Letter of Intent for Medical School: Example & Guide
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Getting into medical school isn’t as easy as curing a common cold. However, there’s a way to boost your chances of soon putting on a white apron. Prescription? Writing an outstanding letter of intent for medical school!
Explaining to your future faculty why you’d be a fine addition to their school can work magic. And we’re here to teach you how to create a perfect medical school letter of intent! Shall we?
This guide will show you:
- A letter of intent for medical school example better than 9 out of 10 others.
- Medical school letter of intent tips that let you plug in your core strengths.
- The work plan for how to write a letter of intent for medical school.
Want to make your congratulations letter look great? Pick one of our cover letter templates and just fill it out with the congratulations message. We’ll take care of the formatting.
Our cover letter builder can create all types of business correspondence—including a job acceptance letter. Just choose one of the cover letter templates and adapt it to your needs.
Sample Letter of Intent for Medical School made with our builder—
Here are some guides you might also find interesting:
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- Medical Resident CV
- Medical Assistant Cover Letter
- Medical Cover Letter Example
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- Cover Letter Examples
Now, let’s see how to write a letter of intent for medical school!
Letter of Intent for Medical School Example
Emma Garfield
1342 Clinton Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
534-834-8836
emmagarfield@gmail.com
May 1, 2023
Diane Acaster
Director of Admissions
Hippocrates NY Medical School
432 Fleet Road.
New York City, NY 10001
Dear Mrs. Acaster,
My name is Emma Garfield, and I have applied to Hippocrates NY Medical School. After my interview that took place on October 2, 2022, with Mr Kevin Flint, I would like to communicate officially that your institution is a medical school of my first choice. Speaking with Mr. Flint and learning more about your facilities and opportunities ahead of your students, I realized that your school exceeds all my expectations. I am certain that Hippocrates NY Medical School is where I want to study and explore medical practices.
Visiting your grounds and seeing the equipment your students learn on, attending a seminar led by Professor Huyang, speaking with Mr Flint, and finally learning more about your institution have made it very clear that your medical school is what I have always imagined a medical school should look like. Many other schools I have visited in the state of New York didn’t seem to match Hippocrates NY Medical School. Yours exceeded all my expectations.
In the past two months, I have collaborated with your school as a volunteer during a CPR Evening in my alma mater, Lincoln’s High School in Plattsburgh. It was one of the milestones in the process of realizing that this is exactly what I want to do with my life. During my interview with Mr Flint, I also mentioned how I would love to go to developing countries and provide them with medical support. He expressed that there’s a huge chance of programs that include those opportunities. I have written two publications for MedicineNews.com in the last two months regarding US-schooled medics providing help in Africa. Please find the PDF files of both of them attached.
I am committed to my decision regarding starting my medical education at Hippocrates NY Medical School. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope we’ll soon meet in person during my first day at your school.
Sincerely,
Emma Garfield
534-834-8836
emmagarfield@gmail.com
That’s a perfect medical school letter of intent example!
Pro tip: To boost your chances of getting into a medical school, a perfect letter of intent might be accompanied by just as perfect medical student CV.
What Is a Letter of Intent for a Medical School?
A letter of intent for a medical school is a document that says you are willing to study in that particular school and that you will accept an admissions offer if you get one. You should send it to the school of your first choice, as it clearly states that you’re interested in that very school.
A letter of intent for medical school is usually sent at the end of the interview season. It’s basically how you tell the medical school that you choose them above any other institution.
What Is The Difference Between a Letter of Intent and a Letter of Interest for a Medical School?
The difference between these two documents is like considering becoming a doctor or a lawyer when you’re twelve years old and dedicating your entire education to pursuing a career in the medical field.
- A letter of intent for a medical school is sent to the one and only school you want to study in. You are committed you want to join this very school.
- A letter of interest for a medical school is sent to all the schools you are considering studying in. You demonstrate your general interest in joining this school but don’t limit yourself only to it.
It’s that simple.
Now, since you know the difference and have probably chosen this one and only university, let’s move on to how to write an intent letter for a medical school.
Want to learn the difference between a letter of interest and a cover letter? Visit our guide: Letter of Interest vs Cover Letter
How to Write a Letter of Intent for Medical Schools
1. Select the Best Template for Your Medical School Letter of Intent
To recommend a good treatment, you will explain to your patients that they need to follow some basic steps to cure their disease. Following some steps is also precisely how you will create an impressive medical school letter of intent:
Letter of Intent for a Medical School—Checklist
1. Your contact information.
2. The school’s contact information.
3. Dear ZYX (Dean of Admissions or Director of Admissions name). Avoid “To whom it may concern”, as you can come across as lazy for not even bothering to find out what’s the addressee’s name.
4. Paragraph #1: an introduction + gratitude for considering your candidacy
5. Paragraph #2: your key skills + why you’d make a great student
6. Paragraph #3: your passion + why you want to study at this specific medical school
7. Salutation + your name
To succeed, you might want to boost the readability of your intent letter. Follow these simple formatting steps and make your document as reader-friendly as possible!
- Make it short. A page with 3 to 4 paragraphs will be enough to prove you’re the right fit for the school.
- Mind the intent letter line spacing and margins. That’s 1.15 points for line spacing and 1-inch margins on each edge of your document.
- Add double spacing between sections. It helps the reader breeze through your document.
- Select a proper intent letter font. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Times New Roman, Arial, or Georgia.
- Choose a modern intent letter template. It shows your attention to detail, which is a valuable quality for a student and any medical specialist.
So you’ve got your general plan ready. Now it’s time to work it! Let’s start writing your med school letter of intent.
How should you format your letter of intent? The same way you’d format a cover letter. To learn more, visit our guide: How to Format a Cover Letter
2. Begin Your Letter of Intent for a Medical School Straightforwardly
Did you know that in 2022–2023, only 41% of medical school applicants were accepted? It’s less than a half. And if you want to be among those lucky soon-to-be medics, you must take all the chances you get. One of them is to have a neat beginning for your document.
How to start a letter of intent for a medical school?
- Form a professional header area. It should consist of your name, address, phone number, and email address.
- Include the date of creating a letter and your addressee’s address.
- Add a personal greeting and engage with them from the very beginning.
- Mention the interview date and the name of your interviewer. Adding some compliments here won’t hurt; some ego-boosting is never bad.
- Write that you’ve decided their institution is your top choice, and should they offer you a place among their students, you'd gladly agree. Showing your excitement and adding some compliments here won’t hurt; some ego-boosting is never bad.
Let’s see some examples:
Letter of Intent for Medical School Example [First Paragraph]
| Right Example |
|---|
Emma Garfield 1342 Clinton Street Plattsburgh, NY 12901 May 1, 2023 Diane Acaster Director of Admissions Hippocrates NY Medical School 432 Fleet Road. New York City, NY 10001 Dear Mrs. Acaster, My name is Emma Garfield, and I have applied to Hippocrates NY Medical School. After my interview that took place on October 2, 2022, with Mr. Kevin Flint, I would like to communicate officially that your institution is a medical school of my first choice. This is my letter of intent that I will accept the offer given to me by Hippocrates NY Medical School. Speaking with Mr. Flint and learning more about your facilities and opportunities ahead of your students, I realized that your school exceeds all my expectations. I am certain that Hippocrates NY Medical School is where I want to study and explore medical practices. |
| Wrong Example |
|---|
Dear Mrs. Acaster, I am writing to express my interest in studying at your university. I think it’s a great match for a passionate, devoted and goal-oriented person, such as myself. I would love to start my medical education at your institution. This is my letter of intent. |
The first example is very specific: the author writes to Hippocrates NY Medical School, mentions the date of the interview, and the interviewer's name. She’s clearly making this med school letter of intent very personalized. There are some compliments, and a clear statement, and it’s definitely not a copy-paste kind of letter.
The second example can honestly be written to all the medical schools in the USA. It’s missing a header, so the reader won’t find out who the author is before reading the document, which is never a good way to do it.
The first step is taken. Now let’s move forward and tell them why they are the one!
Want to learn more about what letter can you write right after your graduation hat goes up in the air? Read our guide: Graduation Cover Letter
3. Create an Ideal Middle for Your Med School Letter of Intent
Did you know that there are currently 172 medical schools in the USA? That’s quite a few to choose from! So why have you chosen this one over the other 171 institutions? Explaining it can be beneficial, as it shows your appreciation towards it. And it’s a great place to show how passionate about this opportunity you are!
Also, writing it will be super easy if you’re convinced you want to get into this very school. And you should be!
How to explain your choice in a medical school intent letter?
- Express your interest. Talking about this particular institution in glowing terms won’t do any harm, and this is a place to do it!
- Avoid any vague language. This will only make them feel like it’s a copy-paste from another letter of intent and that you’ve already sent a few.
- Go back to your interview and mention what you’ve learned, what you’ve noticed about the school, and why you think it’s a great choice for you. Think about research opportunities, study programs, professors, facilities, the chance of residency in a hospital, etc.
Let’s see some examples:
Medical School Letter of Intent Example [Middle]
| Right Example |
|---|
| Visiting your grounds and seeing the equipment your students learn on, attending a seminar led by Professor Huyang, speaking with Mr Flint, and finally learning more about your institution have made it very clear that your medical school is what I have always imagined a medical school should look like. Many other schools I have visited in the state of New York didn’t seem to match Hippocrates NY Medical School. Yours exceeded all my expectations. |
| Wrong Example |
|---|
| I think your university will provide me with amazing opportunities, as I am a hard-working and focused person. The list of your lecturers is extremely impressive, and I am looking forward to being inspired and taught by them. I’ve also met a couple of students, and they all expressed how great it is to study at your school. |
The first example leaves no doubt: this person has done the research and knows a lot about the chosen school. What is written in this letter of intent is not vague at all.
The second example? Can’t be more vague than that!
Now that you’ve got the perfect middle of your letter of intent, it’s time to finish it spectacularly!
4. Conclude Your Letter of Intent for a Medical School Perfectly
The treatment is almost done, and you’re nearly cured of not knowing how to compose an amazing letter of intent! Yay!
But there’s one last thing before you double-check it and send it, you must do. It’s learning how to end a letter. It’s time to talk more about yourself and get remembered by the Dean or the Director of Admissions.
How to finish a letter of intent for medical school?
- Talk about your relevant achievements that can impress your readers.
- Mention your soft and hard skills that might be useful when studying in the chosen institution.
- Include your volunteer work experience, if you’ve done any in the past. It’s just something every recruiter loves to see, especially if it’s relevant to the institution you’re applying to.
- Add some information about relevant coursework, as it proves you can be an ambitious and hard-working future student!
- Write a proper salutation and a sign-off. No letter should end without it!
Let’s see some good and bad examples of how you can finish your letter of intent for a medical school:
Letter of Intent for Med School Examples [Ending]
| Right Example |
|---|
In the past two months, I have collaborated with your school as a volunteer during a CPR Evening in my alma mater, Lincoln’s High School in Plattsburgh. It was one of the milestones in the process of realizing that this is exactly what I want to do with my life. During my interview with Mr Flint I also mentioned how I would love to go to developing countries and provide them with medical support. He expressed that there’s a huge chance of programs that include those opportunities. I have written two publications for MedicineNews.com in the last two months regarding US-schooled medics providing help in Africa. Please find the PDF files of both of them attached. Sincerely, Emma Garfield 534-834-8836 |
| Wrong Example |
|---|
I appreciate your time. Thank you for considering my candidacy at your school. I look forward to hearing from you. Emma |
Achievements, skills, relevant activities, and a proper sign-off. The first example has it all!
The second one? They might not be considering the author to be a serious candidate anymore.
And there you have it! A complete lesson on how to write a perfect letter of intent for a medical school. Perhaps it’s easier than any lesson you’re about to take in the school of your dreams!
Is there a big difference between a letter of intent and a classic cover letter? Read our guide and find out: Letter of Intent vs Cover Letter
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Key Takeaway
A complete lesson on how to write a perfect letter of intent for a medical school is behind you. Ahead? Probably a bit more difficult lessons to take in the medical school of your dreams!
Let’s have a quick recap on how you can start creating your own medical letter of intent:
- Choose the best template for your letter of intent for med school and format it properly to boost the readability and, therefore, your chances of succeeding.
- Emphasize that this document is a medical school letter of intent in the first paragraph to make your readers fully aware that they are your number one choice.
- Make it personal by writing about this specific institution and avoiding having any generic sentences that can apply to any other medical school.
- Write about your skills, achievements, volunteer work, and relevant coursework, even if you've mentioned it already during an interview.
Now you’re ready to operate with this guide and deliver a perfect letter of intent for a medical school. Good luck!
Would you like to talk more about writing a letter of intent or a letter of interest for a medical school? Reach out to us in the comment section below!
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