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Needforspeed Posted 21 years ago
Letter Writing

Help with format - writing to university admission director

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and I have a few questions about writing a letter to the Director of International Admissions of the University of Chicago.

I have already applied to the University of Chicago for undergraduate admission one month ago, and I want to write a follow-up letter to the admission director to express my enthusiasm towards attending Chicago. However I do not want to write a letter of motivation since I already have written an essay with similar topic (why Chicago essay) on my application. I am planning to write in a personal and informal tone, kind of like my personal response essay on the application (hence in a narrative form). So here are my questions:

In what format should I write? Business or friendly? (i.e. with or without address heading)

How should I start the letter? By stating my intentions?
(i.e. I am writing concerning my applying to Chicago.)
Or starting with a “hook”?
(i.e. My mom is a master photographer in the conventional sense.)

Chicago is known for its unique and unusual essay topics on their application, and I am looking forward to writing something that is not bound by conventional letter writing rules; it is very hard to start this letter since it can potentially result in a great essay instead of a great letter. So I am hoping you can give me some ideas on how to start this letter and its tone.

Thank you.

Tony
  

Top answer

I admire your enthusiasm, Tony, but I can only recommend against a 'follow-up' letter containing any kind of further personal expressions. The University of Chicago Admissions office is a large, bureaucratic, and busy place, and there will be no recipient to be affected by your unconventional or emotional outpouring. Have you received notice of their receipt of your application, perhaps on a standardized postcard?

  • I admire your enthusiasm, Tony, but I can only recommend against a 'follow-up' letter containing any kind of further personal expressions.
  • The University of Chicago Admissions office is a large, bureaucratic, and busy place, and there will be no recipient to be affected by your unconventional or emotional outpouring.
  • Have you received notice of their receipt of your application, perhaps on a standardized postcard?
  • If so, then one month is too early to enquire about the status of your application.
  • If you have not heard back at all yet, or otherwise in about three months, you may write a two- or three-sentence enquiry in a conventional, objective style, simply stating your name and the date of your application, and asking for information on its status.
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1 Answers
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I admire your enthusiasm, Tony, but I can only recommend against a 'follow-up' letter containing any kind of further personal expressions. The University of Chicago Admissions office is a large, bureaucratic, and busy place, and there will be no recipient to be affected by your unconventional or emotional outpouring.

Have you received notice of their receipt of your application, perhaps

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