Summary:
A letter of continued interest is an email written to an admissions committee by a student after being waitlisted or deferred by a college. This letter is a final opportunity for students to advocate for themselves and show genuine interest in the school, with the best letters often showing gratitude, a positive mindset, and updates on a student’s academic progress since applying.
Not receiving an immediate “Yes” from your top college choices can be frustrating, but it doesn’t mean the college admissions journey has come to an end. A letter of continued interest (LOCI) can make a real difference when a college is on the fence about a student. We’ll discuss everything students need to know about how to write a letter of continued interest, what to include, and offer a real example that changed a student’s Northeastern University application status from waitlisted to accepted!
A letter of continued interest is a short note (typically an email) that a student may send to a college admissions officer or admissions committee after being waitlisted or deferred. This letter reaffirms a student’s interest in that college and reminds the admissions office why they’re the ideal candidate to accept.
Think of it as a polite, strategic update that keeps a student’s application fresh and interesting, and at the forefront, without sounding too pushy.
Timing is key. Recent admissions data from several colleges speak to a rise in deferrals, especially those who have been applying in the earlier rounds of college application deadlines. This means that more applicants may be submitting letters of continued interest to a college.
Students should aim to send a letter of continued interest to a college within 1 to 3 weeks after receiving their waitlist or deferral notice. Ultimately, the earlier a student expresses their interest, the better.
Your email should be concise and to the point. It should not be a long-winded essay, but rather a short, professional update. Here’s a simple structure that works:
Open with appreciation for the admissions committee, not only for reviewing your application, but also for keeping you under consideration.
In order for a letter of continued interest to be well written, students need to move beyond simply reiterating interest in that institution. Sometimes, a student has been waitlisted or deferred because their college application was missing key information. To remove any potential hesitancy on the college’s end, be sure to offer meaningful updates about:
Be specific and keep it brief. Choose one or two important updates to mention and avoid dumping too much information in the email.
One reason a college may waitlist or defer a student is that their college application is lacking demonstrated interest, ultimately creating hesitancy on the college’s end about whether or not a student is the right fit for the college (and vice versa). Addressing this will require the student to do their homework and understand why this school is a good match for them. Once you’ve isolated one or two aspects of the college that are most impressive or important to you, connect them to the progress you’ve made since submitting your initial application.
Restate your enthusiasm and appreciation before closing out your letter of continued interest, and make sure to keep things professional. Emailing a college admissions officer is not the same as emailing a friend or family member. Keep things tight. This signals college readiness.
The following example is a real letter of continued interest submitted to Northeastern University, where the student was taken off the waitlist shortly after.
To the Admissions Committee:
I hope this email finds you well. I appreciate your consideration of my application to Northeastern University. I applied to Northeastern because I am excited about attending, and although I was disappointed about being placed on the waitlist, I remain enthusiastic about the opportunity to attend, as it is my top choice.
I submitted a letter of continued interest after having been deferred initially. In that letter, I explained that I had visited Northeastern’s Boston campus and was immediately drawn to it. However, I would like to make it clear that if I were to be accepted to any of Northeastern’s campuses or programs, I would absolutely attend! This would include the multiple global opportunities Northeastern has to offer through the N.U.in Program, the London Scholars program, and the Oakland campus.
I genuinely believe that Northeastern will provide me with any and every opportunity to thrive, and I will take advantage of all it has to offer through the pillars of experiential learning. I’m especially interested in the co-op program because of the invaluable opportunity to gain real-world work exposure before graduating. I’ve continuously been inspired by my sister’s journey as a business student at D'Amore-McKim because of her growth in the field. As a passionate business student myself, I’ve taken advantage of many opportunities at my high school to gain leadership skills. As the CEO of my [Company], I recently led my team at the Youth Business Summit on April 11th, placing in the top 1% of teams globally in the International Business Plan Competition!
In addition to the academic and professional opportunities, I am drawn to Northeastern's commitment to community service and social responsibility. Throughout my senior year, I have continued to try to make a difference in both my school and religious communities. As a volunteer for Khalsa Aid, a non-profit organization built upon Sikh principles to serve humanity, I have organized multiple fundraising events with the New York State volunteer team. Additionally, as the Vice President of my DECA chapter, I’ve continued to lead various community service projects, raising money for organizations such as [Hospital] as well as holding clothing and food drives. I look forward to contributing to the community at Northeastern by actively participating in programs such as Finance For the Community, a volunteer-based organization that teaches personal finance to Boston Public High School students. My experience in multiple business-related leadership roles has prepared me to make tangible progress in these organizations.
I have continued to stay engaged with Northeastern's community by connecting with students and alumni to stay informed about opportunities available to me at the university. I’m interested in connecting with professors in my field of study, and I've recently come across the work of Professor [Name]. I’ve spoken to alumni, who have taken [Course] with Professor [Name], and they shared insights into their learning experience with him. I’m interested in taking this class as it would allow me to design and assess models that evaluate investments in domestic and international financial markets, which is a topic I definitely would like to explore in depth.
Additionally, his research on the foreign exchange market is quite fascinating to me, as I’ve been studying economics and finance in high school, and I recently completed the “Financial Markets” course offered by Yale University on Coursera last month. As a student, I hope to learn more about his research on the significance of asymmetric information theory in the global FX market.
I truly believe that Northeastern is where I belong, and I know that if I’m given the opportunity, I will contribute to the school’s community in many ways. If I am taken off the waitlist, I will immediately enroll, and I will constantly strive to excel and take advantage of the resources I’ll have access to as a Husky. I understand that you are busy at this time, so I greatly appreciate your consideration of this letter.
Sincerely,
This student followed a very similar structure to the one we have recommended in this blog. Not only does the student express gratitude at multiple points throughout the letter, but they also offer valuable updates to their academic achievements by highlighting their volunteering commitment and leadership role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
It’s crystal clear that this student has done a significant amount of research on Northeastern’s many academic programs and learning opportunities, even going so far as to mention a prominent professor.
Finally, the student closes out their letter by reiterating their interest with conviction, stating, “If I am taken off the waitlist, I will immediately enroll.” This statement is music to a college’s ears and ensures that they maintain a positive yield rate, one of the largest factors contributing to waitlist and deferral rates increasing.
Many students overlook the importance of a letter of continued interest, but a well-written letter can have a big impact on a student’s candidacy. It’s a last opportunity for students to advocate for themselves and show a genuine commitment to the college.
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