Letters of Interest – ADITI.LIFE

Letters of Interest/Intent a.k.a Love Letters

Hello! So you have submitted your ERAS application.

Congratulations.

You are probably on your tip toes like I was 6 months back. Compulsive email checking and wondering when would be the right time to go into panic mode. I submitted my applications by October 21st,2021. which was the deadline for us. (when programs would start reviewing applications.)

I was the pandemic batch to apply. Two of my interviews came within 5 days. The rest came over the next three months. I kept wondering when was a good time to send letters of interest.

Retrospectively I would say, send them after a week. I waited until November 20th and took a break in decmeber when giving interviews and finished on January 15. By that time, many programs had already filled their slots.

[ To assume, that each program will holistically review your application is laughable at this point cause they get around 100 applications or more per residency spot. :/ Also, filters are always in place.

> Not being ECFMG certified (got certified by Feb 23rd when you are supposed to submit rank list, major draw back. still matched though.)
> Not having any in person US clinical experience- embassy was closed. no visa. no green card. I was already being filtered out I assumed at many places.
>No step 3, either. It is correctly said programs prefer IMG candidates with step 3.

Letters of Interest was one way I could use to try that they at least would review my application.

Now that you are looking at the list of your favourite programs. All you have to do is tell your program why you are so excited about their program and why you would be a good fit or and excellent candidate. You may also give updates about something new you are doing, if you weren't able to mention it in your application. While this seems easy, for you to have a genuine letter for every program that you do send the letter to, a decent amount of research and thinking is needed.
While searching for letters of interest I could not find a single sample. So surprising. And many of my peers who sent LOI did not have a very positive response. I was fortunate to have a good response. So, I thought I would share my sample:

Dear Dr. Program Director and Mr./Ms. Coordinator,

Note- The ERAS normally gave out emails of the coordinator or a generic residency email. But I would recommend that you find the PD’s email and send them directly.

I have applied to the psychiatry residency program at University of XYZ and wanted to share some reasons why I was excited to do so.

· Appreciate a project that they are doing. Maybe some really famous community initiative they did or a lab that they have or a unique research they are doing.

· Comment on the patient population and demographics. Did you want a diverse population? Or multiple settings? VA heavy residency. What clicked for you?

· Comment on research opportunities. Comment on emphasis on Addiction or Gastro fellowship. Whatever makes you excited for this program.

· The balanced training we get in both psychotherapeutic and pharmacological aspects of psychiatry while keeping in mind, the socio-cultural context and the neuroscientific advances (one of the lines I used. )

· Any family ties to the area. Also mention why you like that city in particular. Mention any interaction to the residents or faculty that you may have met in open houses, conferences, or even social media sites. If you have worked with someone- that would obviously be awesome.

For IMGS, mention any info you want about certification, Step 3, pathway approval etc.

WHY you are an excellent applicant- Eagerness to learn and grow, combined with a readiness to face challenges that come with growth and high regard for patient welfare and satisfaction, are qualities that set me apart.

My updates,

What do you want to tell about yourself. Something new

· Research and Marketing Intern with BuddiesSpace. It is a Telepsychiatry Start-up, which focuses on preventing physician burnout

· My paper on BLS Awareness has been accepted.

· I also completed a Breath Body Mind workshop by Dr Patricia Gerabag and Dr Richard Brown, psychiatrists in New York, which focuses on Integrative psychiatry.

· I have started preparing for Step 3 and intend to give it by March.

I would be thrilled to interview at your program!! Thank you for taking the time to read this email.

Name

This template worked for me. One key thing I realized, especially in psychiatry is to make a genuine connection. Don't say words that sound like a tape recorder. Converse in a way that you are in fact talking to not a program director, but another human being at the other end of the spectrum.