How to Write a Letter of Intent for Nursing and NP Schools
Introduction
- Purpose: To outline how to write a compelling letter of intent ("why do you want to go here") for nursing, NP, or any school admission.
- Presenter: Liz, a Family Nurse Practitioner with experience in writing and reviewing these letters.
- Objective: Make letter writing less daunting and more engaging.
Key Components of a Letter of Intent
- Core Questions:
- Why do you want to pursue this field?
- Why this particular program?
- Why should they choose you?
- Bonus: Additional questions that may be included by the school.
Preparing to Write
Step 1: Research
- Objective: Understand the school's perspective to present yourself as the ideal candidate.
- Analogy: Treat it like a date where you want to impress by understanding what they value.
- Research Process:
- Visit the school's website and navigate to the nursing school page.
- Locate the 'About' section to gather basic information about the program.
- Identify the structure of the program (online, hybrid, etc.) and its details such as duration and semesters.
Step 2: Deep Dive
- Find the Nursing School Handbook and focus on the 'Mission Statement and Values'.
- Action: Write down the school's mission and values to align your letter accordingly.
Crafting Your Responses
Why This Field?
- Reflect on personal motivations and align them with the school's mission and values.
- Use genuine experiences and strengths.
- Example: Identify aspects of their mission statement that resonate with your reasons for choosing this field.
Why This School?
- Use insights from preliminary research to justify your choice.
- Highlight program structures that suit your learning style (e.g., hybrid format).
- Reference mission statement keywords that align with your goals.
Why You?
- Highlight achievements and experiences that make you stand out.
- List skills and experiences relevant to their values (e.g., leadership roles, committee involvement).
- Tip: Be genuine and emphasize unique skills and experiences.
Final Tips
- Be Genuine: Avoid lying or exaggerating.
- Timing: Start early; aim to finish at least a week before the deadline.
- Review: Let others read your draft for feedback.
Additional Resources
- Liz offers additional content on interviewing and other application processes.
- Engagement: Subscribe for more videos and follow on Instagram for daily insights and resources.
Call to Action
- Engage with the audience by sharing experiences or asking questions.
Note: This guide is based on advice from Liz's video and may contain personal anecdotes that offer real-life context to the tips provided.