How to Write a Successful Letter of Continued Interest
When you’ve been deferred or waitlisted
So, you’ve been deferred or waitlisted. First, take a deep breath. I’ve seen many students hit this bump in the admissions road, and while it may feel like a rejection, it’s not. You’re still in the race, and unless the college tells you otherwise, they want to hear a bit more from you.
In fact, the admissions committee likely has some questions. Are you still interested? If so, then just how interested are you? (Yield is a big deal in admissions offices, so they want to know how likely are you to attend.) Beyond interest, are there new experiences or accomplishments that might strengthen your candidacy?
The tool you’ll use to communicate this information is called a Letter of Continued Interest, aka LOCI, deferral letter, or waitlist letter.
The Letter of Continued Interest
Form: A one-page business letter, usually a PDF sent via email or uploaded to the portal
Audience: Your regional admissions officer, and/or the person who signed your deferral notice
Topic: Your continued interest in the school, and an update on your academics and activities since you clicked "submit."
Purpose: To let the college know you’re still interested & strengthen your candidacy
Where do I send the LOCI?
Send a LOCI to every college you’ve been deferred or waitlisted at, unless they tell you not to. What does that last bit mean? Well, some schools, such as USC, specifically state that they don’t want applicants to send a LOCI. Others, like Michigan, give you the opportunity to express continued interest through an online form.
Whatever the guidance from a college is, follow it. Sending in unwanted materials is never a good idea. It won’t help you, and it can even jeopardize your candidacy by making you look unprofessional.
But if they don’t tell you not to send a LOCI, you should absolutely send one!
How to write a great LOCI
The most important key to writing a great LOCI is: don’t overthink it. In the past, I’ve seen students tangled up in the dilemma of “How can I say the right thing that will get [MY DREAM SCHOOL] to admit me?”
The reality is: you can’t. The specific details in your LOCI – unless there’s a major academic change, or a state- or national-level achievement to report – are unlikely to tip the balance in one direction or the other.
Does that mean that LOCI don’t matter? Not at all! Not sending one is a huge mistake, as it demonstrates lack of interest. What’s important is that you write one, and that the overall message and tone are positive, personal, and professional.
Step 1: Brainstorm
I like to have students start by brainstorming answers to the following three prompts, adapted from questions Stanford has asked waitlisted students in the past.
Tell us what you’re excited about learning in your current year studies. For example, are there any recent papers, projects, or research that have captivated your curiosity?
Tell us about something you are proud of since you submitted your application.
How have you grown since you submitted your application? Are there any events, insights or realizations that have changed the way you approach the world around you?
A note on prompt #3: For deferrals, you may have nothing to say about personal growth, since you applied so recently. That’s fine! This prompt is most relevant to waitlists.
Step 2: Outline
Next I have students refer to the following outline, as well as this sample letter, to structure their LOCI.
Outline for a Letter of Continued Interest
As you’ll see, the outline is fairly simple:
INTRODUCTION
Start with a brief introduction (1-2 sentences), reaffirming your interest in the college & thanking them for continuing to consider your candidacy. While you may be feeling disappointment that you were not accepted, this is not the place to express it. Instead, stay positive and forward-looking.
BODY
The body of the letter should consist of two parts: an update on your academic and extracurricular progress since submission, and your final “pitch” as to why you’re excited about and a good fit for this school.
The update is, of course, a great place to highlight any recent awards, achievements, or accomplishments. And if you don’t have any of those? That’s why I love the Stanford prompts; they give you something positive and personal to talk about, even if you haven’t won any Olympic medals in the last few months.
The “pitch” section of the letter can contain one (or both) of two things: an update on any personal growth, and a short “Why Our School” section that articulates why you and this college are a great fit for each other.
The key word here is short: you should not write an entire Why Our School essay here, and you definitely shouldn’t repeat material from your supplemental essays. (The admissions officer will likely be reading this letter at the same time they review your application file; i.e. they may be re-reading your essays!) Instead, make one or two brief points, supported with specific evidence, about fit. (For more on writing a killer Why Our School essay, including sample essays written by students admitted to top schools, see Chapter 5 of Write Yourself In)
CONCLUSION
Finally, close with a short conclusion that thanks the reader & reaffirms your interest in their school. That’s it.
How and when do I submit a LOCI?
Either submit the LOCI through the school’s admissions portal, or you can email it as an attachment to your admissions contact at the school, usually your regional admissions officer.
For deferrals, I usually recommend submitting a LOCI during the last two weeks of January. That’s long enough after application submission that you’ll hopefully have something to say in the update, but it also gives the committee time to incorporate the LOCI into their decision.
For waitlists, I recommend submitting within 2 weeks of receiving the waitlist notification. Some schools move very quickly on their waitlists, and you don’t want to get left behind.
For more help with your LOCI or your essays, check out my new book Write Yourself In, available from your favorite library or bookseller. You can also subscribe to my Admitted newsletter for biweekly updates and guidance.
