until when are letters of intent valid?

[mlw03]

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is a letter of intent valid up until the day classes start at that particular school? or only until classes start at the school you chose otherwise? on the more lax side, is a letter only valid until may 15?

for example, let's say you wrote a letter of intent to your #1 choice, but you're waitlisted. you then get into #2, get an apartment there, and such. then july 28th #1 calls to say you're in. are you still obligated to go to #1, even if you'd rather just stay where you're settled? if you feel this way should you write a letter to #1 after may 15 telling them you can no longer blindly accept any acceptance they may offer you?

thoughts, and especially personal experience relating to this, are welcome.

 

[Eraserhead]

eeek i don't know but i'm very curious.

i wrote my letter, but if its august or maybe even july and i'm ready to settle for what i have i'd have a hard time changing plans and stuff that late.

 

[edik]

I believe that if you are not outright accepted before May 15, all bets are off. You told them that they are your number 1. If you are waitlisted, obviously your feelings are not being reciprocated.

 

[coachB]

i could be wrong on this, but i doubt that a letter of intent is actually binding in any way.

 

[MDT]

I would say that if you went ahead and got the apartment and were settled with no intention of moving, then you should withdraw from the waitlist. They can't make you hold on to the waitlist in hopes of getting in. Holding onto the waitlist through the summer is up to you to decide how much stress and uncertainty you can handle.

 

[VienneseWaltz]

LOIs are non-binding, although the theory goes that if you back out on one, you could be screwed if you want to go there for residency. No idea whether that's true.

I'm with edik. If they don't reciprocate, you don't owe them anything. OTOH, if you send them a letter in May begging to get off the waitlist, it's probably not cool to tell them nevermind in July. But does it matter in the end? Probably not. They will find someone else from the WL that day ... but if you know you won't go if called, might as well avoid an awkward situation and remove yourself from the WL.

The waiting game sucks. Hang in there! Med school more than makes up for all the crap you have to go through to get there.

Edit: I should say that LOIs are not LEGALLY binding ... they ARE binding in the sense that you should keep your word.