What Reviewers Look For in the Residency — Post-Interview Letter of Intent or Interest
This rubric reviews whether your letter gives a specific, interview-informed reason for your interest in that program, states your interest honestly, and includes only meaningful updates since the interview. It also checks that the letter follows any program or specialty communication instructions you provide and remains clear, direct, and complete.
What We Check
Whether the letter joins at least one specific feature of this program to something the applicant would do with it, and says where the applicant learned about that feature.
Whether the letter states the applicant's own interest in this program at a strength the rest of the letter supports, and asks the program nothing about its ranking.
Whether anything the letter presents as new is a concrete, dated fact the program does not already hold.
Whether the letter follows the post-interview instruction of its program or specialty when that instruction is submitted with the draft.
Mistakes We Flag
- Generic praise instead of a program-specific reason
- Broad statements about reputation, faculty, or culture do not show what you learned about this particular program. Name a specific feature, say where you learned about it, and explain what you would do with it.
- A program or person name does not match the addressee
- Naming another program, hospital, or program director can make the letter look misdirected. Check all names against the person and program you are contacting.
- Asking about the program's rank list
- Do not ask where you stand, whether you are likely to match, or how the program plans to rank you. Keep the letter focused on your own interest.
- Calling an intention an update
- A planned rotation, submission, or future event is not the same as a completed or current update. If you include an update, make it concrete and place it clearly after your application or interview.
- Ignoring a communication instruction
- Programs and specialties may set their own post-interview preferences, including asking applicants not to send letters. Follow the current instruction from the program or specialty; the rubric does not decide whether you should send the letter.
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
Do I have to say I will rank the program first?
No. You may state interest without discussing ranking preferences. If you do state a position, it should be honest, clear, and consistent with the rest of the letter.
Do I need to include a new update?
No. A letter can be complete without an update. If you include one, use a concrete fact such as a released exam result, accepted or published paper, completed rotation, award, new role, or resolved issue.
What should I say about why I want the program?
Connect a specific feature of the program to what you would do or learn there, and say where you learned about that feature. Interview day, a conversation, a virtual session, a rotation, a second look, and program materials can all provide that context.
Is there a required length?
No word, character, or page limit is provided here. If the program gives you a numeric limit, that limit governs; otherwise, aim for a brief, direct letter without repeating the same point.
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