If you read our blog post from a few weeks ago about the best actions to take after a deferral, you know that Letters of Continued Interest (LOCIs) are typically a central part of most deferral strategies. Of course, it’s important to remember that some schools do not actually want LOCIs.
UVA, in particular, has specifically indicated that they do not want to receive these letters this year - so don’t send them! That said, for schools that do consider demonstrated interest, this is the best way to let them know you are still interested and provide any updates since you submitted your early application.
We’ll start off with sharing some steps to get started before moving on to sample letters. Remember, don’t copy these directly (or even indirectly!). These are just examples that we hope will be helpful as sit down to write your own letter.
1. Introduction
Start the letter by introducing yourself and letting the admissions officer know that you appreciate their continued consideration in the regular decision round, if applicable. The introduction is also a great place to reiterate your interest in the school and confirm that you will attend if admitted (only if that is truly the case!)
2. Personal Connection
It is helpful to include a personal story to demonstrate your interest in your top-choice school. This should not be something you’ve mentioned in the application, but if you were able to visit campus since you applied, or speak to a current student or alum, this is the place to mention that interaction. Your goal here is to demonstrate how your values align with the school’s values, and why you think you would be a good fit. You might also mention a specific program or organization that interests you, especially if your application did not include a “why this school” essay.
3. Updates
Try to include 1-3 updates along with your LOCI. You likely submitted your application between August and October, so now is the time to let them know how the last couple of months went for you. If you earned an award or became president of a club, great! But even if you don’t have a big accomplishment to share, you can still let the college know how you have been spending your time. Are you working hard to participate in online classes? Did you do any volunteer work over the holiday? Admissions officers understand that updates will look different during the pandemic, so don’t be afraid to include activities that you have worked on at home, virtually, or on your own.
4. Conclusion
Finish the letter by reiterating your interest in the school, particularly if it is your first choice. You can also offer to include additional materials, meet with the admissions office, or answer additional questions if appropriate - if you do, make sure to include your contact information as well. Finish the letter off with your name, high school, and applicant ID number (usually available through your applicant portal) to make it easier for the admissions officer to quickly add the letter to your file.
Here are a couple examples of LOCIs from different types of students to help guide you through your draft:
This student mentions clearly that the school is her first choice, and has some impressive accomplishments to share!
This student doesn’t mention that the school is his first choice, but still expresses his interest and updates the admissions officer on his last few months!
As we have also mentioned in past blog posts, if you are a student who is not working with us directly as a client, you should make sure to reach out to your school counselor about your deferral. They will be able to let you know whether or not a specific school accepts LOCIs, and they can also make a call to the school to see if there are any particular areas that you should focus on improving or emphasizing in your application. This information will help you to tailor the LOCI to a specific school.
For our own clients, we will instruct you to contact your school counselor if appropriate, depending on the college involved (some schools will provide useful information to school counselors and others will not). Don’t forget to book a meeting with us so that we can discuss the situation and help you write your LOCIs.