If you’ve been placed on a medical school waitlist, you may be considering submitting a letter of interest. Admissions committees will be deliberating over who to accept from the waitlist if they do not have a full class by the end of April. Letters of interest should only be sent to schools that state they will accept additional correspondence, so be sure to check each school’s policy. 

As you craft this important piece of post-interview communication, keep the following suggested guidelines in mind to help ensure your letter matches the adcom’s expectations and addresses their potential concerns with your candidacy:

Offer a clear, concise opening paragraph.

In the opening paragraph, which should only be two to three sentences, clearly state the purpose of this piece of communication (e.g., “Please accept this letter of interest…), include your interview date, and state your continued interest in the school and program.  

Demonstrate your interest in the specific school and program. 

When you discuss why you are interested in a particular school/program, try to be as specific as possible. The details you write in a letter of interest to one school should not be able to be copied and pasted in a letter to a different school. Identifying specific curricular, extracurricular, and research aspects that align with both your primary application and your current experiences is ideal. And don’t forget to highlight the school’s local community, city, and state as well as how you connect with the culture and region.  

Update the admissions committee on any new developments. 

They will be interested in updates on such developments as promotions, new grades, new awards or honors, and new publications or poster presentations. If you have started a new clinical or volunteer experience, quantify the amount of time you invested (e.g., “I have accumulated 75 hours as a medical assistant”) in addition to listing the new skills you acquired. Even though you may feel sad or disappointed about being placed on the waitlist, it’s essential that you stay involved with all the activities that you love so that you can continue to build your credentials. Use this time to work even harder. It’s about the journey, not the destination. If you do your best, people will notice. (Read “The Nine Mistakes to Avoid on a Medical School Waitlist.”)

Address any weaknesses in your application that you have improved. 

If you haven’t already done so, this letter would be the best place to address anything in your application that may cause the admissions committee to hesitate in offering you an acceptance. Only discuss the areas that you have already improved. It’s not a good strategy to bring their attention to your greatest weakness without having a solution or demonstrating your progress in that area. Be strategic in covering ONLY those weak areas that you have improved.

Following these suggested guidelines in your letter of interest will help you address the admissions committee’s potential areas of concern. The best letters anticipate any challenges or hesitations and discuss them effectively while demonstrating your continued enthusiasm and interest in the school. 

Do you need help with your medical school application? Work one-on-one with an Accepted advisor who will help you create a strong, successful, admission-worthy application. Request your free consultation today!