PGP Fundamentals: Letter of Intent

<p>This episode is all about letters of intent and how to develop one that will standout. </p><p>Questions we discuss:</p><ol><li>What is a letter of intent? How is it different from a cover letter or personal statement?</li><li>What content should be included in a letter of intent?</li><li>How can you be specific and avoid being generic in a letter of intent?</li><li>What is "fluff" and how to avoid it?</li><li>What other things should I consider for my letter of intent?</li></ol><br/><p>This episode's take-aways:</p><ol><li>LOI is a short document that allows you to voice your career goals, experience and leadership that make you a fit for a residency program and also how the program can benefit you</li><li>Content of LOI should be specific and should include: what interests you in the program, how the program can benefit you, how you can benefit the program</li><li>LOI should be specific to each individual program</li><li>Fluff = generic traits a lot of applicants have (hard worker, manage time) - skills you think a resident should have that you just compile a list</li><li>To avoid "fluff" - provide specific examples as follow-ups when describing your attributes, skills or experience</li><li>Make sure you LOI showcases that you have done a great deal of self-reflection (about your experiences and skills and capabilities you gained from them) - this is important during residency training</li><li>Read other examples and use your resources (mentors, preceptors, professional organizations [<a href="https://www.accp.com/stunet/loi.aspx " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ACCP</a>, <a href="https://www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/new-practitioner/docs/writing-a-letter-of-intent.ashx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ASHP</a>], books, etc.)</li><li>Make sure your LOI aligns with your CV and other pieces of your application</li><li>Develop a checklist of things you want to clearly articulate</li><li>Don't write it in one sitting</li><li>Have others read and double check your LOI</li><li>Address it to the