When to write LOI?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I learned from SDN that many SDNers may write a letter of interest, or even a letter of intent, some time during the application cycle. Do many applicants do this? Is it done by email or snail mail? When do applicants write this kind of letter? (and to whom?)</p>

<p>Sometimes I feel that writing this kind of letter is like writing a love letter to a guy or girl whom you have a love interest in, except that you may need to write to several of them at the same time because few of them will "return the love." (An exception is for the letter of intent, which is supposedly addressed to one school only.)</p>

<p>It appears some medical schools seemingly welcome this unsolicited email/mail/communication, but some do not. Which school will likely encourage this and which will definitely not? (Those ivies and comparable ones may belong to the latter category?)</p>

<p>The match process is much better IMHO, at least all applicants play the same game.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Letters of intent seem to be for “after the interview” and would certainly seem appropriate after a waitlist or other post-interview hold. Other than that, I guess it’s all a matter of timing. I know I’d have sent one pre-decision if I had a #1 target school. </p>

<p>Had D been wait-listed at YSM, I’m sure she’d have sent one. Since decisions were out soon after her very late interview, she didn’t feel a LOI would be that helpful. </p>

<p>I don’t recall if LOI’s are effective at getting interviews. My gut tells me they wouldn’t be.</p>

3

<p>I would recommend doing it as soon as you are sure that’s your school (generally after you no longer are going to interviews). Letters of intent are not effective if you haven’t even interviewed. The ultimately have to want you for you wanting them to have an effect.</p>