So you’ve waited to receive positive news from the college of your dreams, only to be left in limbo by getting deferred or waitlisted. Now what? Perhaps it wasn’t the response you had initially hoped for, but it also doesn’t mean it is the end of the line for your application.
Instead of waiting around for a final decision, use this time to take action and write a letter of continued interest (LOCI). What? You’ve never heard of a LOCI? Not to worry, this article will take you through the process of pleading your case to admissions, hopefully leading to an acceptance letter at the end.
According to Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, “ A letter of continued interest is an email you send to an admissions office… to let the college know you’re still interested in attending and why.”
Before you send your correspondence, it is crucial to find out if the school welcomes additional information and materials OR if they DO NOT want further communication. You must demonstrate that you know how to follow directions, so it doesn’t hurt your chances of receiving a coveted spot in the freshman class.
While there is no guarantee writing a letter of continued interest will increase your chances of ultimately being accepted, as long as you follow any instructions provided by the university, it’s okay to send a letter.
When deciding the best time to send your LOCI, please consider if you expect an improved GPA, additional test scores, or potential new awards or extracurricular achievements. You may want to wait until you receive them so you can discuss them in your letter.
The most important thing to remember when writing your LOCI is to be sure and indicate that you are likely to attend the school if offered a spot AND that you will be an asset to the school and have the potential to succeed there.
Below are some additional elements you should include when writing a letter of continued interest:
Remember, your LOCI is not an appropriate platform to complain about being deferred or waitlisted. Instead, stay positive! Hopefully, you will receive good news. Be sure to keep in mind that while there is no way to be sure your letter will sway admissions teams to provide you with an acceptance, but it certainly can improve your chances.