One More Shot: How To Write a Winning LOCI After Deferral or Waitlist

Students who’ve been deferred or waitlisted soon discover they may need to write a letter of continued interest, or LOCI. The main purpose is simple enough: telling the school you still want to attend. But, there’s more to it, because you’ll want to make sure you craft a letter that follows the school’s guidelines and helps you stand out! In this post we’ll tell you what an LOCI is, where to send it, and how to write it so it helps you turn your deferred or waitlist status into an admission offer instead!

Have you been deferred after applying Early Action or Early Decision?

Or, did you get waitlisted after applying during the Regular Decision round?

That may not be the news you wanted, but it still offers you an opportunity for getting in — if you’re up to doing some work to stand out in the final stage of this annual admissions ritual!

One almost universal step after being deferred or waitlisted is submitting a well-crafted Letter of Continued Interest, or LOCI. The LOCI lets the prospective school know you still want to attend, but there’s a little more to it than that, so let’s dive in…

In this post we’ll cover all the questions students typically have about Letters of Continued Interest:

What is a letter of continued interest (LOCI)?

When do I send it, and to whom?

How do I write one?

What does a (sample) LOCI look like ?

How to revise and polish it (and avoid mistakes)?

How to get help writing one that's right for me?

What is a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)?

If you’ve been deferred — after applying Early Action or Early Decision — or you've been waitlisted, after applying Regular Decision, a Letter of Continued Interest is a formal email letter you send to let the college know that you still have a strong interest in attending the school.

When do I send it? To whom?

The college will likely communicate what you need to do if you’ve been deferred or waitlisted, including letting you know about any deadline for sending your LOCI or submitting other updates, letters, or school reports they require or recommend.

Just as you followed directions and guidelines closely when applying to the school, you’ll want to carefully read any notifications or communications from the prospective college so you don't miss any remaining opportunities that may help you convert you uncertain status into an actual offer of admission.

In addition to alerting you to any deadlines, the college’s deferral or waitlist notification should include instructions on where — and to whom — you should send your Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). Sometimes, instead of a letter, the school may ask you to fill out a specific form.

Some schools may even tell you not to send a letter, in which case, don't.

If the instructions aren’t clear, it’s best to send your LOCI to the person who contacted you about the deferral or waitlist decision. Still unsure? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the admissions office to confirm.

Before you submit your LOCI, it’s a smart move to get advice from your college counselor or Crimson strategist to make sure you’re covering everything important.

How do I write a LOCI?

It’s easier to go about writing your LOCI if you remember its purpose is to:

• reaffirm your interest
• update the school on your progress
• remind admissions officers why you're an excellent fit

With this in mind, here's what to cover in your LOCI:

1. Acknowledge your deferral or waitlist status and clearly state that the school remains a top choice, or your first choice.
2. Reaffirm your interest in attending by emphasizing specific programs, values, or opportunities that align with your goals and interests. Highlight any specific resources or distinctive offerings that genuinely excite you and explain how you'd take advantage of them.
3. Share meaningful updates about new extracurricular involvement, new test score results (such as AP, IB, or SAT/ACT), academic honors, or other meaningful personal accomplishments. Remember, some time has passed since you submitted your initial application, so think of your letter as a polite and concise progress report expressing your continuing interests and commitments.

Other tips for writing your LOCI:

• You want your LOCI to be formal in tone, and you should convey appreciation, optimism, and professionalism.
• Be sure to address the letter to the proper person, using their professional name and title.
• You can start the letter by thanking the admissions committee for their consideration of your application and expressing your continued enthusiasm for attending.
• Stay consistent when it comes to grammar, punctuation, tone and style — such as conforming to the style used previously in your supplemental essays.
• Avoid expressing frustration or implying the admissions officials made a mistake.
• Be clear, concise, and sincere.

What does a sample Letter of Continuing Interest look like?

How to review, polish, and ensure an error-free LOCI?

Taking time to ensure a careful review of your LOCI before submitting is an important step. It's crucial for submitting an error-free, professional letter, and for making sure it truly reflects as positively as possible on you and your genuine interest in pursuing an offer of admission.

This checklist ensures you’re sending a top-notch letter. Your care and attention to detail is important — it’s one more way to stand out and communicate how much you want to attend their school!

How to get help writing an LOCI?

It can be challenging to know exactly how to write a strong LOCI that’s also carefully tailored to your personal circumstances. In other words, we get it, this can be easier said than done, even with all the guidance we’ve just provided!

This is why students often come to us for expert LOCI support. With a Crimson strategist on your side, you can take the guesswork out of the process and ensure you’re on the right path, executing with the best strategy and approach, and giving yourself the best odds for success.

Not already part of the Crimson network? Getting started is easier than you think... Reach out to a Crimson team member today with any questions you have or to get connected promptly with an expert — before it’s time to submit your letter!

Final Thoughts

Right when you thought the application process was behind you, being deferred or waitlisted can open doors to a new round of uncertainty and come with some new application steps and deadlines!

Key in navigating this process and exploiting your remaining opportunity for getting in is the task of writing a compelling and professional Letter of Continued Interest. This letter is, yes, another task demanding your attention, but it also represents one last shot — a new opportunity to share your enthusiasm for attending the school along with any meaningful updates on your activities or academic progress, and highlighting the specific resources or features you want to take advantage of.

This makes writing your LOCI more than a rote task, and one worthy of careful thought and attention. So, if you want an expert at your side for your next step, remember that experienced Crimson team members can offer personalized LOCI support today.

To connect with an expert and make your last shot your best one, schedule a free feedback session to get started.