In many cases, a student will want to draft a letter of intent when placed on a dental school’s waitlist. The letter expresses to the admissions department that this is their top choice and will attend if admitted.

A letter of intent is often sent around a month after an interview with a school, either after being placed on the waitlist or if they didn’t receive a reply. A second letter may be sent if more than two months have passed and the applicant has important updates to share.

It’s common practice for a letter of intent to be sent to a single school, so the candidate should wait until they have received all acceptance or waitlist notifications before making their decision.

Dentistry schools have a competitive admissions process, and a letter of intent allows applicants to distinguish themselves from the crowd. The contents of a well-written letter generally include the following:

• Commitment. The letter’s primary purpose is to demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to attending the school if admitted. The letter should clearly state that this is the student’s top choice.
• Gratitude. The student should take the opportunity to demonstrate their appreciation for being interviewed and for the reader’s time and consideration.
• Achievements and updates. Since the letter is often sent after the initial application, the prospective student should inform the school of any recent accomplishments, upcoming plans, and other relevant updates that may help their case.
• Contributions. The applicant should explain to the reader what they will bring to the school. This could be an intention to be involved in the student body or other initiatives.
• Interest. The applicant may wish to reiterate why the program fits the candidate and demonstrate a clear interest in that particular school.