Writing an Update/LOI Interest Letter

[chickenlittle84]

I am working on writing an update letter for a school I have not yet heard from, and I was hoping to get some insight into how these letters are typically written. So far, I am writing mine like a very warm cover letter...

Paragraph 1 thanks them for their interest in my application and states that I would love to come interview

Paragraph 2 explains how my undergraduate academic background makes me a great fit (somewhat unique background)

Paragraph 3 is about a specific update/accomplishment that I mentioned very briefly in my AMCAS. I didn't have room to expand, and it has gone a bit further than it was at the time of application.

Paragraph 4 my activities for the year

Paragraph 5 I am perfect for your school, please interview me. Thank you.


It will be about 1 page single spaced, 10 font...which is fine for a cover letter, but is it too wrong for an update letter? I would really appreciate any help/ideas that anyone has! Thanks!

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[MassTransport]

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[CONSTANCE35]

Yes, it sounds like a good plan, apart from the 10 fond part...it's a little bit small, try a 12. Also, you have managed to display well the usual cover letter, but for a letter of inquiry there are other things to take into account as well.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I am working on writing an update letter for a school I have not yet heard from, and I was hoping to get some insight into how these letters are typically written. So far, I am writing mine like a very warm cover letter...

Paragraph 1 thanks them for their interest in my application and states that I would love to come interview

Paragraph 2 explains how my undergraduate academic background makes me a great fit (somewhat unique background)

Paragraph 3 is about a specific update/accomplishment that I mentioned very briefly in my AMCAS. I didn't have room to expand, and it has gone a bit further than it was at the time of application.

Paragraph 4 my activities for the year

Paragraph 5 I am perfect for your school, please interview me. Thank you.


It will be about 1 page single spaced, 10 font...which is fine for a cover letter, but is it too wrong for an update letter? I would really appreciate any help/ideas that anyone has! Thanks!

Sounds perfect - thats pretty much exactly how I wrote mine. But yeah - older adcomms will love you more if you do size 12 font instead of size 10. Even if it spills over to two pages. Also, do it like a formal business letter with the addresses and dates at the top.

 

[medguy83]

You can never go wrong showing sincere interest in a program. I have to say it is somewhat of a balancing act. On the one hand you don't want to pester the admissions dept. every day with calls, updates, etc; However, you've got to be somewhat of a squeaky wheel and be proactive about your candidacy. A formal business letter written in your format will definitely help you out at least on some level. Good luck

 

[western digital]

Say we were to write an update/letter of interest at the beginning of next semester. Would it look bad to talk about your activities/interest in the school but not include last semester's grades? All this interviewing has really been keeping me from doing as well as I would have liked.

 

[CookieMonster1]

So I've written a letter of interest to a school that I'm in love with but have been place on a pre-interview hold. This letter is 3.5 pages single-spaced- and this is text only without the dear so and so or address or anything. Is this too long? what's the ideal length of a pre-interview letter of interest. I just want to make sure the adcoms read it all, but I really do have a LOT of reasons why I love this school.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

So I've written a letter of interest to a school that I'm in love with but have been place on a pre-interview hold. This letter is 3.5 pages single-spaced- and this is text only without the dear so and so or address or anything. Is this too long? what's the ideal length of a pre-interview letter of interest. I just want to make sure the adcoms read it all, but I really do have a LOT of reasons why I love this school.

Holy mary mother of GOD weapons of mass destruction. I would recommend cutting that thing down to a page.

 

[drizzt3117]

So I've written a letter of interest to a school that I'm in love with but have been place on a pre-interview hold. This letter is 3.5 pages single-spaced- and this is text only without the dear so and so or address or anything. Is this too long? what's the ideal length of a pre-interview letter of interest. I just want to make sure the adcoms read it all, but I really do have a LOT of reasons why I love this school.

Way too long. I wrote a detailed letter of intent post-interview and it was less than two pages single spaced with 12 point font and all the address information, and this was to a school i'd interviewed at, and know more intimately, and have actual interactions to discuss.

 

[sicko]

Does LOI really help? If they are not interested in you, does it matter how much you are interested in them? Correct me if I'm wrong, I think the AMCAS and secondary essays should provide you w/ plenty of opportunity to explain yourself, no? I'm afraid it may have a negative effect when you throw a lot of stuff at them considering they receive over 4000 apps every year.

Has LOI worked for anyone before? Please share. Thx

 

[alwaysaangel]

Does LOI really help? If they are not interested in you, does it matter how much you are interested in them? Correct me if I'm wrong, I think the AMCAS and secondary essays should provide you w/ plenty of opportunity to explain yourself, no? I'm afraid it may have a negative effect when you throw a lot of stuff at them considering they receive over 4000 apps every year.

Has LOI worked for anyone before? Please share. Thx

Right here. Check my mdapps for details.

I was directly told by the dean of admissions that it was my persistance (AKA my 3 LOIs) that made them accept me.

LOIs help.