What Reviewers Look For in the Medical School — Letter of Intent or Interest
This rubric evaluates whether your letter gives a specific, personal reason for wanting to attend the school and states your interest or commitment honestly. It also checks that the letter is clear, organized, professional, supported by what you actually describe, and complete for any school instructions you provide.
Medical School — Letter of Intent or Interest review
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What We Check
Whether the letter connects a stated feature of the school to an applicant's reason for wanting to attend.
Whether the letter states a consistent level of interest or commitment without promising more than its own account supports.
Mistakes We Flag
- Generic praise instead of a personal reason
- Saying a school has an excellent curriculum or renowned faculty does not explain what you would use or why it matters to you.
- Listing offerings without connecting them to you
- Naming several courses, clinics, or groups is less useful when the letter never connects them to your needs, interests, or plans.
- Making a promise that conflicts with your conditions
- Do not say you will definitely enroll if you also describe an unresolved factor that could change your decision.
- Calling it a letter of intent without stating the intent
- If you use the label “letter of intent,” clearly say what you intend to do.
- Asking for admission in exchange for your interest
- A declaration of interest should not demand a guaranteed offer or suggest that repeated contact earns admission.
How this rubric reads your essay
- Built from published reader guidance — the sources are listed below.
- Scored per section against defined criteria, not general impressions.
- Calibrated for consistent scoring, so a better draft shows up in the score.
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a letter of interest and a letter of intent?
A letter of interest expresses sincere interest in attending and does not need to promise enrollment. A letter of intent expresses a real commitment to attend if admitted.
Do I need to include an update?
No. A factual update can accompany the letter, but it is optional. A pure expression of interest does not need to invent an update.
Do I need to mention my interview?
No. The letter can be sent before or after an interview, or while waitlisted, and it does not require a remembered interview.
Is there a standard length limit?
No universal minimum or maximum is established here. If you provide a school’s word or character limit with your draft, that limit governs the writing.
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