The Contents of a Letter of Intent
A letter of intent can have many purposes. It can indicate a new hire's intention to sign her contract at an upcoming meeting; it can provide proof that an athlete intends to sign with a school or sports team; or it can describe a student's plan in graduate school for an admissions committee. All letters of intent have a few common elements.
Other People Are Reading
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States Intention
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A letter of intent clearly states what the writer plans to do, whether it is to attend a particular school or to accept an employment position. The role of the letter of intent is to secure evidence that the sender plans to sign the legal contract. Despite the fact that these letters are written before a formal contract is signed, they are usually considered legally binding unless they state otherwise.
Describes the Plan
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In the case of an academic letter of intent, the details of the plan are the most important aspect of the letter. The admissions board will want to know what the potential student plans to do in his academic career and after the degree is earned. These details are important in the assessment of the suitability of the student for the program. Career goals aren't as important for an athletic or career letter of intent, and they may be omitted unless the recipient organization requests that you include them.
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Verifies Details
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Every letter of intent should list the pre-contract details, if any are given. This protects the sender from being bound to sign a contract that does not reflect the initial agreement, In addition, it allows both parties to clarify their understanding of the agreement and to correct any details before the contract is written and signed, which prevents expensive delays and misunderstandings.
Letter Format
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A letter of intent should always be in letter format. This includes a letterhead or inside address, the full date, the address of the recipient, a salutation, the body of the letter, a closing statement, and a signature. Formatting these elements properly will make the letter appear professional and attractive, which in turn adds credibility for the writer. A poorly written letter might even cause the receiving organization to cancel a contract or change the terms, so it is important to be thorough and to format and proofread carefully.
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