Should I send a LOI?

[viralhiker]

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I keep going back and forth on this decision. I interviewed at WashU last month, and although I already have other acceptances, it is a near certainty that were I accepted to WUSTL I would choose to go there. I have never considered writing a letter of intent for any school I've interviewed (I feel like the general consensus from adcoms here is that they're not often worth the effort); however, I hear anecdotal reports that WashU is especially receptive to them.

Should I send a letter of intent? And if so, how should I go about it? Any advice on how to construct one would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[Rachapkis]

I don't think it will help you, but if you write it well, it won't hurt you. If it's your first choice, I would write the letter so you feel as that you've left no stone unturned.

 

[viralhiker]

I don't think it will help you, but if you write it well, it won't hurt you. If it's your first choice, I would write the letter so you feel as that you've left no stone unturned.

Thanks for the response, but I think you're capturing my ambivalence perfectly. If a LOI won't help me, but can potentially hurt me, and is only written to bolster my confidence, it doesn't seem logical to submit one.

 

[DNAJB6]

Many schools/adcoms don't respond or care about LOI; however, some do. I'm unsure whether WashU is on that list or not. If it is, send one. You should be able to search for old threads to find out.

 

[DNAJB6]

I don't think it will help you, but if you write it well, it won't hurt you. If it's your first choice, I would write the letter so you feel as that you've left no stone unturned.

And no regrets or wonder, 'what if?"