In America today, a letter of intent can mean a variety of different things. This web page will explain the different meanings for the letter of intent, as well giving some resources and advice on how to write a letter of intent.
Letter of Intent and the Family
This letter of intent is a document that clearly communicates the wishes and desires parents have for their children in case the parents can no longer care for or make critical decisions for those children. It outlines the child's history, current status, and what the parents hope and dream for the child in the future. It is not a legally binding document, but the legal system will rely upon this document for guidance to help care for the child if the parents cannot do so. It is best to start writing a letter of intent immediately, then add to it as the months and years of a child's life progress. It is also a good idea to involve the child in writing and adding to the content of the letter. For excellent Internet resources on writing this type of letter of intent, go to:
- www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/archive/intent.htm
- www.eparent.com/lifeplanning/financial/prudential_3.htm
Graduate School Letter of Intent
This letter of intent, or statement of purpose, is generally a document written by you, the student, to a graduate school's admissions commission. You must competently outline what you want to study at school, why you want to study it, what experience you have in the field, and what you plan to do with the degree once you receive it. Admissions will heavily scrutinize this statement, so it is critical to write a very effective letter of intent. For help on writing great graduate school letters of intent, you can also go to:
- www.princetonreview.com/grad/apply/articles/application/purpose.asp
- www.unm.edu/grad/eforms/intentletter.html
General Business Letter of Intent
This is a document written between two parties entering any type of business agreement or relationship involving the transferring of goods and services. It is written to protect the parties by clearing defining what each party's intent is upon entering the agreement or relationship.
The National Letter of Intent
A National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a legally binding agreement between a student-athlete and the university or college he or she commits to attending. Once the student-athlete signs the letter of intent, he/she is eligible for one year of financial aid in exchange for agreeing to attend that scholastic institution for one academic year. After a signing of the NLI, no other school is allowed to recruit that student-athlete.