A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a short, one-page letter you send to a college after being waitlisted or deferred, telling the admissions office you still want to attend and sharing what has changed since you applied. Send one only if the school accepts it, keep it under a page, and lead with real news, not a repeat of your application. That last point matters more than any phrasing trick: a LOCI works when it gives the committee a new reason to say yes.
This guide covers when a LOCI helps, the schools that tell you not to send one, how to structure it, a sample letter you can adapt, and the mistakes that quietly hurt your file. School policies below were checked on each admissions office's own website in September 2026.
What Is a Letter of Continued Interest?
A LOCI is a formal update to an admissions office from an applicant whose decision is still open. It usually follows one of two outcomes: a waitlist offer in the spring, or a deferral from early decision or early action into the regular round.
The letter does three jobs. It confirms you want to stay in consideration, it adds information the committee does not have yet, and it shows you understand what the school offers. Colleges that fill seats from a waitlist often care about yield, meaning how likely an admitted student is to enroll, so a credible statement of interest can carry weight when the committee has a handful of seats and many qualified names.
A LOCI is not an appeal. It does not argue that the original decision was wrong, and it does not ask for feedback on your application. Think of it as a status report from a candidate who is still in the running.
Check Whether the School Wants One
Before writing anything, read your waitlist or deferral notice and the school's waitlist page. Policies vary widely, and ignoring a clear instruction is the fastest way to look careless.
Some schools say no outright. Georgia Tech's first-year waitlist page states that letters of continued interest are not considered, and that the Waitlist Offer Reply Form is the only additional information it reviews. UC Berkeley's decision guide answers "No" when waitlisted first-year applicants ask whether they can submit a letter of continued interest or other materials.
Other schools invite one. William & Mary's waitlist page welcomes an email to your regional counselor with updates and a note of continued interest, starting in early to mid April for first-year students. Vanderbilt's waitlist page asks for new information about your academic work and activities, and notes that extra materials should enhance your application rather than repeat it.
Deferral rules differ again. MIT's deferral FAQ asks deferred early action applicants to submit its February Updates & Notes Form through the applicant portal, and says that sending additional materials does not by itself increase your chances. If a school gives you a form, the form is your LOCI.
When to Send Your LOCI
Send it soon after you accept your waitlist spot or receive your deferral, unless the school names a window. Most waitlists require you to opt in through the applicant portal first, often by May 1. A letter sent before you opt in may never reach the right file.
For deferrals, aim to send your update after your midyear grades are available, since strong first-semester grades are usually the most useful new data point you have. For waitlists, a letter in April reaches the committee while it is still modeling how many seats it can offer.
One letter is the norm. A second, shorter update makes sense only if something significant happens later, such as a major award or final grades that change your academic picture. Weekly emails do not show enthusiasm; they create work for a small office during its busiest season.
How to Structure a Letter of Continued Interest
A strong LOCI follows a four-part structure that an admissions officer can read in under two minutes.
Reaffirm your interest. Open by thanking the committee and stating plainly that you want to remain in consideration. Include your full name, applicant ID and high school so the letter can be matched to your file.
Commit, if it is true. If the school is your clear first choice, say you will enroll if admitted. That sentence carries real weight for yield, which is exactly why you should write it for one school only. Promising several colleges the same thing is dishonest and can backfire if counselors talk.
Share meaningful updates. List what has changed since you applied: new grades, awards, a leadership role, a finished project, a published piece, a completed internship. Give specifics, such as "raised my AP Calculus grade from a B+ to an A" or "led our robotics team to the state final in March."
Connect to the school and close. Name one or two concrete reasons the school fits you, such as a specific program, lab, professor or course, and tie them to your updates. Close with thanks and your contact details.
Keep each section to a short paragraph. The committee already has your essays; this letter is about what is new and why it matters.
Length, Tone and Where to Send It
Keep your LOCI to about one page, roughly 250 to 400 words. Admissions officers read thousands of files, and a tight letter signals that you respect their time. If you cannot fit your updates on a page, cut the least important ones.
The tone should be warm, polite and confident. Write like a mature applicant who is still excited about the school, not like someone pleading for a seat. Avoid flattery that could apply to any college, such as "your prestigious institution." Specific details do more to show genuine interest than adjectives do.
Send the letter through the channel the school names. That is usually the applicant portal, a waitlist or updates form, or an email to your regional admissions officer, the counselor who covers your high school or area. Most admissions websites list regional officers by territory. If no channel is named, email the general admissions address and put your full name and applicant ID in the subject line.
Mistakes to Avoid
Most LOCI problems come from ignoring instructions or saying too much. Watch for these:
Sending one to a school that said not to. It shows you did not read the notice, and it will not be reviewed anyway.
Repeating your application. Restating your essay or activity list adds nothing new to your file.
Promising first choice to several schools. Commit to one school at most, and only if you would actually enroll.
Sounding bitter or entitled. Never question the original decision or compare yourself with admitted friends.
Sending extra recommendations unasked. Many schools, Georgia Tech among them, only consider the letters that came with your original application.
Typos and the wrong school name. Proofread twice and have a teacher or counselor read it once.
Sample Letter of Continued Interest
Use this sample as a model for structure, then replace every detail with your own. A letter that sounds like a template reads like one.
Dear [Admissions Officer's Name],
Thank you for offering me a place on the waitlist for the Class of [Year]. I am writing to confirm that I want to remain in consideration, and that [University] is my first choice: if admitted, I will enroll. My applicant ID is [ID], and I attend [High School] in [City, State].
Since I applied in [Month], I have [raised my semester grade in AP Chemistry from a B+ to an A], [placed second at the state science fair with a project on water filtration], and [been elected captain of our debate team].
These experiences have made me more certain that [University] fits me. I am especially interested in [specific program or lab], and I hope to join [specific club or research opportunity] to continue the work I started with my science fair project.
Thank you for your time and for continuing to consider my application. I can be reached at [email] or [phone].
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
That sample runs about 160 words before you fill in details. Most finished letters land between 250 and 400 words once real updates are added.
Writing a Letter of Continued Interest with ChatGPT
ChatGPT can help you organize your updates and tighten your draft, but the facts and the voice must be yours. Admissions officers read enough generic letters to spot one, and an AI tool cannot know your real grades or why a specific program matters to you.
Prompt:
Help me write a one-page letter of continued interest to [University] after being [waitlisted/deferred]. I applied in [month]. Since then, I have [list new grades, awards, activities]. [University] is [my first choice and I will enroll if admitted / one of my top choices]. I am specifically interested in [program, lab, course or professor] because [reason]. Keep it under 350 words, polite and specific, with no flattery that could apply to any school. Do not invent any facts.
Read the output critically. Delete anything you did not say, check every detail, and rewrite sentences until they sound like you.
Conclusion
A letter of continued interest is a small, targeted tool. It will not reverse a decision on its own, but a concise, specific letter can help when a committee is choosing between similar applicants for its last few seats.
Start by checking the school's instructions, since some colleges will not read a LOCI at all. If the school accepts one, send a single page through the right channel, lead with genuine updates, commit only if it is true, and stay polite. Then keep your grades up, because your final transcript still counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a letter of continued interest?
A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a short letter a waitlisted or deferred college applicant sends to an admissions office. It confirms the student still wants to attend, shares meaningful updates since the application was submitted, and explains why the school is a strong fit.
Does a letter of continued interest actually help?
A LOCI can help at schools that consider one, mainly by adding new information and signaling that you are likely to enroll. It cannot help at schools that do not review it: Georgia Tech states that letters of continued interest are not considered, and UC Berkeley tells waitlisted first-year applicants not to submit them.
How long should a letter of continued interest be?
Keep a letter of continued interest to about one page, roughly 250 to 400 words. Focus on new updates and one or two specific reasons the school fits you, and cut anything that repeats your original application.
When should I send a letter of continued interest?
Send your LOCI soon after you opt in to the waitlist or receive a deferral, unless the school gives a specific window. For deferrals, sending it once midyear grades are available lets you include your strongest new data point.
Who should I address a letter of continued interest to?
Address it to your regional admissions officer, the counselor responsible for your high school or area, if the school lists one. Submit it through the channel the school names, such as the applicant portal or an updates form, and include your full name and applicant ID.
Should I say a college is my first choice in a LOCI?
Say a college is your first choice only if it is true and you would enroll if admitted. That commitment carries weight because colleges care about yield, so make it to one school at most.
Can I send a LOCI after an early decision or early action deferral?
Yes, if the school accepts updates from deferred applicants. Some schools use a specific form instead: MIT, for example, asks deferred early action applicants to submit its February Updates & Notes Form through the applicant portal.
