If you've been deferred or waitlisted by your favorite school, writing a letter of continued interest can be a smart move.
It's a way to tell them you're still interested in attending. This shows you're proactive and gives you a chance to update them on your latest achievements, which might boost your chances.
While it's not required, not taking advantage of this opportunity could put you at a disadvantage compared to other waitlisted or deferred students who send such letters. So, use our guide and example to help boost your chances of getting accepted.
A letter of continued interest is a polite and formal letter to an admissions officer, running between 200-400 words of gratitude and academic/professional update. As the name suggests, the letter also implies your continued interest in the receiving academic institution and its program offerings.
You may want to indicate that the school in question is your first choice, but only if this is true. If the school and its programs are your secondary choices, you only have to indicate that you will seriously consider enrolling in the institution upon acceptance.
The purpose of a letter of interest is multifaceted. Of course, it displays your continued interest in a school and one of its particular programs. However, a letter of continued interest also contains overtones of gratitude toward the receiving admissions officer and undertones of self-promotion.
Just as with any piece of correspondence you might send in your academic and later professional career, a letter of continued interest must be professional and polite.
Your first step in learning how to write a letter of continued interest is to use a typical letter format. This will include a greeting and a sign-off, both of which must be dedicated to expressing your thankfulness to the admissions officer for all the time and effort they’ve exerted in reviewing your application materials.
The body of your letter of continued interest is allowed to be more self-serving. In between your gracious greeting and sign-off, you should include an update of any academic or experiential information that may influence how an admissions officer reviews your application for the better.
This does not mean you should repeat the information given in your personal statement or application. Instead, use the letter of continued interest as a way to supplement any previously given academic and experiential information with recent updates.
Whether it’s an improved GPA, SAT or ACT scores, or recent work experience, an admissions officer will be swayed by your continuing diligence and dedication.
The update provided in your letter of continued interest may be in the form of a short, personal declaration that ultimately relates to your suitability as a student of the academic institution. Better yet, your declaration should demonstrate your fit in the program in which you are most interested.
Once deferred or waitlisted, the optimal time to send your letter of continued interest depends on your individual circumstances. If you do not expect any significant academic or professional developments between the moment of your deferral/waitlisting and the final review of your application, send a letter of continued interest as soon as possible.
You can include any information to your benefit that may have been glossed over in your personal statement and application.
However, if you do expect incoming changes to your academic or experiential record, it’s a good idea to hold off on sending a continuing letter of interest until those positive changes have occurred. Still, you should aim to beat the national May 1 deadline for students to submit deposits and secure their places at college.
You may hear back from an admissions officer even closer to the fall semester, but May 1 is a good deadline by which you can abide.
Wondering how to write a LOCI? Let's break it down step by step to help you craft a compelling message that stands out to admissions officers.
In summary, a well-crafted letter of continued interest should follow these key components to effectively express your continued enthusiasm for the school and your potential as a valuable addition to their community.
Like an appeal letter, it serves as a powerful tool to demonstrate your dedication and enhance your chances of gaining admission to your dream institution.
The following is an example of a letter of continued interest you may use as a template for your own letter. Do not copy this example word-for-word. Instead, use it as a guide that you must alter to apply to yourself, the school, and the program of choice.
Dear Admissions Officer Smith,
I hope all is well with you. My name is Perfect Student, and I’d like to thank you for keeping my application to Dream University under consideration through deferral/waitlisting. Dream University is the school I’m most eager to attend, so the lasting hope you’ve given me is much appreciated.
I know that Dream University is the perfect school for me, and I believe I am a good fit for the University, too. I’ve had the pleasure of communicating with Professor Helpful to learn more about the pre-med program offered at your institution. More specifically, Professor Helpful and I have been discussing his chemistry and biochemistry courses. These courses have a special appeal to me as I hope to one day conduct research that may lead to more stable methods in the practice of anesthesiology.
Since sending my application to Dream University, I have raised my GPA from 3.55 to 3.69 by excelling in my chemistry and biology classes. I aim to keep up the momentum I’ve built so I can win the science award upon graduation.
I’ve also gained some crucial experience by shadowing an anesthesiologist at Work Experience Hospital over the course of several weeks. After shadowing the anesthesiologist and conversing with her on recent advances in her medical practice, I am more resolved than ever to help make anesthetization safer for any patient who may require it. Considering Dream University's mission statement, which seeks to “make the world a better place,” I feel that my own goals align perfectly with that of your fine academic institution.
I know you must be busy working your way through applications, so I’m very grateful for all the time you’ve given to reading this email. I hope I can one day count myself as part of the Dream University community and maybe even thank you in person.
Sincerely,
Michael Smith
Hopeful Applicant Secondary School
Seattle, Washington
So, you're ready to write a letter of continued interest that shows your potential. We've got you covered with some practical tips to help you navigate this important step in your college admissions journey.
Curious about how to write a letter of continued interest for college admissions? This FAQ section provides answers to common questions and valuable insights to guide you through the process.
In the context of your letter of continued interest, the meaning of the term ‘accomplishment’ is wide-ranging. In essence, you should note anything that is relevant to your intended studies and professional expectations. Here is a list of some common accomplishments:
Check the school’s website for information on their policy regarding additional letters sent to the admissions office. If the institution’s website indicates they accept letters of continued interest, feel free to send one.
However, if a school specifically asks that you not send any additional letters, do not send one. Not abiding by the school policy can seriously harm your chances of acceptance.
Consider keeping the line of communication open when writing the sign-off of your letter of continued interest. A simple sentence politely inviting the admissions officer to respond to your email should they require any more information from you is enough.
In the same vein as a preemptive letter to a professor, you may also lookup and contact some alumni or current students in your desired program. Through alumni and students, you can get a better sense of what the program expects from its students, as well as a more thorough outlining of the school’s values.
If a professor doesn’t respond to your message after a week or so, you can send a follow-up email acknowledging how busy they must be but how appreciative you would be if they could spare any information. If they still do not respond, do not pester that recipient. Try contacting another professor instead.
The biggest difference between a letter of continued interest and a letter of intent is the level of commitment each implies. In short, a letter of continued interest indicates that you are seriously considering attending the receiving institution, while a letter of intent serves as a promise that you will enroll in the school if accepted.
You may feel powerless to do anything after being deferred or waitlisted from your dream school. However, there is still much you can do to better your chances of acceptance. Improve your marks, or gain some volunteer or work experience that will impress your preferred school’s admissions officer.
Then, using this guide on how to write a letter of continued interest along with our letter of continued interest example, you can send the admissions officer an update that will make them look upon your application in a more favorable light.
