Letters of Continued Interest: When They Help—and When They Hurt
How admissions committees actually read post-decision communication
Letters of Continued Interest (LOCIs) are among the most misunderstood tools in the admissions process.
Applicants often treat them as emotional appeals or last-chance arguments. Others avoid them entirely out of fear of “doing something wrong.” Admissions committees, however, read LOCIs neither sentimentally nor punitively. They read them instrumentally—as signals of judgment, professionalism, and ongoing alignment.
This article explains when LOCIs are appropriate, how different institutions interpret them, and how to write one that strengthens—rather than weakens—your candidacy.
What a LOCI Is—and Is Not
A LOCI is not:
A second personal statement
A plea for reconsideration
A recap of your original application
A venue for flattery or desperation
A LOCI is:
A brief, professional update
Evidence of continued interest when requested or permitted
Confirmation of fit and momentum
A test of judgment under uncertainty
Admissions officers use LOCIs to assess how applicants behave when outcomes are not fully in their control.
When a LOCI Actually Helps
A LOCI can be helpful when all of the following are true:
The institution explicitly allows or invites updates
The applicant has substantive new information
The applicant remains genuinely interested in enrolling
In these cases, a LOCI functions as a signal of readiness and seriousness, not persuasion.
When a LOCI Hurts
A LOCI can quietly harm an application when it:
Violates stated instructions
Adds no new information
Repeats enthusiasm without substance
Uses emotional or entitled language
Is sent repeatedly or excessively
Admissions committees often interpret unnecessary LOCIs as indicators of poor judgment rather than commitment.
Harvard & Stanford: Restraint Is Interpreted as Maturity
At Harvard University and Stanford University, LOCIs are rarely decisive.
Both institutions:
Have highly structured review processes
Discourage unsolicited communication
Value adherence to instructions
A well-timed, concise update—when permitted—can clarify momentum. Over-communication almost always backfires.
At these institutions, restraint signals confidence and maturity.
Yale & Princeton: Precision and Relevance Matter
At Yale University and Princeton University, LOCIs are read carefully but selectively.
Admissions officers look for:
Clear relevance to academic or community fit
Evidence of continued growth
Professional tone
What they discount:
Reasserted passion without updates
Lengthy narratives
Attempts to “argue” the decision
A short, targeted LOCI that adds clarity is preferable to a longer, emotive one.
University of Chicago: Clarity Without Performance
At University of Chicago, LOCIs are evaluated through the lens of intellectual seriousness.
Chicago readers value:
Specific academic updates
Continued engagement with ideas
Absence of performance or pleading
Chicago is particularly skeptical of LOCIs that feel strategically engineered. Thoughtful, low-key communication aligns best with institutional culture.
Georgetown: Continued Interest Can Matter—If Done Correctly
At Georgetown University, LOCIs can carry more weight than at peer institutions—but only when executed properly.
Georgetown values:
Clear confirmation of continued interest
Updates that reflect service, leadership, or academic growth
Professional, respectful communication
Repeated or emotional outreach, however, can dilute impact.
What Counts as “Substantive” New Information
Admissions committees generally consider the following substantive:
Improved grades or new coursework rigor
New leadership roles or sustained responsibility
Significant research or project milestones
Awards earned after submission
Clarifying information about fit or commitment
They generally do not consider the following substantive:
Reiterated enthusiasm
New reflections without new action
Minor activities
Speculative future plans
Substance matters more than volume.
Structure of an Effective LOCI
An effective LOCI is typically:
1 page or less
Clearly addressed to the admissions office
Professional in tone
A common structure:
Acknowledgment of the decision and continued interest (brief)
Concise updates since submission
Targeted reaffirmation of fit, grounded in understanding
Professional close, without pressure
The goal is clarity, not persuasion.
Language Admissions Officers Respond To—and Language They Don’t
Effective LOCIs use language that is:
Calm
Specific
Forward-looking
Ineffective LOCIs often include:
Absolutes (“this is my dream school”)
Comparisons to other institutions
Emotional appeals
Entitlement (“I believe I deserve”)
Admissions officers evaluate tone as much as content.
Timing Matters
Best practices for timing:
After deferral or waitlist notification
After meaningful new information arises
Within stated deadlines or guidance
Sending a LOCI too early—or too late—can reduce effectiveness.
The Hidden Purpose of LOCIs
Beyond updates, LOCIs serve a secondary function: they reveal how applicants handle ambiguity.
Admissions committees notice:
Whether applicants respect boundaries
Whether they communicate thoughtfully
Whether they demonstrate emotional regulation
These traits matter in residential, high-pressure academic environments.
Strategic Guidance for Applicants
Applicants should:
Follow institutional instructions exactly
Send one strong, concise LOCI when appropriate
Focus on substance, not sentiment
Maintain professionalism throughout
Applicants should not:
Flood admissions offices with messages
Attempt to “win back” a decision
Treat LOCIs as mandatory
Sometimes, the strongest move is no LOCI at all.
Closing Perspective
At Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Chicago, and Georgetown, LOCIs are neither magic nor meaningless.
When used appropriately, they provide clarity. When misused, they quietly undermine credibility.
The applicants who benefit most from LOCIs are not the loudest or most persistent—but the most measured, informed, and judicious.
