How To: Letters of Interest

There's some skepticism about whether letters of interest will be effective in the presence of signals, but for those who are thinking about writing them, here's some guidance :)

First, a few don'ts: - Don't write a super long letter of interest. It should be brief (\~300 words max). - Don’t copy/paste words/phrases from the program’s mission statement (or anything else directly from their website). - Don’t spend the whole letter repeating your CV/accomplishments.

Now, here are some tips: - Write with a friendly yet professional tone. - Choose about 3-4 aspects of the program that you love AND that connect with some concrete part of your background. For example:

Is the program known for its community work AND you have a volunteer-heavy CV/background? Point that out.

Does the program have interesting curriculum/electives that align with your background/concrete goals? Let them know!

Is a faculty member engaged in research that is relevant to something you’ve worked on? Have their graduates gone on to do things that you have been working toward in some way?

Essentially, these letters are best when you *connect* an aspect of the program with an experience from your CV/background. You can also emphasize a geographic connection like having family in the area or having spent time in the area.

Aim for 4 paragraphs:

Opening – Introduce yourself and express your interest; if you signaled, let them know that.

Body – Connect aspect of program with your background (One of the primary reasons for my signal is your…which aligns with my…”

Body – Connect aspect of program with your background (Besides ABC, I also love that University ABC offers…which I find valuable given my….

Closing – Thank them, reiterate interest and desire for interview.

Hope this helps, happy to answer questions! - Tiffany