Update letters do work

Absolutely, updates and letters of intent DO work.
Last year when applying I hadn't heard from one school at all from when I sent in my application until the beginning of April when I faxed the school a letter saying they were one of my top choices and was wondering if it would at all be possible for them to interview me. The very next day I got a message on my answering machine offering me an interview. Too bad it was so late in the application season that I was interviewing for a spot on the waitlist. In retrospect I should have sent in such a letter months earlier.

 

If you make the wait-list, the good news is that you have met all the basic requirements for candidacy. What you do after that makes all the difference. Anecdotal evidence is that if you do nothing, you'll stay on the wait-list until you're rejected. If you're proactive, you're more likely, although not assured, to be accepted.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Jalbrekt:
<strong>One of my friends who was waitlisted at a school that is notorous for not really liking letters sent in just got in. He (and I somewhat) worked hard on the ltter, and when he got the phone call telling him he was in, the dean told him that she really liked the letter and it made a difference. And she was the one who braught it up, not him.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's true. Dr. Quinn of USC seemed to have gone through my entire file before making the decision. I believe my letter was so strong because it show what I have been doing since my interview in November.

Update letters are strong letters of intent. If you are waitlisted, especially in an unranked waitlist, you should write these intent/update letters. This late in the game, med schools don't have a clear idea who to accept.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Cydney Foote:
<strong>Anecdotal evidence is that if you do nothing, you'll stay on the wait-list until you're rejected.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Is it really true??? I didn't know you could get rejected off the waitlist. I always figured you either get off the list or you don't.

 

further supporting the topic...

Dr. Hill at Baylor called me about a week after he got my follow-up letter and used it as the topic to start the "you're accepted" conversation. It's such a small effort on the applicant's part to just jot off a letter letting the school know you're still interested...totally worth it.

 

in terms of update letters....what do you guys write???

I wrote a letter of interest to my waitlisted school. But I'm just working at a non-profit organization.

So I have no new grades and have not started anything new since the interview and application. what can I say to them?

What should I be doing?

any comments welcomed!!!

 

Yes, I can attest they work. The day Hopkins got my 3-sentence letter of intent, they decided to accept me. I think they liked my straightforward approach without the fluff.

 

lizardking...i sent you a PM

 

I've already written letters of intent/interest to the school I'm waitlisted at. My question is: Can you send too many letters? Obviously they wouldn't be exactly the same but how many times can you say the same thing before looking desperate or repetitive?

 

Good question, Zealous.

There's a difference between bombarding the adcomm with additional information and sending well-timed messages letting them know that you're still interested.

About 2 weeks after your initial letter of intent (which can be a short, basic statement), send a more detailed letter emphasizing your current activities and continued interest in the program. Thereafter, about every 2 weeks, just a short note confirming your interest is appropriate.

It's also a good idea to ask if there's anything additional that the adcomm would want to see. Chances are there isn't anything, but if there is then you should know.

Good luck, everybody!

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Originally posted by Ceez:
Is it really true??? I didn't know you could get rejected off the waitlist. I always figured you either get off the list or you don't. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's what I meant by "rejected." Sorry, I guess that's a harsh word, another way to think of it is languishing interminably on the waitlist

 

But....can you send an update letter if your on a ranked waitlist. Doesn't it annoy them?

 

I am wondering the same thing...I am on 3 waitlists and have sent them all a couple letters of interest....One school says their alternate list is ranked and to not sent additional info...Am I just wasting my time with letters to them? Do you think its hurting me?
Also, do you guys know if a letter of intent is binding? can i send more than one? I cant decide between two of my schools and am not sure if I should write one.
thanks and good luck to all

 

I have this theory that what seems to work for the general public doesn't work for me, so I'm testing it. I sent my letter of intent today to a school I am waitlisted at. I've got everything I possibly can crossed in the hopes that I'll hear some good news soon. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

 

This thread is very inspiring for procrastinators like me! Today I sent a letter of intent and an update and tomorrow I'll send two more. (No, not to the same schools! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> )

 

Does it pay to be persistent with letters. For example, I sent out letters of interest and intent to schools, should I send short messages later, say 2 weeks later and then every so often, to reiterate my desire to attend? Or is this pushing it?