Update Letter Longer than 1 Page?

[smarts1]

So I'm writing my update letter (kind of combined with a letter of interest) to one of my schools pre-interview and it comes out to about 1.33 pages total (and 1.5 including my closing thank you sentence and my name).

Is this too long? I've read that the rule is never more than a page, but I've found that I'm elaborating on some of my activities since submitting my secondary application (i.e. Why it's important/Why I'm doing it). Or should I just cut all of that out and just say straight out what I'm doing and get rid of the descriptions?

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[IlDestriero]

The longer it is, the less likely it is to be read. Make it well under a page.

 

[smarts1]

🙁 Do you mean it'll be unlikely to be read if it's long because of the length? Will the committee at least skim it or something?

 

[Catalystik]

So I'm writing my update letter (kind of combined with a letter of interest) to one of my schools pre-interview and it comes out to about 1.33 pages total (and 1.5 including my closing thank you sentence and my name).

Is this too long? I've read that the rule is never more than a page, but I've found that I'm elaborating on some of my activities since submitting my secondary application (i.e. Why it's important/Why I'm doing it). Or should I just cut all of that out and just say straight out what I'm doing and get rid of the descriptions?

Maybe decrease your font size and prune the descriptions.

 

[smarts1]

Is it okay to decrease the margins slightly? I've read also that decreasing font size will make the adcom unhappy (since they'll have to squint to read it)...

 

[gyngyn]

The longer it is, the less likely it is to be read. Make it well under a page.

Agree. Nobody wants another PS.

 

[DrEnderW]

That is roughly the length of a personal statement... and longer than a resume... and longer than a cover letter.

I would for sure make it under a page. I'm sure you can succinctly convey your interest in the school and reiterate some high points in less than a page.

 

[CyberMaxx]

So I'm writing my update letter (kind of combined with a letter of interest) to one of my schools pre-interview and it comes out to about 1.33 pages total (and 1.5 including my closing thank you sentence and my name).

Is this too long? I've read that the rule is never more than a page, but I've found that I'm elaborating on some of my activities since submitting my secondary application (i.e. Why it's important/Why I'm doing it). Or should I just cut all of that out and just say straight out what I'm doing and get rid of the descriptions?

So I did the same thing you're doing, combined update letter + letter of interest. Each letter was one page, but I used business letter format so it was actually a lot less than that. The body of the letter was just two paragraphs - one giving updates and one stating why I was particularly interested in each school.

 

[freshbagels]

Do you guys recommend sending a letter of update as a physical letter or in an email? If electronically, should I attach it as a .doc or .pdf or simply in the text of the email?

 

[DrEnderW]

Do you guys recommend sending a letter of update as a physical letter or in an email? If electronically, should I attach it as a .doc or .pdf or simply in the text of the email?

I'm not sure if there's a right or wrong answer here - it probably varies by school.

I included the update and LOI in the body of the email and also attached it as a document as well. I figured it could be added to your file easier if it was in a document format but also increased the chances it would initially read because it was in the body of the email.

 

[CyberMaxx]

Do you guys recommend sending a letter of update as a physical letter or in an email? If electronically, should I attach it as a .doc or .pdf or simply in the text of the email?

To echo what DrEnderW said, it varies by school and some don't have a preference. I called each of the ~20 schools I applied to and > 80% said attach the letter as a .pdf

 

[BABSstudent]

Do you guys recommend sending a letter of update as a physical letter or in an email? If electronically, should I attach it as a .doc or .pdf or simply in the text of the email?

I say send it as a .pdf so nothing can be changed and they can't see the games you play with font sizes, margins, etc.

 

[chillaxbro]

What do you include other than activities and what you do? Do you include hours/week? contact information? How it makes you a better doctor?

 

[Kinch]

.

 

[pietachok]

You can write the LOI portion in paragraph form, but I would write CV-style for any updates to your accomplishments. I think the whole thing should be well under a page.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

I don't really get the difference between a post-interview LOI and update letter. I mean, wouldn't they already know why you're interested in their specific school from the secondary + interview questions. What more could you possibly include in a non-binding LOI? Am I the only one not planning on sending these?

 

[Ismet]

What do you include other than activities and what you do? Do you include hours/week? contact information? How it makes you a better doctor?

You can pretend it's another entry on your work/activities section. Which means don't go overboard on your description length.

I don't really get the difference between a post-interview LOI and update letter. I mean, wouldn't they already know why you're interested in their specific school from the secondary + interview questions. What more could you possibly include in a non-binding LOI? Am I the only one not planning on sending these?

I never sent a LOI. Overwhelming sense from adcoms on here is that plain LOIs are meaningless, perhaps except for the few schools that notoriously seem to value them (don't know off the top of my head). I didn't see the need to desperately throw myself at schools when I felt like I adequately expressed my desires at the interview.

 

[BABSstudent]

What do you include other than activities and what you do? Do you include hours/week? contact information? How it makes you a better doctor?

On my mdapps I have a LOI and two updates I sent to the school I matriculated to. Just search BABSstudent using the mdapps search page. When you are on my page, scroll to the bottom.

Edit: here's the link for you.

http://www.mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=24467