Letter of Interest Tips
Written by Clarissa Jordan, MD
Having gone through the process two years ago, I'm passionate about helping others in the match and wanted to share what I learned in the hopes that it might be useful. First, a couple of disclaimers: these are my personal opinions and experiences regarding the match and may not be representative of all participants. The views expressed herein are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer.
Let’s say interview season is chugging along, and a program you are very interested in has not yet responded to your application. Is there anything you can do to increase your chances of getting an interview? While it’s not guaranteed to work, sending a letter of interest to a program can increase your chances of them extending an interview to you. In this post, we’ll discuss how to do just that.
Important note: It’s absolutely crucial to achieve a balance here! No program wants to see a letter of interest from an applicant a week after ERAS opens! Use your best judgment here.
A good letter of interest should come in three parts:
Open your email by introducing yourself as a candidate in the match, and state that you haven’t yet received an interview, but want to express your sincere interest in their program. Include any other relevant information in this section, such as your medical school.
The next bit is the most important — you need to explain exactly why you are interested in this program. Many candidates would love to have an interview from this program, so to make your email stand out, you must make this part as specific as you can. For example, draw on your past experiences and elements of your application and use them to demonstrate that you would be a good fit for their residency program, e.g. …given my background as an emergency medical technician, I am especially interested in your robust EMS program. This is also where you should include any other relevant information, such as family or other geographic ties to the area.
Be careful to not rehash your application, or spend too much time describing aspects of the program that you like (remember, they know their own curriculum, and don’t need you to regurgitate it back to them!). Your email doesn’t (and definitely shouldn’t) be very long; program directors get a ton of emails during interview season, so it’s best to convey your message clearly and concisely.
The final part of your email should express appreciation for the program director’s time. For instance, you could say something to the effect of: I appreciate you taking the time to read this message. I hope I may have the opportunity to interview at your institution; thank you for your consideration! However you choose to end your email, be succinct and courteous.
I would recommend sending the letter of interest to both the program director, as well as the program coordinator(s). And don’t expect a reply back: again, program directors are very busy during this time of year, and may not have the bandwidth to reply to you. Keep in mind that sending a letter of interest does NOT guarantee that a program will grant you an interview! In my experience, I did receive an interview after sending a letter of interest, but I knew of classmates who did not. If you haven’t received an interview, a letter of interest is simply a way to try to get program directors to take a second look at your application. Whatever happens, it’s worth a shot!
As always, good luck in the match!
