Update/interest letter length

[Donald Kimball]

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I have a fairly substantial update letter that is about 1 paragraph longer than a page at 1" margins.

I can play with the margins, and/or remove my letter header (my name/address, recipient name/address) to get everything to fit on one page.

Is it worth making the margins very narrow? Would removing the letter header detract from the professionalism?

Basically, is it imperative that my update letter be a single page in length?

 

[gyngyn]

I have a fairly substantial update letter that is about 1 paragraph longer than a page at 1" margins.

I can play with the margins, and/or remove my letter header (my name/address, recipient name/address) to get everything to fit on one page.

Is it worth making the margins very narrow? Would removing the letter header detract from the professionalism?

Basically, is it imperative that my update letter be a single page in length?

Nobody wants to read this much. If you are going to send one of these, at least make it easy to see what's most important to you. One page, maximum.

 

[Donald Kimball]

Nobody wants to read this much. If you are going to send one of these, at least make it easy to see what's most important to you. One page, maximum.

One paragraph to discuss new shadowing experiences, another two paragraphs for two new volunteer experiences, a fourth paragraph addressing a promotion, a single line paragraph addressing a new letter of recommendation from my employer, and a final conclusion paragraph briefly touching on a few specifics of the school's program that interest me.

I feel that all of these updates are substantial, but would love to hear from the other side what isn't.

 

[Goro]

This is worth an update:
One paragraph to discuss new shadowing experiences, another two paragraphs for two new volunteer experiences, a fourth paragraph addressing a promotion,

Do you really think a single LOR is going to make you a more attractive candidate, or push you from wait-list to accept?

a single line paragraph addressing a new letter of recommendation from my employer,

This will not interest people, because the assumption is you'll be saying that to every school you apply too. As has been discussed previously by my learned colleague, schools rarely pay attention to LOI.

and a final conclusion paragraph briefly touching on a few specifics of the school's program that interest me.

I feel that all of these updates are substantial, but would love to hear from the other side what isn't.[/quote]

 

[jeghaber]

One paragraph to discuss new shadowing experiences, another two paragraphs for two new volunteer experiences, a fourth paragraph addressing a promotion, a single line paragraph addressing a new letter of recommendation from my employer, and a final conclusion paragraph briefly touching on a few specifics of the school's program that interest me.

I feel that all of these updates are substantial, but would love to hear from the other side what isn't.

I'm not sure any of your individual updates requires a full paragraph by themselves. I'm curious as to how much detail you're going into, but you can probably address each item with 1-2 sentences and the adcom will likely thank you for your brevity.

For example, shadowing = who you've been shadowing + what you've learned. You can lump your two volunteer positions into one paragraph, with two sentences for each (the organization and your position + what you've gained and how it bolsters your application). Your promotion can also be done with 2 sentences (describing the promotion and what it was based on + your new responsibilities). If this is an update/interest letter hybrid, you can probably leave the final paragraph as is as long as it is succinct and directly addresses why you specifically would be a good fit for their programs.

Best of luck!

 

[Donald Kimball]

This is worth an update:
One paragraph to discuss new shadowing experiences, another two paragraphs for two new volunteer experiences, a fourth paragraph addressing a promotion,

Do you really think a single LOR is going to make you a more attractive candidate, or push you from wait-list to accept?

a single line paragraph addressing a new letter of recommendation from my employer,

This will not interest people, because the assumption is you'll be saying that to every school you apply too. As has been discussed previously by my learned colleague, schools rarely pay attention to LOI.

and a final conclusion paragraph briefly touching on a few specifics of the school's program that interest me.

I feel that all of these updates are substantial, but would love to hear from the other side what isn't.

[/quote]

Good points all around. A single new LOR, by itself, doesn't sound interesting. But combined with my shadowing, volunteering, and promotion?

Does your school value updates more than interest letters?

 

[Goro]

Even a letter from a Nobel laurate or a US senator (which I have seen) isn't going to change things much. What we onthe AdCom tend to comment on is "great LORs". That's it...they're taken as a collective.

Good points all around. A single new LOR, by itself, doesn't sound interesting. But combined with my shadowing, volunteering, and promotion?

Yup, and most do as well.

Does your school value updates more than interest letters?

 

[Gene Parmesan]

I wish I had asked this question a few weeks ago. I just submitted a lengthy update letter 4 months after my interview and striking out at each decision date, with two more left. I knew it was too long (closing paragraph on second page) but I thought to myself "what do I have to lose?" so instead of just giving a depersonalized list of things I'm doing during my gap year, I added details to show more of who I am, as if it was another secondary essay. Worst case scenario, I don't get in, but that was already happening without the letter. Best case scenario, somebody reads the whole thing and brings my file back out for another look at the next adcom meeting.

 

[T3ckFr3s]

I thought to myself "what do I have to lose?" so instead of just giving a depersonalized list of things I'm doing during my gap year, I added details to show more of who I am, as if it was another secondary essay. Worst case scenario, I don't get in, but that was already happening without the letter. Best case scenario, somebody reads the whole thing and brings my file back out for another look at the next adcom meeting.

My thoughts exactly.

FWIW, I've seen plenty of successful folks post their letters on their MDApps. Theirs were usually less than 1.5 pages but some were definitely over 1.

 

[DokterMom]

tl;dr

 

[Cmdr_Shepard]

I wish I had asked this question a few weeks ago. I just submitted a lengthy update letter 4 months after my interview and striking out at each decision date, with two more left. I knew it was too long (closing paragraph on second page) but I thought to myself "what do I have to lose?" so instead of just giving a depersonalized list of things I'm doing during my gap year, I added details to show more of who I am, as if it was another secondary essay. Worst case scenario, I don't get in, but that was already happening without the letter. Best case scenario, somebody reads the whole thing and brings my file back out for another look at the next adcom meeting.

Lemme guess, Emory?

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Lemme guess, Emory?

Yep, had to pour my heart out to them in desperation haha. I was shocked I got an interview, and I'd be even more shocked if my long letter worked.

 

[Cmdr_Shepard]

I'm contemplating sending a letter.

I'm close to pulling the trigger on it, but I don't know. I just don't know.

 

[JHUDJA]

I sent one after being deferred (no decision yet) and it was 1.5 after all of the letter headings and stuff.
I'm glad to hear people were successful with longer ones. I really didn't want to cut anything out!
Praying for good news!

 

[Redpancreas]

I have a fairly substantial update letter that is about 1 paragraph longer than a page at 1" margins.

I can play with the margins, and/or remove my letter header (my name/address, recipient name/address) to get everything to fit on one page.

Is it worth making the margins very narrow? Would removing the letter header detract from the professionalism?

Basically, is it imperative that my update letter be a single page in length?

This is just my example but I sent exactly one continued interest email. It wasn't even an update and I had nothing new to add. I just said that I was still interested in the school. The secretary told me she'd add it to my file and then like two weeks later, I got called for an interview, and two weeks I was accepted. I just wrote it because frankly I was confused if my secondary was officially complete as I got no official complete email and I used that subject to transition to the point that that school was a top choice and that I'd love the opportunity to interview to showcase myself as an individual. I'm just mentioning this to say that, sometimes, even the shortest emails without any substantial updates can be helpful.

Obviously, in your case include all the relevant activity that you've done since especially if it checks an additional box but don't go off writing more than a page. Honestly, I'd keep it to a 1/2 to 3/4 of a page if you really want the full attention span of the reader.

With update letters, I would use the STAR technique. (Situation, Task, Action, and Result). It's a clean format that really doesn't allow for a lot of fluff that medical schools don't want to read through. Also, it focused on what you've actually accomplished (publications/grades/awards etc.) as opposed to subjective things like experiences that one can easily embellish.

 

[aspirantmed]

P. m m m mm m

 

[GoPelicans]

My only interest letter was about 3/4 of a page, which I made slightly longer by making the margins a little bigger lol. I hope they appreciate the brevity.