Letters of Intent: Timing

I’ve received some questions about the timing of letters of intent (LOI) for medical school and residency. I recommend the following:

Send the letter as soon as you complete your interview. That way you can knowledgeably discuss your impressions of the institution, while attempting to positively affect your candidacy before being evaluated by the committee. (As you usually don’t know when your application will be discussed, sending immediately after your interview is important.)

Although I recommend sending hard-copy LOIs, if the institution has not prohibited sending emails to the admissions committee/residency administration, there is no harm in emailing your LOI in addition to sending the hard copy.

Contact me for help editing your LOIs.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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