Question in title.
Last edited:
When should I send interest letters?
- Thread starter SDunkey
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2005
- Messages
- 21,378
- Reaction score
- 17,913
With those stats and 8 IV offers, you're doing fine. Let it ride.
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2006
- Messages
- 10,418
- Reaction score
- 14,645
I want to say, for the record, how much I hate "letters of interest". What exactly do they mean? You're going to send them to every program you haven't heard from. Is it supposed to make me think that you're somehow better than the other applicants?
Just tired and ranting. Sorry.
Just tired and ranting. Sorry.
No what about bringing attention to the fact you may have a connection to the area? If you’re already going to be rejected then what do you have to lose?
In my view, the "I have a connection to your program or your geographic area that isn't apparent in my application" email is different from the desperate "I don't think I have enough interviews so please invite me to your program for these generic reasons" email.
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2011
- Messages
- 263
- Reaction score
- 262
I take them as they're interested in the program specifically enough that they're emailing. The connection to the area helps. I've been on both sides - I will say I did receive invites almost day after emailing when I was interested in a program, and I've seen an application get more attention with a personalized email. I don't see them as much of a negative, but I imagine I'm less jaded than aprogdirector...though it feels only a matter of time. Would you say you see it as a negative, @aProgDirector ?
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2006
- Messages
- 10,418
- Reaction score
- 14,645
I guess I'm just jaded. I assume that applicants send these emails to every program they have not heard from. Why not? Some programs (or people) will take these emails more seriously. Can they hurt you? Probably not. Although I find them annoying, I would never decide to not interview someone because of it.
angelslanding18
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2018
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 0
What are good reasons to bring up other than geographic connection? Like program-specific characteristics or updates to application?
Program specific characteristics every time. Geography... ok, updates to application only if really relevant to an internship, which would be board scores. Publications probably won't sway intern directors as heavily.
But program specific characteristics let the PD / PC know that you looked at the website or talked to someone, which is stronger than "hey I'm still here." That being said, we can read through the lines and know if you're just picking highlights off the website and going after them. So don't email every program. You're more likely to slip up, write something that isn't as genuine or reads vague, and get caught by the PD who will throw your application away.
But program specific characteristics let the PD / PC know that you looked at the website or talked to someone, which is stronger than "hey I'm still here." That being said, we can read through the lines and know if you're just picking highlights off the website and going after them. So don't email every program. You're more likely to slip up, write something that isn't as genuine or reads vague, and get caught by the PD who will throw your application away.
Similar threads
