Letter of Continued Interest: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Write One

Getting waitlisted or deferred can feel frustrating. After months of building your application, writing essays, and waiting for decisions, it’s hard not knowing what comes next. But one of the few meaningful steps students can still take is writing a thoughtful letter of continued interest.

A letter of continued interest can reinforce your enthusiasm for a school while highlighting meaningful updates since you applied. In this blog, we’ll explain what a letter of continued interest is, when sending one makes sense, and how to write a letter that helps your application stand out as admissions officers make final decisions.

• What Is a Letter of Continued Interest?
• Should You Write a Letter of Continued Interest?
• How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest
• Letter of Continued Interest Example
• Need Help Writing a Letter of Continued Interest?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is a Letter of Continued Interest?

A letter of continued interest, often called a LOCI, is a short letter you send to a college admissions office after being deferred or waitlisted. Its purpose is to let the admissions committee know that you’re still highly interested in attending the school and would like your application to remain under consideration.

You would typically write a LOCI if you were deferred after applying through Early Action or Early Decision, or if you were placed on a waitlist during the Regular Decision round. Instead of simply waiting for a final decision, you can use the letter to provide updates that may strengthen your application, such as improved grades or new awards.

In most cases, a letter of continued interest serves two important purposes. First, it reaffirms that you genuinely want to attend the university. Second, it gives the admissions office new information that was not included in your original application. Since some colleges consider demonstrated interest during the admissions process, a thoughtful LOCI can help show that you remain serious, engaged, and enthusiastic about the school.

That said, you should avoid thinking of a LOCI as a guaranteed path to admission. A strong letter of continued interest can’t override major weaknesses in your application or guarantee you a spot in the incoming class. However, when written well, it can strengthen your overall application and show why you remain a strong fit for the college.

Should You Write a Letter of Continued Interest?

In most cases, yes. A letter of continued interest can reinforce your enthusiasm for the school and provide meaningful updates since you submitted your application. However, you should always check the college’s admissions policies first, since some schools welcome additional updates while others don’t consider them at all.

For example, USC states that it doesn’t track demonstrated interest, meaning a LOCI is unlikely to influence your admissions decision there. If a college says not to send additional materials, you should follow those instructions carefully.

When you should send a LOCI

You should send a letter of continued interest if the college allows additional updates and you have meaningful new information to share, such as senior-year grades, updated test scores, awards, leadership roles, or extracurricular achievements. Some colleges explicitly encourage students to submit updates after being deferred or waitlisted.

For example, Johns Hopkins specifically recommends that waitlisted students submit a one-page letter explaining why they remain interested in the university and why it continues to be the right fit for them. On the other hand, while Caltech doesn’t explicitly mention LOCIs, it does encourage applicants to submit supplementary materials to support their application.

A LOCI also makes the most sense when the school remains one of your genuine top choices and you would seriously consider attending if admitted.

Most importantly, your letter should add substance. Simply repeating that you “really love the school” without offering new updates or thoughtful reasons for your continued interest isn’t usually effective.

When you should not send a LOCI

You should avoid sending a letter of continued interest if the college explicitly states that it doesn’t accept additional materials or updates. Ignoring those instructions won’t improve your chances and may suggest that you lack attention to detail by not following the process.

Another common mistake students make is sending a LOCI out of panic. A rushed or generic letter that simply repeats information already in your application can come across as unprepared or insincere. Remember, a thoughtful and specific LOCI is far more effective than sending a letter just for the sake of sending one.

Does a letter of continued interest actually help?

Sometimes, yes, but it’s important to keep realistic expectations. A letter of continued interest can’t guarantee admission, and at highly selective colleges, the odds of being admitted after a deferral or waitlist decision are often limited regardless of what you send.

According to data reported by 188 colleges to U.S. News, only about 25% of waitlisted students were ultimately admitted for the fall 2025 admissions cycle. In other words, most waitlisted applicants ultimately weren’t offered a spot, regardless of whether they sent additional materials.

Still, that doesn’t mean a LOCI is pointless. When admissions officers are reviewing students with similar academic profiles and accomplishments, a thoughtful letter that shows genuine enthusiasm for the school and includes meaningful new updates can help leave a stronger impression. While a LOCI alone won’t determine your admissions decision, it can help remind the college why you would be a valuable addition to the incoming class.

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest

Writing a strong letter of continued interest is about being specific, thoughtful, and intentional. Admissions officers value concise updates that clearly explain why you remain interested in the school and what has changed since you originally applied. In most cases, your LOCI should stay within 300 to 400 words and focus on information that adds value to your application.

Below, we’ll walk through how to structure your letter, what admissions officers look for, common mistakes you should avoid, and examples of what effective responses can look like.

1. Reaffirm your interest.

Start your letter with a direct statement that reaffirms your continued interest in the college. If possible, address the letter to a specific admissions representative instead of using a generic greeting. Early in the letter, explicitly mention the school by name and communicate that you remain genuinely excited about the opportunity to attend.

Avoid opening with cliches, exaggerated praise, or dramatic and emotional appeals about how devastated you felt after being deferred or waitlisted. Remember, your letter should sound professional, thoughtful, and composed rather than desperate.

2. Share what’s new.

Meaningful updates can include improved grades or GPA, higher SAT or ACT scores, a new award or honor, or a leadership role in an extracurricular activity. You can also mention experiences such as research, internships, or volunteer work you’ve done since you applied.

When sharing updates, make sure they’re specific. Instead of vaguely saying you’ve “continued to work hard,” explain exactly what changed and why it helps your case. Did you raise your GPA by three points? Maybe your research project on thermal insulation earned recognition at Regeneron ISEF? Concrete details add credibility and help show that these are genuine new accomplishments rather than information already covered in your original application.

3. Demonstrate fit and first-choice interest.

If the college is truly your first-choice school and you would enroll immediately if admitted, this is the right place to say so clearly and directly. It’s not enough to say “I love your campus culture” or “I can see myself there,” as those phrases could apply to almost any college. Explain exactly why the school fits you using personal connections.

For example, if you’re interested in cancer research, you might mention opportunities connected to the Harvard Radiation Oncology Program (HROP). If you want to study robotics and artificial intelligence, you could reference MIT professor Daniela Rus’ robotics research and explain how her work aligns with your interests.

4. End on a professional note.

End with a brief thank-you to the admissions committee for taking the time to reconsider your application, followed by one final statement reaffirming your continued interest in the school. Like other parts of your letter, the closing should feel professional, confident, and appreciative without sounding overly emotional or repetitive.

Before sending, proofread it carefully for grammar, spelling, and tone, and consider asking a counselor, teacher, or trusted adult to review it as well.

5. Send your letter the right way.

Carefully review the instructions included in your deferral or waitlist notification before sending your letter. Some colleges ask students to submit updates through an applicant portal or online form, while others prefer email submissions directly to the admissions office.

Timing is also important. According to Forbes, many colleges now use waitlists much more actively throughout the admissions cycle, with some students being placed on waitlists as early as November or December and others coming off the waitlist as early as March or April.

Because of this, deferred students should usually send their LOCI within a few weeks of their decision, while waitlisted students should aim to send theirs within one to two weeks. One letter is enough, so avoid sending repeated follow-ups or emailing multiple admissions officers.

Letter of Continued Interest Example

The example below shows what a strong LOCI can look like in practice. Notice how the letter stays concise while clearly reaffirming interest, sharing meaningful updates, and connecting the student’s goals to specific opportunities at the school.

Dear Ms. Thompson,

Thank you for continuing to review my application to Northwestern University. I remain extremely interested in attending Northwestern, and after reflecting further on my college goals over the past few months, I am even more confident that the university would be an excellent fit for me academically and personally.

Since submitting my application, I have continued to challenge myself academically and have earned straight A’s in my senior-year courses, raising my cumulative GPA from 3.84 to 3.92. I also recently received recognition at my state science fair for my independent research project, “HeatShield: A Study on Low-Cost Thermal Insulation for Energy-Efficient Housing.” In addition, I was elected president of my school’s STEM Club, where I now lead weekly workshops for underclassmen interested in engineering and robotics.

Northwestern continues to stand out to me because of its strong balance between collaborative research and interdisciplinary learning. I am especially excited by opportunities within the McCormick School of Engineering, particularly the Segal Design Institute and its emphasis on human-centered problem solving. After attending a virtual student panel earlier this year, I was also drawn to the collaborative environment students described across both engineering and extracurricular communities.

If admitted, Northwestern would remain one of my top choices, and I would be excited for the opportunity to contribute to the campus community. Thank you again for your time and consideration. I truly appreciate the opportunity to remain under review.

Sincerely,

Jordan Lee

Need Help Writing a Letter of Continued Interest?

Writing a letter of continued interest can feel stressful, especially since there’s no guarantee you’ll ultimately be admitted off the waitlist or after a deferral. Still, if the school allows additional updates, submitting a thoughtful letter is one of the best ways to strengthen your application.

AdmissionSight’s one-on-one consulting services give students direct access to experienced admissions experts who can help craft a specific, compelling, and polished LOCI. From identifying the most meaningful updates to refining your tone and demonstrating fit, our team can help maximize your chances of turning a deferral or waitlist decision into an acceptance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a letter of continued interest and when should I send one?

A letter of continued interest is a short letter you send to a college after being deferred or waitlisted to reaffirm your interest and provide meaningful updates since your original application. In general, you should send it within a few weeks of receiving your decision, as long as the school allows additional materials.

2. How long should a letter of continued interest be?

Most LOCIs should stay between 300 and 400 words. Admissions officers prefer concise letters that clearly communicate new updates, continued interest, and specific reasons why the school remains a top choice for you.

3. Should I write a letter of continued interest if the school didn’t ask for one?

Usually, yes, unless the college specifically says it does not accept additional materials or updates. Before sending anything, carefully review the school’s admissions instructions to make sure a letter of continued interest is allowed.

4. How do I write a letter of continued interest that actually stands out?

The strongest letters are specific, personal, and well researched. Share tangible updates since submitting your application, and explain clearly why the school still aligns with your goals. Instead of saying something generic like you “love the campus culture,” mention a professor, research opportunity, or student organization that genuinely connects to your interests.

5. Does sending a letter of continued interest improve my chances of getting off the waitlist?

Not always. A letter of continued interest can’t guarantee admission, especially at highly selective schools where waitlist acceptance rates are often low. However, a thoughtful and well-written letter can strengthen your application and help reinforce your interest when admissions officers review waitlisted candidates.

Takeaways

• A letter of continued interest is a short letter you can send after being deferred or waitlisted to reaffirm your interest and share meaningful new accomplishments.
• The strongest letters are concise, specific, and focused on genuine updates such as improved grades, awards, leadership roles, research, or extracurricular achievements.
• Use specific examples like professors, research programs, internships, or student organizations to explain why a college genuinely aligns with your interests and goals.
• While a letter of continued interest can’t guarantee admission, it can still strengthen your application and help reinforce your interest during the final stages of admissions.
• Work with an admissions expert who can help you craft a strong letter, highlight the most meaningful updates, and present your continued interest in a clear and compelling way.