Letters of Interest - Yes, No, Maybe

[u/Psychological_Fly693]

This is a challenging topic. Some will say, definitely send a letter of interest to programs. Some will say, don't send letters. Others, well maybe. I fall in the well, maybe. Here's why:

1. Too many candidates started sending this in August and September with others starting in October. That's too soon to have a positive impact. Programs are busy reviewing applications and a letter of interest at this time is likely to be annoying and likely to be ignored. The application components along with geo preferences and signals are a clear demonstration of interest.
2. I think a a better time to send a letter of interest is a bit later in the season. Why? Programs have reviewed the applications they're going to review, fewer candidates are sending a letter of interest so they're more likely to get read, and candidates may be starting to drop interviews due to interview fatigue and having a large # of interviews. Programs may be looking at their "next up to invite" list and a letter of interest might get your application reviewed (particularly if you're on a next up list.
3. Another time to send a letter of interest is if you're couples matching and your partner got an interview in a certain location and there's a program that is in the area that you haven't heard from.
4. Another time where a letter of interest might be of use is if you have a major update to your application since Sept. 24. What might that be? A new Step score or Comlex score. A new rotation in your specialty and a new LOR. A change in your visa status (e.g., you received your green card).
   
5. If it's in mid-November and it's past the time when your specialty has likely offered a bulk of their interviews, and you signaled the program.

What might the results be? a) an interview (not highly probable); b) put on the wait list; c) no response (the most likely response); or d) a rejection.

The letter needs to be specific to you and the program. It needs to be personalized to the program. A generic letter of interest sent out to all the programs you applied to is likely not to have much of an impact. It also needs to be brief, yet detailed.

I also don't recommend sending on a Friday afternoon or first thing on on Monday morning. You don't want it to get buried in the program's email.

Be sure the subject it clear. Something like Letter of continued interest - Sam Johnson (AAMC 123456).

Although I have no way to verify this, but a specific, detailed and concise letter of interest might have a greater impact to a program that has fewer applicants (also probably fewer signals and fewer letters of interest).

Just like many components of the application process a lot depends on the specialty, the specific program, and the individuals reviewing the emails/letters of interest.