Applying to college can be daunting, especially since you’ve never seen so much paperwork in your life! What’s even worse is when you do not receive the news you expected such as being deferred or waitlisted. And the bad news just keeps pilling in.
Alas! We’re here to tell you that not all hope is lost! Here, we will be discussing about a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) which you may or may not have heard of. We’ll get to know what this letter’s all about, how to write the best one to get the admission officer’s attention, and start getting some positive replies.
Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)
Typically, if a school puts you on the deferred or waiting list, it will also come with a set of instructions that could go both ways. Some schools specifically tell you not to send a letter in which it means you should just move on to focus on other schools. But in most cases, you will be invited to update the application along the way should you have new achievements.
This is where a Letter of Continued Interest comes in, as it describes your ongoing interest to attend the school and why. It also allows you to update your application to include your latest goals.
Details you should include for a great LOCI
Being put in a waiting list usually means that your application has the competitive edge, but you are still lacking that little something to make the cut. Therefore, the best way to elevate your ‘score’ is to give them new information.
Here’s what you should include:
- Firstly, thank the admissions officer for taking the time to re-evaluate your application and materials. Re-state why you want to attend the school and if it was your first choice, tell reiterate why.
- Next, share new information regarding any recent achievements. This could include extracurricular activities, winning any type of competitions, or doing something good for the community. Even if you’ve just begun any particular projects, it is worth mentioning them.
- Then, if you’ve visited the campus before, tell them how you feel (if it was a positive experience).
- Lastly, a brief thank you again to the reader and don’t forget to sign off with a formal ending.
Your LOCI should have as much new information about yourself as possible, but it does not have to be lengthy. Be sure to include all the details above in an easy-to-read manner.