>
>
>
How to write a letter of continued interest
How to write a letter of continued interest
How to write a letter of continued interest | RISE Research
How to write a letter of continued interest | RISE Research
RISE Research
RISE Research
TL:DR: Receiving a deferral or waitlist decision from a top university is not a rejection. It is an invitation to demonstrate that you still want to be there. Knowing how to write a letter of continued interest can be the difference between a final acceptance and a permanent pass. This guide breaks down exactly what to write, what to avoid, and how to present your continued candidacy with confidence and precision.
What Is a Letter of Continued Interest?
A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a formal written communication sent to a university after you have been deferred or placed on the waitlist. Its purpose is to reaffirm your commitment to attending that institution and to update the admissions committee on any meaningful developments in your academic or extracurricular profile since you submitted your original application.
Admissions officers at selective universities read hundreds of these letters every cycle. The strongest ones are specific, substantive, and strategically written. They do not repeat what is already in the application. They add new information and articulate a genuine, well-researched reason for wanting to attend that particular school.
When Should You Send a Letter of Continued Interest?
Timing matters. Send your letter within two to three weeks of receiving a deferral or waitlist notification. Do not wait until the deadline passes. Admissions offices interpret a delayed response as diminished interest.
For deferred applicants, send the letter shortly after notification, typically in January or February. For waitlisted applicants, send it as soon as the school opens its waitlist process, usually in April. Check each university's portal or communication for specific instructions. Some schools explicitly invite updates; others ask applicants not to send additional materials. Follow those instructions precisely.
How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest: The Core Structure
A strong letter of continued interest follows a clear, professional structure. It should be concise, typically 250 to 400 words, and formatted as a formal letter or email depending on the school's preferred channel.
1. Open With a Direct Statement of Intent
Begin by stating your name, the program you applied to, and your continued strong interest in attending. Do not bury the lead. Admissions officers should know within the first two sentences exactly why you are writing.
Example opening: "My name is Sofia Reyes, and I applied to the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am writing to reaffirm that [University Name] remains my first choice, and I would enroll immediately upon acceptance."
That phrase, "I would enroll immediately upon acceptance," carries significant weight. It signals demonstrated interest and improves your yield probability in the eyes of the admissions committee. To understand how colleges track and value demonstrated interest, read this guide on demonstrated interest and which colleges track it.
2. Share Meaningful Updates
This is the most critical section of the letter. Do not restate what is already in your application. Instead, share new, verifiable achievements or developments that have occurred since your application was submitted. These updates should be substantive and relevant to your academic profile.
Strong updates to include:
A new award, scholarship, or competition result
A research publication, acceptance to a journal, or ongoing research project
An improved grade or standardized test score
A new leadership position or significant extracurricular achievement
Acceptance or participation in a selective program or internship
If you have published or are in the process of publishing original research, this is one of the most powerful updates you can include. Admissions committees at elite universities respond to evidence of intellectual initiative. Students who have worked with PhD mentors and contributed to peer-reviewed literature demonstrate exactly the kind of academic seriousness that selective programs seek. You can explore the kind of research high school students are producing through Rise Research publications.
How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest: Connecting Updates to the School
After presenting your updates, connect them directly to specific resources, faculty, programs, or opportunities at the university. This is where generic letters fail. Vague praise for a school's "amazing community" or "world-class faculty" adds nothing. Specificity is what separates a compelling letter from a forgettable one.
Reference a specific professor whose research aligns with yours. Name a lab, center, or program you intend to engage with. Mention a course sequence, a student organization, or a research initiative that connects directly to your academic goals. This level of detail signals that your interest is informed, not performative.
For example, if you have conducted research in economics or finance, you might reference specific faculty working in behavioral economics or financial markets, and explain how your existing research, such as an analysis of investor reactions to IPO underpricing across financial and technology sectors, positions you to contribute to that work.
3. Close With a Confident, Courteous Statement
End the letter by thanking the admissions committee for their continued consideration. Restate your commitment clearly and without desperation. Keep the tone confident and professional.
Avoid emotional appeals. Do not describe how devastated you were by the deferral. Admissions officers are not moved by sentiment; they are moved by evidence of potential and fit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even well-intentioned letters can undermine a candidacy. Avoid the following errors:
Repeating your original application: The committee has already read it. New information only.
Writing too long: A letter exceeding 500 words signals poor editing judgment. Keep it tight.
Generic praise: Statements like "I love the campus culture" are not persuasive. Be specific.
Apologetic tone: You are not apologizing for being deferred. You are updating your candidacy.
Sending unsolicited materials: If a school says not to send additional documents, do not send them. Follow instructions exactly.
Grammatical errors: Proofread multiple times. A letter with errors signals carelessness.
How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest That Stands Out
The letters that move admissions committees share one quality: they make it easy for the committee to advocate for the applicant. Your letter should give the admissions officer a concrete reason to champion your file in committee discussions.
The most effective strategy is to pair a meaningful new achievement with a specific connection to the school. If you have recently won a regional science competition, explain how you plan to extend that work in the university's research labs. If you have completed a selective research program, name the faculty member whose work intersects with your findings.
Students who have completed original research through programs like Rise Research are consistently positioned to write stronger letters of continued interest. Their updates are substantive. Their connections to university research ecosystems are specific. Their profiles reflect the kind of intellectual depth that elite admissions offices recognize and reward. Rise scholars have used their research experience to strengthen waitlist and deferral outcomes at universities across the United States, United Kingdom, and beyond. You can review those outcomes directly on the Rise Research results page.
Should You Send Additional Supporting Materials?
Some schools allow or encourage supplementary materials alongside a letter of continued interest. These might include an updated transcript, a new letter of recommendation, or a writing sample. Only send these if the school explicitly permits them.
If you are permitted to include a letter of recommendation, choose a recommender who can speak to a recent achievement that was not covered in your original application. A mentor who supervised your research, a coach who witnessed a leadership breakthrough, or a teacher who observed significant academic growth in the current semester are all strong options.
If you are submitting research for publication and have an acceptance letter or a submission confirmation, include that documentation where permitted. Published or forthcoming research is among the most credible updates an applicant can provide. Understanding how to frame that submission professionally, including how to write a cover letter for journal submission, is a skill that serves applicants well. Read the guide on how to write a cover letter when submitting to an academic journal for a detailed walkthrough.
Final Checklist Before You Send
Before submitting your letter of continued interest, confirm the following:
The letter is addressed to the correct office and individual, if specified.
You have stated clearly that the school is your first choice and that you would enroll upon acceptance.
You have included at least one substantive new achievement or update.
You have connected that update to a specific program, faculty member, or opportunity at the university.
The letter is between 250 and 400 words.
You have proofread for grammar, spelling, and tone.
You are submitting through the channel the school has specified, whether that is a portal, email, or physical mail.
Build a Profile That Speaks for Itself
A letter of continued interest is most powerful when it reflects a profile that has continued to grow. The students who write the strongest updates are those who have used the months between application submission and decision to accomplish something meaningful.
If you are a high school student who wants to build the kind of academic record that strengthens every stage of the admissions process, including deferral and waitlist rounds, original research is one of the highest-impact investments you can make. Working one-on-one with a PhD mentor to produce publishable research creates the kind of substantive updates that letters of continued interest require.
Explore the Rise Research mentor network to find PhD-level experts across disciplines including economics, political science, computer science, and the natural sciences. Each project is designed to produce real academic outcomes, the kind that belong in a letter of continued interest and on an application to the world's most selective universities.
The waitlist is not the end of the process. For prepared, proactive applicants, it is one more opportunity to demonstrate exactly why they belong.
TL:DR: Receiving a deferral or waitlist decision from a top university is not a rejection. It is an invitation to demonstrate that you still want to be there. Knowing how to write a letter of continued interest can be the difference between a final acceptance and a permanent pass. This guide breaks down exactly what to write, what to avoid, and how to present your continued candidacy with confidence and precision.
What Is a Letter of Continued Interest?
A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a formal written communication sent to a university after you have been deferred or placed on the waitlist. Its purpose is to reaffirm your commitment to attending that institution and to update the admissions committee on any meaningful developments in your academic or extracurricular profile since you submitted your original application.
Admissions officers at selective universities read hundreds of these letters every cycle. The strongest ones are specific, substantive, and strategically written. They do not repeat what is already in the application. They add new information and articulate a genuine, well-researched reason for wanting to attend that particular school.
When Should You Send a Letter of Continued Interest?
Timing matters. Send your letter within two to three weeks of receiving a deferral or waitlist notification. Do not wait until the deadline passes. Admissions offices interpret a delayed response as diminished interest.
For deferred applicants, send the letter shortly after notification, typically in January or February. For waitlisted applicants, send it as soon as the school opens its waitlist process, usually in April. Check each university's portal or communication for specific instructions. Some schools explicitly invite updates; others ask applicants not to send additional materials. Follow those instructions precisely.
How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest: The Core Structure
A strong letter of continued interest follows a clear, professional structure. It should be concise, typically 250 to 400 words, and formatted as a formal letter or email depending on the school's preferred channel.
1. Open With a Direct Statement of Intent
Begin by stating your name, the program you applied to, and your continued strong interest in attending. Do not bury the lead. Admissions officers should know within the first two sentences exactly why you are writing.
Example opening: "My name is Sofia Reyes, and I applied to the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am writing to reaffirm that [University Name] remains my first choice, and I would enroll immediately upon acceptance."
That phrase, "I would enroll immediately upon acceptance," carries significant weight. It signals demonstrated interest and improves your yield probability in the eyes of the admissions committee. To understand how colleges track and value demonstrated interest, read this guide on demonstrated interest and which colleges track it.
2. Share Meaningful Updates
This is the most critical section of the letter. Do not restate what is already in your application. Instead, share new, verifiable achievements or developments that have occurred since your application was submitted. These updates should be substantive and relevant to your academic profile.
Strong updates to include:
A new award, scholarship, or competition result
A research publication, acceptance to a journal, or ongoing research project
An improved grade or standardized test score
A new leadership position or significant extracurricular achievement
Acceptance or participation in a selective program or internship
If you have published or are in the process of publishing original research, this is one of the most powerful updates you can include. Admissions committees at elite universities respond to evidence of intellectual initiative. Students who have worked with PhD mentors and contributed to peer-reviewed literature demonstrate exactly the kind of academic seriousness that selective programs seek. You can explore the kind of research high school students are producing through Rise Research publications.
How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest: Connecting Updates to the School
After presenting your updates, connect them directly to specific resources, faculty, programs, or opportunities at the university. This is where generic letters fail. Vague praise for a school's "amazing community" or "world-class faculty" adds nothing. Specificity is what separates a compelling letter from a forgettable one.
Reference a specific professor whose research aligns with yours. Name a lab, center, or program you intend to engage with. Mention a course sequence, a student organization, or a research initiative that connects directly to your academic goals. This level of detail signals that your interest is informed, not performative.
For example, if you have conducted research in economics or finance, you might reference specific faculty working in behavioral economics or financial markets, and explain how your existing research, such as an analysis of investor reactions to IPO underpricing across financial and technology sectors, positions you to contribute to that work.
3. Close With a Confident, Courteous Statement
End the letter by thanking the admissions committee for their continued consideration. Restate your commitment clearly and without desperation. Keep the tone confident and professional.
Avoid emotional appeals. Do not describe how devastated you were by the deferral. Admissions officers are not moved by sentiment; they are moved by evidence of potential and fit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even well-intentioned letters can undermine a candidacy. Avoid the following errors:
Repeating your original application: The committee has already read it. New information only.
Writing too long: A letter exceeding 500 words signals poor editing judgment. Keep it tight.
Generic praise: Statements like "I love the campus culture" are not persuasive. Be specific.
Apologetic tone: You are not apologizing for being deferred. You are updating your candidacy.
Sending unsolicited materials: If a school says not to send additional documents, do not send them. Follow instructions exactly.
Grammatical errors: Proofread multiple times. A letter with errors signals carelessness.
How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest That Stands Out
The letters that move admissions committees share one quality: they make it easy for the committee to advocate for the applicant. Your letter should give the admissions officer a concrete reason to champion your file in committee discussions.
The most effective strategy is to pair a meaningful new achievement with a specific connection to the school. If you have recently won a regional science competition, explain how you plan to extend that work in the university's research labs. If you have completed a selective research program, name the faculty member whose work intersects with your findings.
Students who have completed original research through programs like Rise Research are consistently positioned to write stronger letters of continued interest. Their updates are substantive. Their connections to university research ecosystems are specific. Their profiles reflect the kind of intellectual depth that elite admissions offices recognize and reward. Rise scholars have used their research experience to strengthen waitlist and deferral outcomes at universities across the United States, United Kingdom, and beyond. You can review those outcomes directly on the Rise Research results page.
Should You Send Additional Supporting Materials?
Some schools allow or encourage supplementary materials alongside a letter of continued interest. These might include an updated transcript, a new letter of recommendation, or a writing sample. Only send these if the school explicitly permits them.
If you are permitted to include a letter of recommendation, choose a recommender who can speak to a recent achievement that was not covered in your original application. A mentor who supervised your research, a coach who witnessed a leadership breakthrough, or a teacher who observed significant academic growth in the current semester are all strong options.
If you are submitting research for publication and have an acceptance letter or a submission confirmation, include that documentation where permitted. Published or forthcoming research is among the most credible updates an applicant can provide. Understanding how to frame that submission professionally, including how to write a cover letter for journal submission, is a skill that serves applicants well. Read the guide on how to write a cover letter when submitting to an academic journal for a detailed walkthrough.
Final Checklist Before You Send
Before submitting your letter of continued interest, confirm the following:
The letter is addressed to the correct office and individual, if specified.
You have stated clearly that the school is your first choice and that you would enroll upon acceptance.
You have included at least one substantive new achievement or update.
You have connected that update to a specific program, faculty member, or opportunity at the university.
The letter is between 250 and 400 words.
You have proofread for grammar, spelling, and tone.
You are submitting through the channel the school has specified, whether that is a portal, email, or physical mail.
Build a Profile That Speaks for Itself
A letter of continued interest is most powerful when it reflects a profile that has continued to grow. The students who write the strongest updates are those who have used the months between application submission and decision to accomplish something meaningful.
If you are a high school student who wants to build the kind of academic record that strengthens every stage of the admissions process, including deferral and waitlist rounds, original research is one of the highest-impact investments you can make. Working one-on-one with a PhD mentor to produce publishable research creates the kind of substantive updates that letters of continued interest require.
Explore the Rise Research mentor network to find PhD-level experts across disciplines including economics, political science, computer science, and the natural sciences. Each project is designed to produce real academic outcomes, the kind that belong in a letter of continued interest and on an application to the world's most selective universities.
The waitlist is not the end of the process. For prepared, proactive applicants, it is one more opportunity to demonstrate exactly why they belong.
Winter 2026 Admission Deadline Closing on 1st November
Book a free 20-min strategy call
Book a free 20-min strategy call
Read More
