Thread by @KevinCChiang

🧵 Part 13 of my #Tweetorial Series for #Match2022: Letters of Intent 🧵

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It's January, which means there's less than a month before rank order lists open. One thing to start considering is potentially sending a letter of intent. Not sure what that is or whether you should send one? Let's talk about it!

Shoutout to @LizRaoof for the thread idea!

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I keep hearing about this “letter of intent”. What is it?

A letter of intent is a letter that is sent to the program you plan to rank #1 on your rank order list with the purpose of making that known to the program. Simple, right? There are some things you should know though.

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I’ll say upfront that it may or may not help. It depends on the specialty, program, and PD. Some PDs have expressed that such letters don’t impact their decisions, while others have mentioned that they can be helpful for having your application reviewed or considered again.

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To start things off, letters of intent are NOT mandatory. You don’t have to send one! From what I’ve gathered, it seems to be a 50/50 split whether applicants send one or not. With that being said, it doesn’t hurt as long as you have real intentions and it’s not done poorly.

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If you’re going to write a letter of intent, it should be formal and professional. I would recommend sending it via email as opposed to snail mail (timing, convenience, and reliability).

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How long should a letter of intent be? I'd say keep it under a page. If you’re starting to get close to a page, it's probably already too long.

More is not better. Quality over quantity. Get your points across, and express why you are interested. You can do so succinctly.

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Be genuine! As someone who has had to review applications for different positions before (albeit not for residency), I can tell you it is easier than you think to tell when someone is not being genuine. I've seen several residency PDs express this sentiment as well.

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ONE LETTER ONLY. People play this game where they send letters to multiple programs, and it can backfire horribly. People talk. Word of mouth travels quickly. You don’t want to be that person who gets ranked high enough to match and then ends up matching somewhere else.

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The very idea of sending multiple "You're my #1 choice" letters to different programs is honestly outrageous. It’s ethically questionable and raises some red flags. You don’t want to set fire to your career before it even starts. Just don't do it.

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Format – What format and structure do I use?

There is no exact structure you have to follow. I've usually seen an opening paragraph with some basic fundamental information that should be included and the rest of the letter tailored towards your interest in the program.

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I’d also avoid generic or cliché statements. You can imagine letters of intent will all be relatively similar. So what sets you apart? Fairly generic remarks that everybody else could easily make are not going to make you stand out or seem unique.

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On a side note, the letter of intent should not be a rehash of your personal statement. They are pieces with very different purposes. Thus, you should not simply be repeating all of the things you wrote about in your personal statement. It should be specific and tailored.

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As I mentioned previously, this should be a formal and professional letter. Address the letter to the program director. Use an appropriate salutation and complimentary close. When in doubt, you can always rely on “Dear” and “Sincerely”.

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Content – What do I write about?

There are 5 key components you should include:
-Interview Date
-Intention to rank #1
-Why you are interested
-Why you are a good fit
-Updates

The first is self-explanatory and more of a formality, so let’s discuss the other four.

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Explicitly state that you are ranking the program #1. I’ve seen too many examples of people being wishy-washy with the wording. You either rank a program #1 or you don’t. If you can’t definitively and confidently say that, you shouldn’t be sending that program a letter.

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Explain why you are interested in the program. This can include a number of aspects, such as program structure, educational and clinical opportunities, career or research interests, and location.

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On the topic of location, if you’re couples matching, have clear reasons for being interested in the program and thinking that it is a good fit. Programs want passionate residents who want to be there, not people who are there just to be close to a significant other.

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Talk about why you are a good fit. There are many applicants vying for a limited number of spots. You’re the one sending a letter and thus already expressing that you think the program is a great fit for you, but it’s a two-way street. What makes you a particularly good fit?

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If you have specific goals or interests that can be guided or informed by previous experiences you’ve had, those can be helpful ways to further establish a connection with the program and allow you to show, not just tell.

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Lastly, you can use the letter of intent as an opportunity to provide the program with any updates and accomplishments since you interviewed. This can include new or updated board scores, publications, or other achievements or milestones that can enhance your application.

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Timing – When do I send it?

NRMP rank order lists are open between February 1 and March 2. With that in mind, I would send a letter within the first two weeks of February to give programs ample time to review your letter and application, as well as adjust their lists.

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Please make sure you send your letter to the right person. Sometimes, that’s the program director. Other times, it may be the program coordinator or another designated point of contact. If you’re not sure, you can always reach out to the program coordinator to ask.

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One more side note: You know how some programs told you during interview season not to send thank you letters after interviews and you listened to them? If a program says not to send a letter of intent, don’t send one.

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Hope you found this thread helpful! To sum it all up:

- It's optional
- Formal/professional letter
- Only send one
- Be clear & succinct
- Include the 5 key components
- Send during the first 2 weeks of February

Good luck!

Next tweetorial will be about rank order lists!

/End

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