A medical school letter of intent is a notice to an institution explicitly stating one’s continued interest in the school. An applicant might write a letter of intent after interviewing or in response to a waitlist notification. Why write a letter of intent? Medical school admissions have become increasingly competitive of late – especially in this weaker economy. Competitive applicants who would have considered business or law school are now recognizing the stability of a medical career. The bottom line: The number of medical school applications has again increased this year.

Here are some tips for writing a noteworthy letter of intent:

1.Keep it brief. Do not write more than one page.

2.Write in a formal style with proper syntax, format, organization, grammar and spelling.

3.Focus on your fit with the institution, rather than using bland platitudes about the school. Be specific about what you saw and liked during your interview day.

4.Reiterate what makes you a distinctive candidate. Highlight your accomplishments to distinguish yourself. This section will be the most important part of the letter.

5.Be explicit about your enthusiasm. If the school is your first choice say so. If not, you should still make clear your zeal. (Remember: The institution may yet be your first choices if it turns out you have no other options!)

Finally, consider working with a professional medical school admissions consultant who can substantially improve your letter of intent. Medical school admissions consulting companies come in a variety of forms. Some are bigger businesses that focus on admissions to several types of graduate programs – not just medicine. Others are smaller and provide a medical focus, but have a pool of consultants of varying quality. Finally, elite companies offer both the medical focus and a highly experienced consultant who works one-on-one with clients. These professionals are ex-admissions officers from highly respected medical institutions. They have the inside knowledge of how medical admissions work, providing individualized guidance to optimize applicants’ personal statements, medical school application and interview skills.

When choosing a medical school admissions consulting company, a candidate should verify the company’s references and research its consultants. It is best if the company does not assign written materials to outside editors who cannot be evaluated. Elite companies that offer both the medical focus and a highly experienced consultant who works one-on-one with clients offer a large advantage for pre-medical applicants, especially during these competitive times.