Crap, You’ve Been Deferred, Now What?
With the first wave of admissions decisions in full-swing, most of you probably already have some combination of accepted, rejected, or deferred to the regular decision round. The first two are pretty straightforward, no additional action is needed from you. Getting deferred, however, is a different situation. If you find yourself disappointed and confused in this position, I want to assure you that it’s completely normal.
The most important thing to remember is that being deferred does not mean that your application was inadequate or that your dream of attending that college is going down the drain. A deferral means that you are well-qualified, but admissions officers aren’t sure how you will fit into the finalized admitted class. In essence, they need more time to decide.
While chances of getting offered admission vary greatly from year to year, I always like to focus on things we can control. And one of the best things you can do about getting deferred is to write a compelling letter of continued interest.
Before we jump into the how-to section, let’s get some facts straight.
What is a letter of continued interest (aka LOCI) and should I write one?
A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a brief letter to the admissions office expressing your intention to attend the school if accepted and provide new, meaningful updates about your accomplishments in the time since you initially applied. Some admissions officers affectionately refer to LOCI as “love letters,” and rightly so.
You should only write a LOCI if your deferral letter specifically says so. Some colleges, like USC, will only want you to check a box from a form they provided. Other colleges, like Purdue, will recommend submitting a LOCI. If the school is asking for a love letter and you are still very interested in attending that school, then by all means, write them a love letter.
How likely will I get accepted if I write a LOCI?
Unfortunately, it depends entirely on the school and the number of accepted students varies from year to year. For some schools, writing a LOCI plays a minimal part in their admissions process. For others that track demonstrated interest, writing a LOCI might make a bit more difference. There is no way to tell, but what I can say is that you’ll have a higher chance of getting accepted if you write a LOCI than not.
What should I put in a LOCI?
Let’s look at the purpose of a LOCI:
Let the college know that you’re still interested. If you would accept an offer from the school in a jiffy, make that super clear.
Update the college on any new information that wasn’t available in your original application. The magic word here is new.
Help the college picture you as a community member on their campus by including 2 to 3 brief, but personal “why us” details about why you and the school are a great match.
Before you start drafting an outline, I want to offer a word of advice with regard to the length and voice of your LOCI. Be succinct and clear. Admissions officers have maybe 4~8 minutes to go over your application materials, and you want to be considerate of their time. Trust me, keeping your LOCI short and sweet will win you brownie points.
Alright, onto the actual writing! If you could break your LOCI into four sections, it would look something like this:
Introduction
Introduce yourself, thank the school for reviewing your application, and reiterate your interest in the college. Again, if this is your dream school, say it. If you’ve had any interactions with your regional admissions officer that you can mention to establish personal rapport, this is a good place to do it.
Updates
If you’ve improved your GPA, started new projects, won new awards, or whatever awesome stuff you have going on now, this is the place to let them know. If you’re writing in paragraph form, feel free to bold or italicize the points you want to stand out. Or even better, give them a quick bullet point version of your latest accomplishments.
“Why us” = Them + You
Write about the reasons you want to attend the college, and why you’d be a good fit. Connect the dots between you and them. You probably already did that in your supplemental essays, but this time, do it with something related to your recent updates and how those connect with specific offerings at the college.
Conclusion
End the letter by thanking them again. This part should be two sentences tops.
Finally, here are some frequently asked questions if what was mentioned previously didn’t quite answer all of your questions:
When are LOCI due?
While some school counselors will recommend sending your LOCI in mid-March when colleges start re-evaluating your application, it is always better to send them promptly after receiving the letter of your deferral status. Perception matters. In other words, the earlier the better.
How long are LOCI?
The letter should be brief, but stick with what your deferral letter says. In general, I’d recommend roughly one page, single spaced. Be considerate of your readers’ time, so only highlight new, meaningful information.
How many LOCI should you send?
You should send one LOCI to each school to which you have been deferred. If your deferral letter did not specifically say whether or not you can send a LOCI, you could always email and ask, “May I send a letter of continued interest?”
How should I format my LOCI?
You should follow the format of a standard, official letter, with an introduction, the date, and a cordial sign-off. No fancy fonts, obviously.
Is there a difference between a LOCI sent after a deferral and one sent after a waitlist?
Well, both letters should include the same information, just double-check that you use the correct term, “deferral” or “waitlist” depending on your status.
What should I use as the subject for my LOCI email?
Again, keep it clear by writing your first and last name followed by “Letter of Continued Interest.” If you have an applicant ID number, you can also add it after your name.
Can I include additional materials with my LOCI?
Always, always follow directions on your deferral letter. Only include supplementary materials if explicitly requested by the admissions office.
Where and to whom should I address my LOCI?
This information should be in your deferral letter. There may be a form to fill out. If so, use that. If not, send your letter to the person who sent you your original deferral letter. Always feel free to email or call the admissions office if you’re unsure. Admissions officers don’t bite, I promise.
If you just received your deferral letter and need extra help crafting a compelling letter of continued interest, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help!