Blog / Writing

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest (With Examples and Steps)

Written by Muhammad Bin Habib

Tue Oct 14 2025

Learn how to write a LOCI that strengthens your application.

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest

Getting waitlisted or deferred is not a final rejection. Schools leave space for candidates who stay engaged and demonstrate ongoing commitment. A Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) is your chance to do that properly. It shows you still want the spot, have grown since applying, and understand the expectations of the institution.

A strong LOCI is not a plea or a repeat of your application. It is a short, focused update that reaffirms interest, adds relevant progress, and shows respect for the process. Tone, structure, and timing matter more than length.

Here is what this guide covers:

What a LOCI is and why schools use it
When to send one
What to include and what to avoid
Exact steps to write it well
A sample to model your tone and structure

What Is a Letter of Continued Interest?

Colleges receive more qualified applicants than they can accept. A LOCI gives them a reason to reconsider you when final decisions open back up. It acts as an update and a reaffirmation of intent.

Definition and Intent

A Letter of Continued Interest tells the admissions office you are still committed to enrolling if admitted. It also informs them of any new achievements or developments since you submitted your application.

When Schools Expect One

Most colleges do not request it outright but expect strong candidates to send one. Some offer portals or direct instructions after deferral or waitlist updates. Others accept email submissions addressed to the admissions office.

How It Differs From a Traditional Update Letter

An update letter only shares new achievements. A LOCI combines updates with continued interest and intent to enroll. It reads with purpose, not just information.

When You Should Send a Letter of Continued Interest

Timing gives the letter weight. You do not send one randomly or too late in the cycle. The school must still be in decision mode for it to matter.

After Being Waitlisted

If you received a waitlist notice, a LOCI signals you remain serious. Many admitted students from waitlists had already reaffirmed their interest this way.

After a Deferral

A deferral shifts your application into the next review round. A LOCI shows you are still ready to attend and that your application is still active.

Timeline and Response Windows

Most letters go out within two to four weeks of a decision notice. Sending it early keeps your name in review discussions. Sending it too late reduces its influence.

What to Include in a Letter of Continued Interest

A LOCI works when it gives the admissions office a reason to keep you in the running. The letter should be tight, factual, and forward-looking. Every line needs to signal commitment, progress, and alignment with the school.

Clear Expression of Continued Interest

Make your intent unmistakable. State that you remain eager to attend and would accept an offer if admitted. Avoid casual phrasing like “still interested” or “would consider enrolling.” Clarity signals maturity and commitment.

New Achievements Since Applying

Admissions officers want to see progress, not repetition. Add only what happened after you applied:

Updated grades or test scores
Awards, honors, or recognitions
New leadership roles or responsibilities
Research, internships, projects, or competitions
Community work or measurable impact

Each update should be recent, verifiable, and relevant to your academic direction.

Academic and Program Fit

Tie your goals directly to what the school offers. Reference programs, concentrations, labs, minors, or faculty where there is a real connection. This shows you are not sending a generic letter.

Contribution to Campus Life

Schools want signs you will add value beyond coursework. Mention clubs, initiatives, service groups, or innovation spaces you plan to join. Link past involvement to how you would participate on campus.

Professional Tone and Gratitude

Your voice should feel self-assured and respectful. Thank the committee for reviewing your application and keeping you under consideration. The tone should match a formal update, not a plea.

Contact Details and Availability

Close the letter with your email, phone number, or applicant portal details. If additional documents, scores, or transcripts are pending, mention what is coming and when.

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest, Step by Step

A LOCI should read smoothly, stay under one page, and move with intent. The structure matters as much as the content. Admissions officers skim, so each part needs purpose.

Step 1. Open With Purpose

Start with a direct line that states your continued interest in the school. Name the institution and, if relevant, the specific program or major. This opening sets the tone and removes any doubt about your intent.

Step 2. Reaffirm Fit

Use a short paragraph to connect your goals to what the school offers. Mention a course, department, concentration, lab, or faculty area that aligns with your plans. This shows your decision is considered, not emotional.

Step 3. Add Targeted Updates

Include two to four meaningful updates since your original application. Use crisp sentences. Highlight outcomes, roles, and impact. Admissions officers should be able to absorb the list in seconds.

Step 4. Confirm Intent to Enroll if Admitted

If the school is your first choice, state it directly. A clear commitment can influence final decisions when space opens up.

Step 5. Close With Thanks and Contact Details

End with a concise thank-you. Offer to provide additional materials if needed. Include the best way to reach you so there is no gap in communication.

Example Letter of Continued Interest

Dear Admissions Committee,

I am writing to reaffirm my strong interest in enrolling at Crestview University if admitted from the waitlist. Crestview remains my first choice, and I would accept an offer immediately.

Since submitting my application, I have earned an A in AP Physics C and placed second at the State Science Olympiad in the Circuit Design division. I was promoted to captain of my robotics team and led a five-person group that completed a functional LiDAR module for regionals.

I also began a part-time internship at NovaTech Labs, where I assist with sensor calibration and data logging for edge-device prototypes.

My goals align closely with the Intro to Mechatronics track and the Applied Robotics Lab. Professor Lin’s work on low-power sensing directly overlaps with my current research interests, and I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to the Robotics Club’s outreach program.

Thank you for continuing to review my application. I would be honored to join the Class of 2029 and I am ready to provide any additional information if needed. I can be reached at [email] and [phone].

Sincerely,
[Full Name]
[Application ID]

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A Letter of Continued Interest can help, but only if it reads clean, confident, and relevant. Many applicants weaken their chances by sending letters that sound recycled, emotional, or unfocused. Admissions officers scan quickly, so clarity and restraint matter more than enthusiasm.

Repeating Your Original Application

Reusing sentences from your personal statement or activities list adds no value. The committee has already reviewed that material. A LOCI should only introduce new accomplishments, stronger academic evidence, or clarified intent.

Making Claims Without Proof

Broad statements like “I have improved a lot” or “I have stayed very involved” fall flat without numbers, roles, or outcomes. Specifics such as GPA changes, competition rankings, publication updates, leadership titles, or measurable contributions make your progress credible.

Sounding Desperate or Pressuring

Emotional language, pleading, or comparing yourself to other applicants leaves a poor impression. Admissions teams respond better to confidence, clarity, and professionalism. A LOCI is not a negotiation or complaint—it is a reaffirmation and update.

Ignoring Relevance

Some students list minor accomplishments that do not support their academic goals or match the school’s strengths. If an update does not help your case, leave it out. One strong addition outweighs a list of filler achievements.

Writing Past One Page

Long letters get skimmed or ignored. A LOCI should not read like an essay. One page with tight paragraphs signals maturity, respect for time, and control over your message. Anything more tends to blur your key points.

Tips to Strengthen Your Letter

A strong LOCI isn’t just about including the right elements—it’s about shaping them with precision. The goal is to make the committee’s decision easier, not to overwhelm them with recycled details or filler text.

Keep It Specific

General interest gets ignored. Admissions reviewers look for signals that you understand the institution and see a defined place for yourself there. Referencing a department, concentration, lab, course name, or faculty interest tells them your intent is real, not reactive.

Choose High-Value Updates

Not every update earns a place in the letter. Pick no more than three to four that strengthen your application directly—academic achievements, new awards, leadership roles tied to your interests, published work, or recognitions that match your intended major.

Personalize Without Flattery

Schools know when applicants send template letters to multiple campuses. Instead of praising the university, show alignment through goals, curriculum, or resources you plan to use. Genuine relevance speaks louder than broad compliments.

Follow Exact Instructions

Some schools specify length limits, upload formats, or submission portals. Ignoring these requirements makes a good letter look careless. If guidelines are unclear, default to under one page and professional formatting.

Formatting and Length Guidelines

Admissions officers skim hundreds of letters in short windows. A good LOCI respects their time and reads cleanly on any screen or portal. Presentation affects how your message lands, even when the content is strong.

Ideal Word Count

Aim for 200 to 350 words. Anything longer risks losing attention before your strongest points land. One tight page is the ceiling. If you can say it in fewer words without losing impact, even better.

Submission Method

Schools handle LOCIs differently, so the format should match their system:

Applicant Portal: Many colleges provide a document upload field or text box for updates. Follow the structure but preserve spacing.
Email: If email submission is acceptable, use a direct subject line and attach a PDF if formatting matters. Plain text is fine when the message is concise and well spaced.
PDF or DOC: PDF preserves layout, spacing, and name formatting. Use it when attachments are permitted or when the portal specifies uploads.

Subject Line and Salutation

If you send your letter by email, clarity beats creativity. A subject line like:

Letter of Continued Interest — [Full Name], [Application ID] ensures easy routing and identification. Address the admissions office or your regional representative if one is assigned. If you are unsure, “Admissions Committee” is appropriate and safe.

Presentation does not win you admission, but poor formatting can dull the impact of strong updates. Clean structure keeps the focus where it belongs, on your progress and intent.

How Chatly Can Help You Draft a Letter of Continued Interest

A LOCI has no room for filler or hesitation. You get one shot to update your file, and most students either overwrite or under-deliver. Chatly helps you shape a version that sounds like you, reads clearly, and reinforces your case without begging or repeating your application.

Tailor Tone and Structure to the Situation

Chatly can build your letter around your exact status—waitlist or deferral—and match the tone expectations of the school. You provide your updates and target program, and it structures a clean opening, focused body, and confident close.

Edit for Brevity Without Losing Strength

Most LOCIs fail because they ramble or feel bloated. Chatly trims lines that don’t strengthen your case and restructures sentences so your best points land quickly. The final version stays under one page but carries weight.

Adapt the Same Core Message for Multiple Schools

If you are on several waitlists, rewriting from scratch wastes time and invites errors. Chatly can generate tailored versions that retain your core achievements but swap out school-specific references, programs, departments, and faculty mentions.

Run Final Polishing Before Submission

Before you send, Chatly can tighten tone, remove weak phrasing, and check formatting for email, PDF, or portal uploads. It can also generate a subject line, closing signature, and a cleaned-up version that admissions teams can read quickly.

A LOCI has to sound like a serious applicant who is still moving forward—not someone trying again after being overlooked. Chatly helps you strike that tone with precision instead of guesswork.

Conclusion

A Letter of Continued Interest works when it gives the admissions office a reason to keep you in the pool. It is not a recap of your old application or a plea for reconsideration. The strongest letters do three things clearly: restate genuine intent, add new value, and connect your goals to the school.

Admissions teams make final decisions fast. A focused, confident LOCI puts your name back in the conversation instead of fading into the waitlist stack.