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Getting waitlisted or deferred: the limbo of the college admissions world. No doubt, it can certainly feel like purgatory for some. For the most part, all you can do is wait (hence the name) and maybe say a few Hail Marys. However, some schools do allow deferred and waitlisted students a certain degree of hope that they can turn the decision in their favor. That welcome agency comes in the form of the letter of continued interest. A sister genre to the application essay, the letter of continued interest is something of an epistolary lifeline when the future is murky. Wondering how to pull one off? In today’s blog, we’ll take you through everything you need to know.

What Is a Letter of Continued Interest?

A letter of continued interest, or LOCI, allows waitlisted or deferred students the opportunity to:

• Reinforce their commitment to a particular university or college
• Update the committee on important recent accomplishments or experiences that enhance their profile
• Persuade the committee of why they are a good fit

Some colleges provide applicants with specific instructions about what to include or how to structure a letter of continued interest, while others may not accept letters of continued interest at all. Be sure to thoroughly research policies before you dive in.

How Do I Write a Letter of Continued Interest?

Ideally, a letter of continued interest includes some combination of the following information:

• Clear and compelling explanation for *why* the college remains your top choice.
• A concise summary of updates for the committee. These can include any of your relevant achievements, experiences, or projects since the initial application.
• A persuasive case for how your personal goals and interests align with specific attributes or values of the institution.

Let’s take a look at an example:

Dear (Name of Admissions Director/Admissions Officer), 

I would first like to thank you for considering my application. Though I have been (waitlisted/deferred), I remain strongly interested in attending Duke University and wanted to let you know that if offered a place, I will definitely enroll, as Duke is my top choice. (In 1-2 sentences, reiterate why the college is your top choice and/or any offerings that you may have recently learned about and were not mentioned in your original application.)I am convinced that Duke’s Biology program, with its concentration in genomics, large number of available research mentors, and capstone requirement, will be the ideal place for me to further develop my passion for genomics. I also recently learned about the FOCUS Program and its Genetics and Genomics cluster, which would give me the unique chance to live and learn with like-minded peers as a freshman.

Most importantly, I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on my academic progress. Since submitting my application, I have continued to earn As in my core courses, namely Honors English, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and AP Calculus B/C—I hope my performance in these latter three courses further highlights my ability to tackle a biology major at Duke.

Outside of the classroom, I have continued leading my school’s debate team, and was recently named District Student of the Year by the National Speech and Debate Association. Also, after my experience working with the Genetic Perturbation Platform as a Broad Summer Scholar last year, I applied and was accepted to the Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Student Program, where I’ll spend the summer working on an independent genomics research project alongside a mentor.

In sum, I believe my recent academic and extracurricular accomplishments have further prepared me to contribute to the Duke community, both inside and outside the classroom. Ultimately, I remain hopeful and excited about the prospect of joining your campus next fall.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

• Full Name
• Birthdate
• Full address
• Email Address
• Assigned application ID (if applicable)
• Application type (freshman or transfer)
• Application term

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest: More Examples

Below you’ll find two additional examples of strong letters of continued interest. Though playfully written from the perspective of fictional characters, they demonstrate many successful qualities of a good letter. As you read, think about how they are organizing information, handling tone, and personalizing their letters:

Jude’s LOCI:

The first letter of continued interest example is written in the voice of Jude Hawley. In this example, Jude is a UChicago hopeful with a passion for architecture and urban planning. (More than likely, your experience on the waitlist will have less tragic results than the original Jude.)

Dear Admissions Committee,

My name is Jude Hawley, a hopeful University of Chicago student and aspiring urban planner based in Chicago, Illinois. While my application for Early Action was waitlisted, I wanted to take this opportunity to express that UChicago remains my number one choice. I also want to share recent experiences and updates that confirm my sense of why UChicago is a perfect fit for me.

Earlier this month, I attended an event at the Seminary Co-op featuring Emily Talen, head of the Urbanism Lab. She was discussing her recent book, Neighborhood, which focuses on urban sustainability and histories of neighborhood design. At the event, I got the chance to meet UChicago students and discuss how to create new urban environments that center sustainable community. That day in Hyde Park I felt like I had found an endearingly nerdy and mission-driven academic home. 

Since submitting my application, I have been able to further explore urban planning and architectural design careers by participating in the Chicago Architecture Center’s Teen Fellows program. Through the program, I’ve been able to attend college courses on architecture and urbanism studies at Harold Washington College and analyze Chicago’s built environment and architecturally significant sites with my fellowship cohort. Additionally, I’ve begun developing a project focused on increasing green spaces in Ukrainian Village, my home neighborhood, and will participate in a paid summer internship at a local design firm.

My roots in Chicago fuel both my love of the city and my commitment to rethink how it can be a sustainable, inviting community for all its people. I am convinced that UChicago’s Environmental and Urban Studies program is the best opportunity for me to build the kind of career I imagine for myself. I am particularly drawn to the program’s focus on the neighboring Calumet region, which will further my ability to translate technical design and planning skills to specific local challenges. Further, I am excited about the prospect of joining a community that values thinking both historically and creatively about how to address environmental and communal costs of urbanization.

Thank you once again for considering my application. Please let me know if I can provide anything else for the admissions committee to consider.

Sincerely,

Jude Hawley 

Christine’s LOCI:

In this example, tries to persuade NYU’s committee about her fit for Tisch Drama. She did in fact get off the waitlist and make it to New York in the end!

Dear Admissions Committee,

As I anticipate the upcoming decision regarding my application to New York University, I want to express my sincere interest in attending your esteemed institution. I am writing this letter to reaffirm that NYU remains my number one choice and update you on recent achievements and performance experiences. I believe these experiences have improved my ability to meaningfully contribute to NYU’s vibrant Tisch Drama program.

Since applying to NYU, I was cast in my school’s production of Merrily We Roll Along. During that production, I gained experience in Spolin method improvisation and theatrical set design. I also produced, directed, and edited a short film about my mother, spotlighting her tireless and often thankless work as a psychiatric nurse. She has yet to see it, as I want to show it to her as a present before I leave for college. It’s attached here for you to see. Finally, I mounted a campaign for class president this past semester. Though the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, my avant-garde posters left an undeniable impression, breaking the mold of my all-girls Catholic high school.

Although I have deep roots in Sacramento, I’ve long felt that my creative and intellectual personality has been at somewhat odds with my surroundings. Tisch Drama would enable me to experience the incomparable cultural resources of New York City, involve me in a rich schedule of theatrical productions, and allow me to learn from internationally recognized faculty and theatre artists. In other words, the opportunity to attend would be nothing short of life-changing.

Thank you once again for considering my application. It would be an honor and a privilege to be a part of the NYU family, and I am excited about the possibility of joining your community and making a meaningful impact.

Sincerely,

Christine “Lady Bird” MacPherson

Final Thoughts

Admittedly, the incredibly personal nature of the genre defies a one-size-fits-all approach. But a good letter of continued interest will emphasize things like personality, ambition, and intellectual curiosity, and make a clear case for why this school will miss you in your absence. It’s one last shot to make an impression and convince others of what you’ve been convinced about all along. At the same time, always remember that it is best to keep as many options alive as you can. Do the work to reach that dream school, but keep in mind that happiness and success can come from anywhere.