You opened the portal, heart hammering against your ribs, only to see that word: Waitlisted. It’s a gut punch. Honestly, it feels like being told "maybe" on a prom date—it isn't a "no," but it sure isn't the "yes" you were dreaming of. Most people just sit there and wait. They think the decision is out of their hands now. They're wrong. Learning how to write a letter of continued interest (LOCI) is basically your one shot to grab the admissions officer by the lapels—figuratively, please—and remind them why you belong on that campus.
It’s not just a polite "thank you." It’s a strategic move. You’ve got to be fast, but you also have to be smart. If you send a generic, whiny note about how sad you are, you’re wasting everyone's time. This is about showing growth since you hit "submit" back in November or January.
What the heck is a LOCI anyway?
A letter of continued interest is exactly what it sounds like. It is a formal (but warm) email or letter sent to an admissions office—usually for college, but sometimes for law school or even a job waitlist—letting them know you are still 100% down to attend if they let you in.
Think of it as the "Update 2.0" of your application. Since you applied months ago, life has happened. You’ve probably won an award, finished a big project, or finally nailed that impossible chemistry lab. Admissions officers at schools like Harvard, Michigan, or UVA are looking for reasons to pick you over the 500 other kids with the same GPA. They want to see that you aren’t just a set of stats; you’re a human who is still evolving.
Sometimes, schools explicitly tell you not to send one. Check the portal. Seriously. If they say "Do not send extra materials," then don't. Following directions is the first test of whether you're college material. But if they’re silent or encourage updates? That’s your green light.
Why most people fail at the "Continued Interest" part
Most students write these letters like they’re filling out a tax form. They’re boring. Or worse, they sound desperate. "Please, please let me in, it's my dream!" That doesn't help.
The real mistake? Not being specific. If you say you love the school because of the "great community and high-ranking academics," you’ve said nothing. Every school has those. You need to mention the LSA Honors Program at Michigan or a specific research lab led by a professor you actually follow on Twitter. You have to prove that you’ve done your homework.
Another big flub is timing. If you wait three weeks to send your update, the admissions committee might have already started filling spots. You want to hit that sweet spot: about 48 hours to a week after you get the waitlist notification. It shows you’re proactive but not frantic.
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How to write a letter of continued interest that stands out
Start with the basics. Your name, your application ID (if you have one), and a clear subject line like "Letter of Continued Interest - [Your Name]." Don't get fancy with the subject line. These people are reading thousands of emails; don't make them guess what yours is about.
The Opening Hook
You’ve got to be gracious. Thank them for the opportunity to remain on the waitlist. Mention the school by name—don't copy-paste and accidentally leave "Yale" in a letter to "Princeton." It happens more than you think.
The "Why You" Update
This is the meat of the letter. What have you done lately?
- Did you get a 4.0 this semester? Mention it.
- Did you lead your robotics team to states? That’s gold.
- Did you start a part-time job to help your family? Admissions officers love grit.
Keep it punchy. Use short sentences to emphasize your wins. "I led the team. We won. I learned that leadership is about more than just giving orders." See? It feels real.
The "Why Them" Connection
Connect your new achievements to their specific programs. If you just finished a coding bootcamp, mention how that makes you a perfect fit for their Emerging Tech Initiative. This shows you aren’t just a good student—you’re a good student for them.
According to Sally Rubenstone from College Confidential, the most effective letters are the ones that make the admissions officer visualize you on campus. You want them to think, "Oh, this kid would actually use that new lab we just built."
The nuance of tone: Don't be a robot
There is a weird balance you have to strike. You want to be professional, but you don't want to sound like an AI-generated legal brief. Use words like "honestly," "thrilled," or "passionate." It’s okay to show a little personality.
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If you’re a funny person, let a tiny bit of that humor peek through, but don't tell jokes. If you’re a serious researcher, stay in that lane. The goal is to match the "voice" of your original application so they know it’s really you writing this.
One thing to avoid: "I know I belong there." It sounds arrogant. Instead, try "I am confident that my background in community organizing aligns with the values of the [School Name] student body." It’s a subtle shift, but it makes a huge difference in how you're perceived.
The "First Choice" Promise
This is the nuclear option of the LOCI. If—and only if—the school is truly your absolute number one choice, say it.
"If admitted, I will attend."
That is a powerful sentence. Yield rates (the percentage of admitted students who actually enroll) are huge for college rankings. If an admissions officer knows for a fact that admitting you equals a guaranteed enrollment, your value goes up. But don't lie. If you say this to three different schools and get into all of them, you’re going to have a very awkward (and potentially problematic) situation on your hands. Be honest.
Real-world examples of "The Update"
Let’s look at how to frame a recent achievement.
Weak version: I have continued to work hard in my classes and I am doing well in AP Bio.
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Strong version: Since my initial application, I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA, specifically earning an A+ on my independent research project regarding CRISPR gene editing in AP Biology. This project deepened my desire to work under Dr. Jennifer Doudna’s research umbrella at Berkeley.
The second one is specific. It names the project. It names a professor. It shows you aren't just "working hard"—it shows what that work actually looks like.
Length and Formatting Tips
Keep it to one page. One. Page. If it’s longer than 500 words, you’re rambling. Admissions officers have about 90 seconds to read your update.
- Font: Use something standard like Arial or Times New Roman. No Comic Sans, please.
- Paragraphs: Keep them varied. A long paragraph for your main update, followed by a short, two-sentence punch about your commitment to the school.
- Closing: "Sincerely" or "Respectfully" works best.
What happens after you hit send?
You wait. Again. I know, it sucks.
But you’ve done the work. You’ve followed the steps on how to write a letter of continued interest and put your best foot forward. Now, focus on the schools that did say yes. Fall in love with your "Plan B." Often, once you start getting excited about another school, the waitlist offer pops up. That’s just how the universe works sometimes.
Keep an eye on your email. Some schools go to their waitlist as early as April, while others wait until after the May 1st "National Candidates Reply Date."
Actionable Next Steps
- Verify the policy: Log into your portal right now. See if they allow updates or if they have a specific form you need to fill out instead of an email.
- Gather your wins: Sit down with a notebook. List everything you’ve done since the day you submitted your application. No matter how small it feels, write it down.
- Identify your "Why": Find one specific club, class, or professor at the school that you haven't mentioned yet in your previous essays.
- Draft the "First Choice" statement: Decide if you are ready to commit. If you are, write that "I will attend" sentence and make it bold in your mind.
- Proofread three times: Once for spelling, once for tone, and once to make sure you didn't call the school the wrong name.
- Send it: Don't overthink it for three weeks. Get it in, then go outside and take a breath. You've done what you can.