~200 views and not a single person has thought about this also?

Lets say you haven't heard anything from a program that sent out initial interview invites a while ago, is it appropriate to send someone there a quick letter to express your continued interest? Obviously I'm interested since I applied but what if it is program that I have a specific interest in and wish to convey that? Some of my friends applying for other specialties seem to have had success with these LOI's so I'm just curious if anyone applying to ortho has done it and whether it worked.

so I asked a similar question to this with regard to handling a rejection/wait list and here's what people told me...

Straight up rejection --> LOI likely will be wasted time

Wait list --> Dr L responded to this and said ", if the program has a "wait list" and you send a note or email and have an attending call or write on your behalf that could put you potentially higher on the list (of course assuming that you're already a competitive applicant)." As such, in my mind if it is a place that you want to go, then it's a good idea. If you're just trying to get more interviews but you don't want to go there it might not be the best idea.

One of the other guys, who's a resident now i think said "One of my strategies to get interviews was if I did not receive a notice of rejection or acceptance from a program that was going to have an interview in a week or two..if I really was interested in the program, i would send an email to the program director, and residency coordinator expressing my interest, especially since I had heard that others were granted interviews. "

So, bottom line, if you really want to go to school X, and they have offered interviews and you are on the wait list/haven't been rejected, i probably won't hurt you. If it's your dream to go to school X, I would definitely do it and have an attending/program director/chairman call on your behalf.

I wouldn't, however, do it to programs that you randomly shotgun applied to and otherwise wouldnt' have been upset if they had straight up rejected you..cause they're gonna ask why you want that program so bad...

just my 2 cents

TCBO1

I sent out a couple "Hey I'm still out here and interested in your program" letters to places that had both interviewed and +/- rejected, but from which I had heard nothing.

I sent one an email, they called me back next day. I had conflict with interview opening they had, so went on waitlist. Interview slot opened up on one of their later days, I think I had about a week's notice.

I'm there now.

I have sent out at least a dozen emails to programs I am highly interested in, but due to regional bias, didn't feel I would have a shot at interviewing at since I couldn't rotate there or get a LoR.

I have only gotten rejections from these places, or have been passed over for their initial round of invites (according to the invite thread)

So, I don't think it HURTS, but I'm not sure how much it helps if you are not really competetive there to begin with. Of the interviews i DO have, I sent out no emails to those places.