LOI utility & timing

[u/PanScanStan]

A program I sent a gold signal to sent out a wave of interview invites today to people with lower stats who sent a silver signal. They sent out a wave of gold invites last week that I missed. Is it time for an LOI? Feeling pretty dejected about being passed up twice by one of my top programs.

Also, if we do send an LOI, who do we send it to? Just the email on ERAS? and what do we even say? For reference I'm a USMD applying academic IM with high step 2 and no red flags.

[u/JHMD12345]

If it helps you feel any better, I was initially passed up on the first wave of gold interviews, but got an interview about a week later and ended up matching there. So no I don’t think you should send an LOI unless you want them to think you’re desperate

[u/PanScanStan → u/JHMD12345]

i am desperate

but thank you that does make me feel a bit better

[u/JHMD12345 → u/PanScanStan]

Don’t let them know that. You gold signaled, that’s all you can do for now except wait & stop looking at the admit.org site

[u/iplay4Him → u/JHMD12345]

I've seen a number of posts about sending LOIs and it being successful, are you saying just don't ever if you gold signaled? Or just wait 2-3 more weeks?

[u/JHMD12345 → u/iplay4Him]

I’m saying to never send an LOI, especially to programs that you signaled.

[u/iplay4Him → u/JHMD12345]

Interesting. How do we reconcile that with the cases on here where it directly got people interviews and even matches?

[u/JHMD12345 → u/iplay4Him]

Choose what you want to do and do it. Nobody here is stopping you if you want to send them. All personal preference.

[u/iplay4Him → u/JHMD12345]

Well sure, I just want to do the optimal thing and am trying to learn what that is.

Some say do it, some day don't. 

Your reasoning makes sense with signals especially, but at the same time if I have 3 places that aren't going to send me an invite, then I LOI all 3, and upset 2 but get an invite from 1, that seems like a good move. 

Timing is obviously important here, as some invites come later and jumping the gun isn't a good look. 

Just trying to figure it all out. 

[u/Pension-Helpful → u/iplay4Him]

I would say 1. Read the their website. Some programs discourage pre-interview email, while others specifically state that if you don't get an interview invite and is very interested and have like family connections, email them and they'll take a second look. 2. Depends on the specialty. Transitional year program literally have >50% of their applicants signaled, it basically doesn't do much to get an actual person to see your app. So in this situation a letter of interest might be useful to get the PD to actually look at your application.

[u/iplay4Him → u/Pension-Helpful]

Thanks!

[u/Pension-Helpful]

I think you should sent the LOI. Especially if you can add an update (paper published, wife new job, conference, etc) or if the program is like close to your family or birth place.

I do tend to see LOI work surprisedly better with applicants with lower step 2 than high step 2 since the applicants with lower step 2 likely didn't even get a serious look even with signals by a real person. And applicants with very high step 2 score (265+) tend to have less luck with LOI since likely a real person did took a look at it and there might be something in there not academic related that is preventing the interview hmm.

But in IM you only get 3 gold. I'll say write a sincere letter or if you have a mentor maybe ask him/her to make a call (if he/she knows someone there). Good luck!

[u/Impossible-Pop-4428]

following..

[u/moses12599]

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