How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest

Photo by Vlada Karpovich

If you’ve been deferred or waitlisted at any of your top choice schools, a letter of continued interest should be a key part of your strategy to earn admission. This blog serves as your ultimate guide to these valuable letters showing you what you should and should not do, as well as providing a strong example near the end. Happy writing!

What is a letter of continued interest?

A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a letter, or more often an email, that students send to admissions offices at schools to which they have been waitlisted or deferred. The purpose of these letters is to assure the college they are still a top choice (i.e. demonstrate continued interest) and update them on accomplishments that may move the needle.

When to send a letter of continued interest?

Photo by Anete Lusina

You should send a letter of continued interest to any schools where you were waitlisted or deferred assuming two things: 1) you still have a strong interest in attending, and 2) the school has not explicitly told you to NOT send a LOCI.

As far as when to send it, given criteria above are met, it depends on when you applied. If you applied Early Decision or Early Action, here are a few timing considerations.

• Q2 Grades. If your second-quarter grades are strong or show an upward trend, wait to send your LOCI until you can include them. This provides admissions with recent, compelling evidence of your academic commitment​​.
• Completed New Engagements or Recognitions.  If you have recent achievements (e.g., new leadership roles, awards, or research accomplishments), consider waiting until these are finalized. Including specific, new evidence of your engagement and contributions strengthens your narrative as a dedicated and active student​​.
• Timing for Reach Schools. For highly competitive schools, timing should be strategic. If Q2 grades and any major achievements are accessible in early winter, aim to send the LOCI by mid-January or February. This maximizes impact before many schools begin their second reviews​.

If you have nothing meaningful to report, late January to mid-February remains your best bet as it places your letter in front of admissions committees as they start their second evaluations, ensuring your expression of continued interest is fresh in their minds.

If, however, you applied Regular Decision, use this timeline.

• Timing. For regular decision waitlists, aim to send your LOCI soon after receiving the waitlist notice, ideally within the first couple of weeks. This early communication signals genuine interest.
• Include Meaningful Updates. If you can provide any new academic achievements, extracurricular accomplishments, or leadership roles by mid-spring, consider sending a second, brief update. This can help keep your application fresh without overwhelming the admissions team with multiple LOCIs.
• Final Decision. Most waitlists are reviewed in late April or May, so sending a follow-up (if you have updates or significant new information) in April can also be beneficial. However, avoid more than two communications unless the school specifically encourages ongoing updates.

When to send your LOCI varies by how you applied, but the major factors of how to do so remain the same. We provide our best tips further down the page.

Who do you send a letter of continued interest to?

This varies school to school. Typically the school will provide information on to whom or where you should send your LOCI in your original admission decision (deferred or waitlisted). If they do not, consider sending it to whoever communicated to you that you were waitlisted. You can also call or email the admissions office to ask for the information.

Why Send A Letter Of Continued Interest

The primary reason for sending a LOCI is simply because you want to get into the school! While sending a letter of continued interest does not guarantee you will be admitted during the next review period, we know that students who do not send a LOCI dramatically lower their chances of being admitted during Regular Decision or getting off the waitlist. When a student chooses not to send a LOCI, admissions offices tend to assume you’re either a) salty about the decision and pouting or b) no longer interested. Neither is a good look if you’re hoping to attend! That being said, if you truly are no longer interested, then it’s perfectly acceptable to not send a LOCI.

How long should a letter of continued interest be?

Typically 200-400 words is appropriate. Keep it brief but thorough. Tailor the points of your letter to align with the theme of your original application, and maintain a professional tone. Be sure to include all relevant information in a concise fashion - admissions officers are likely reading many of these!

Structure of A Letter of Continued Interest

A letter of continued interest should include the following elements. An Introduction and Reaffirmation of Interest that begins with a brief, respectful opening and goes on to confirm your commitment to the school, expressing genuine interest and noting any specific programs, values, or opportunities that align with your goals. Next, insert an Update on New Achievements and Experiences. This should be a concise overview of recent accomplishments, focusing on academic, extracurricular, or personal growth that enhances your application profile. Emphasize developments since you submitted your application, choosing updates that align with the school’s values or that reinforce your application narrative (ethos). Third, Connect to the School’s Unique Offerings. By this we mean reference specific aspects of the school that have further fueled your interest, like academic programs, professors, or community values, and then tie these details back to your achievements, underscoring how these updates make you an even better fit for the school’s unique environment. Fourth, provide a brief Closing and Expression of Gratitude. Conclude with a sincere thank you to the admissions team for their time and consideration, and reiterate your enthusiasm and openness to further communicate if needed. Last, sign off with a Professional Signature that comprises a formal closing, your name, and contact information. This structure maintains a balance between professionalism and personal engagement, demonstrating maturity, respect for their time, and a clear understanding of your goals in alignment with the institution’s ethos​​​.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

What to include in a letter of continued interest?

As we explain above, there are four main components in a letter of continued interest: a reconfirmation of your interest in attending the school, relevant updates and achievements, a connection between your updates and the school’s offerings (i.e. specific programs or opportunities at the school), and a thank you to the admission committee for their time.

What NOT to include in a letter of continued interest?

College Admissions expert John Morganelli, Jr., recommends avoiding these six pitfalls.

1. Excessive Length or Unrelated Information. Keep the letter concise (around 200-400 words). Avoid including minor updates or information that doesn’t enhance your application narrative.
2. Repetition of Information Already in Your Application. Avoid reiterating achievements or activities unless there’s been a meaningful development. The purpose of the LOCI is to update the admissions team on new, relevant information.
3. Overly Emotional Appeals. Avoid making desperate or overly personal appeals. Stay professional and show your interest through specific, well-reasoned points rather than emotional language.
4. Asking for Feedback on Why You Were Deferred or Waitlisted. Do not request feedback or reasons for your current admissions status, as this can seem presumptive.
5. Assumptions or Comparisons with Other Applicants. Avoid discussing or assuming you know the competitiveness of other applicants. Focus solely on presenting yourself in the best possible light.
6. Conditional or Overly Aggressive Language. Keep your tone polite and positive. Avoid phrases like “I’ll definitely attend if accepted,” unless the school explicitly encourages students to declare this level of commitment.

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest?

We’ve already covered the most important Do’s and Don’ts for writing a Letter of Continued Interest. Here’s a short recap and a few more suggestions for making sure your LOCI is impactful and well-written.

• Stick to relevant, “you-centered” information. Focus on putting yourself in the best light by choosing the most relevant information to include in your letter and avoid any discussion of other applicants.
• Ask someone for an emotional check. Being waitlisted or deferred can be hard. Ask a third party, ideally someone less invested in the final outcome, to check that your letter is not overly emotional or pleading in tone.
• Proofread! This should go without saying, but make sure you’ve read through your letter and corrected any grammatical errors or typos.
• Pay attention to directions. If the school makes specific requests about format, to whom to address the letter, what to include, etc, make sure to do so. You don’t want your letter to be harmful to your final decision.
• Ask for help if you’re stuck. Along with all the other components of college admissions, writing a Letter of Continued Interest can feel challenging to get just right. Consider working with one of our writing tutors or college admissions experts to send off a letter that does you justice.

Example of Letter of Continued Interest

Here’s an example of a strong LOCI that includes all the elements mentioned above and aligns with the ethos of demonstrating ongoing engagement and growth while reinforcing the applicant's commitment to the university, as outlined in our BluePrint method​​​.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

[Email Address]

[Phone Number]

[Date]

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

[University Name]

[University Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

Dear [Admissions Officer’s Name or "Admissions Committee"],

I am writing to express my continued interest in [University Name] and to reaffirm my commitment to joining its vibrant academic community. After receiving my deferral notification, I took time to reflect on my application and what makes [University Name] my ideal fit, and I am now more certain than ever that [University Name] is where I can thrive academically, engage with passionate peers, and contribute to campus life.

Since submitting my application, I have dedicated myself to furthering my academic pursuits and community involvement. For instance, I recently completed an independent research project focused on [specific research topic, e.g., “the impact of community health initiatives on rural populations”]. This experience deepened my understanding of [relevant field, e.g., “public health”] and confirmed my desire to study [intended major] at [University Name], where I hope to engage in related research opportunities within the [relevant department].

Additionally, I have continued my role as [position in relevant extracurricular activity, e.g., “Vice President of the Environmental Action Club”], where I recently organized [specific project or achievement, e.g., “a local clean-up campaign that drew 100 volunteers and resulted in significant community impact”]. This role has strengthened my leadership skills and commitment to sustainable practices—values I am eager to bring to the [University Name] community.

Thank you for your time and consideration of my application. I am excited about the possibility of bringing my passion and dedication to [University Name] and am hopeful to contribute meaningfully to the university’s goals. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide.

Warmest regards,

[Your Name]

The written aspects of the college admissions process are often the most frustrating and time consuming for students. And when you have been waitlisted or deferred the last thing you may feel like doing is additional writing. Yet a Letter of Continued Interest is a critical component of your admissions strategy if you remain committed to attending that university. We know it can be hard to “keep your chin up” when you haven’t gotten the news you hoped for, but using this blog as a guide will allow you to write a confident, professional LOCI - and hopefully earn a spot at your dream school.