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"Top 10" Waitlist LOI
Started by shtumpa
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No, I would not mention any other schools. Just your intent, if you should choose to send one. An LOI implies interest. I wouldn't sour it by mentioning that you have interviews at unranked state schools that you don't want to attend. Sounds kind of...snooty.
The purpose of a Letter of Intent is to communicate your interest in a particular school. It should be concise and to the point. It should not ramble. It should not talk about other schools. It should address why you are a good fit for them and why they are a good fit for you. If your motivation is, "They are well ranked, so I want to go there", you shouldn't bother writing a LOI, it will be truly worthless.
If they're a top 10 school, they're going to assume you want to go there over an unranked state school. If the reverse were true (i.e. you were interviewed/accepted at a top 10 school but would prefer to go to a state school), then that might carry some weight in an LOI, since the assumption would be the opposite. Then again, it would likely make no difference regardless, since you can say whatever you want in an LOI.
I saw a letter of interest (actually, an email) work once in Ph.D admissions, but I've never heard of one working for MD admissions.
Your pre-med, so I assume your not part of an admissions committee? Your probably right, generally speaking; you can imagine 10 goro's sitting in a room rolling their eyes at yet another LOI
I have seen it make a difference in MD admissions as well as for residency rank lists. Specific circumstances, absolutely, but interest in a school/program means a lot and for good reason.
Also, last year I told a program director in specialty that they should take a close look at an MS4 that they hadn't invited for an interview because they would be a good fit for them (top program for their specialty). They are now a resident at that program. I have no idea how much of a roll my comment made, but given my limited experience in admissions, I'd say that it would be foolish to poo poo it entirely.
I know of no admissions dean who puts much store in these things at this point in the cycle.
The only place for them is after a school is drawing from the waitlist and the candidate is holding an acceptance at an arguably "better" school but would prefer the "lesser" school. Even so, this only works if the list is unranked.
The only place for them is after a school is drawing from the waitlist and the candidate is holding an acceptance at an arguably "better" school but would prefer the "lesser" school. Even so, this only works if the list is unranked.
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What date can schools see where else their waitlisted candidates are accepted this year?
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It looks like April Fools.
