - in your heart of hearts, you know it may be futile for 99% of the time, but you’ll hope for that 1%. You’re not ready to give up.

BTW - We are dealing with very serious cancer in my immediate family. So we do a lot of reflection through that lens.

You raise an interesting point. Of course, life and death is very different from medical schools admissions (although it certainly doesn't feel that way to some!), and religion is a very personal thing. So, of course, a doctor is not going to get involved in how a family exercises its belief (or lack thereof) in a higher power, even though science teaches us that praying does not cure cancer.

So, sure, you can analogize LOIs to praying, but SDN isn't a church, and the working assumption here is not that people come here asking for advice on how to exercise their belief in a higher power. Common sense and advice from insiders with first hand knowledge of how things work is that LOIs pre-II are ineffective, and, in practice, only hurt if they are poorly written but do not sway adcoms to extend invitations they weren't already going to extend.

That said, everyone is, of course, free to exercise their freedom of religion (or neurotic compulsion to do something when doing nothing is called for), but, based on advice provided by adcoms, SDN is really not the place to validate such decisions (unless one draws comfort from the theory that because some send LOIs and then receive IIs that sending LOIs causes schools to send IIs). 🙂

 

[openstage]

I don't disagree with you. It just came to me because people think about hope this time of year. Merry Christmas!

 

[and 99 others]

Not to hijack the thread but I didn't wanna start a whole new one for this one question:

when sending post II LOIs, should we mention the other schools that we are accepted at by name or simply say that we are accepted at other schools but still prefer this school? Idk if it matters, but one of the schools I am accepted at is in the same state as the one I am sending an LOI to and I am OOS for both.

 

[Goro]

Not to hijack the thread but I didn't wanna start a whole new one for this one question:

when sending post II LOIs, should we mention the other schools that we are accepted at by name or simply say that we are accepted at other schools but still prefer this school? Idk if it matters, but one of the schools I am accepted at is in the same state as the one I am sending an LOI to and I am OOS for both.

Name the schools. Why should Case be impressed if "I have other accepts"?

 

[deleted969405]

are the schools going to verify that you have an A? or did you send a screenshot of your A's?

I highly doubt they would do that? If they want to verify it I can always send a screenshot as proof... Are you trying to lie and say you have acceptances to schools to give your LOI more weight when you don't have any A? Otherwise I don't really see the point of your question lol

 

[deleted969405]

By the way, what happened to the OP? Why did he get his account removed? He didn't seem like a troll to me

 

[gyngyn]

By the way, what happened to the OP? Why did he get his account removed? He didn't seem like a troll to me

Trolling, and sock-puppeting with multiple accounts.

 

[Goro]

That would explain the loose cannon-esque behavior.

Trolling, and sock-puppeting with multiple accounts.