A guide to writing a love letter

Photo by Álvaro Serrano on Unsplash

According to ivywise (an education consultancy), in 2019, Harvard University received a whopping 43,330 applications for different programs it offers. Only 4.49% were admitted. A high GPA is a default expectation. Like most universities, a stellar SOP to convince the admission committee is also imperative.

An SOP is not a document for self-glorification. It should communicate to the review board you have the personality to join their fraternity and make valuable contributions. A stellar SOP is not about making a wordy document, but it is communication in a language familiar to the review board.

A commonality between blue-blooded institutes and a person you are trying to pursue: high probability of rejection. Sometimes, despite having the required credentials, because of a poorly crafted SOP/ love letter, the message isn’t conveyed in a convincing manner.

Below are some of the steps that can be followed to give a shot at writing an SOP (love letter) to someone you like.

1. Identify the person’s love language. As with universities, an interview (first date)will be scheduled only if the person recognizes the language and is convinced. (Best not to seek advice from previous applicants). Make the effort to do the groundwork to accurately discover the language.
2. Break down the language to recognize the theme. Let’s say the person likes cartoons. This shouldn’t be mistaken for an opportunity to pull out a Mickey-Minie theme. It just means the person draws comfort in watching something fun. So, fun is the theme.
3. Build a vocabulary based on the theme. It is not about using fancy words, but it is about accurately communicating. Before writing a full-fledged love letter, try to understand the person and this will help in getting the vocabulary right.
4. Write the letter.
5. Build a stoic mindset. A core principle of Stoic philosophy is maintaining equanimity during adversity. Despite all the groundwork and meticulous writing, there is a high chance of the letter getting rejected. This may be painful, but prior preparation will come handy.
6. Send the letter and wait for a response.

The response is a huge indicator of the individual’s personality.

1. If the person responds in a malicious manner, it is a clear indicator that they cannot accept the universal phenomena of one person liking another.
2. If the person responds unfavorably but in a mature manner, respect it and move on.
3. The third category is my favorite and it is rare. Not only will they respond unfavorably, but they will give feedback.

I have attended plenty of interviews in my life, and there is only one recruiter I hold in very high regard. Solely because of the manner in which the rejection was packaged. The feedback was spot on, and I was glad to be rejected; I had lot of data points to work on for my next interview.

Rejections can be hard, but they are nothing but a library to visit whenever similar situations arise.

Thank you for reading!