college essay guy deferral letter

• SAT BootCamp
• SAT MasterClass
• SAT Private Tutoring
• SAT Proctored Practice Test
• ACT Private Tutoring
• Academic Subjects
• College Essay Workshop
• Academic Writing Workshop
• AP English FRQ BootCamp
• 1:1 College Essay Help
• Online Instruction
• Free Resources

Your Guide to Writing a Letter of Continued Interest to Colleges

How to write a letter of continued interest to colleges.

Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s NYU Letter of Continued Interest Sample

Deferred from an Early application to your dream school? Or waitlisted in the regular decision round? It’s not the result you want from your college applications, but it doesn’t mean you have to give up hope!

At elite universities, deferrals are becoming more and more common in the Early Decision and Early Action rounds. So, if you were deferred, you’re probably like the vast majority of early applicants. Statistically, most deferred applicants will be rejected in the spring. 

So, how do you maximize your chances of an acceptance after deferral? At PrepMaven, we’ve got decades of experience helping thousands of students earn admissions into their dream schools. And one thing that can make a difference is writing what’s called “a letter of continued interest.” 

In this guide, we’ll break down what a letter of continued interest is, when you should write one, and how you should write one to increase your chances of admission. 

Download PrepMaven’s NYU Letter of Continued Interest Sample

Jump to section: What’s a letter of continued interest? Should you always write a letter of continued interest? How to write a letter of continued interest When should you send your letter of continued interest? Whom to send the letter of continued interest to Things NOT to do in your letter of continued interest Next steps

What’s a letter of continued interest?

Well, it’s basically what it sounds like: a letter of continued interest tells a college that you are still interested in attending. It might sound silly (after all, you did apply for admission there), but it’s tremendously important for the college. 

Let’s say you applied Early Action to MIT and were ( like the vast majority of applicants) deferred. The admissions committee at MIT knows that you’ve applied to multiple schools: for all they know, you’ve already been accepted by some other university. If that’s the case, then they wouldn’t want to “waste” an admission on you!

The letter of continued interest is a way of telling MIT that you’re still on the market. In other words, that they should give you an acceptance because you’d definitely accept. 

But the letter of continued interest also does something even more important: it can let you increase the strength of your application by highlighting new accomplishments or achievements. 

Take a look at the sample letter here and make note of how the writer uses most of the letter to highlight new achievements and updates, without rehashing what was in his previous application!

Read on further to see how to use the letter to most effectively include new information that might help push admissions committees toward accepting your application over other students’. 

Should you always write a letter of continued interest?

First thing’s first: make sure the university doesn’t have a policy against these letters. While it’s very rare, some colleges don’t want letters of continued interest. If you send a letter to one of these schools, you’ll really be damaging your application, since you’ll be showing that you didn’t follow their policies. 

That policy is incredibly rare, however: most schools don’t have a stated policy about letters of continued interest. Some schools, in fact, specifically ask that you confirm you’re still interested if you’ve been deferred or waitlisted. If that’s the case, you definitely want to follow those instructions. 

In reality, the answer to this question is basically yes: you should always send a letter of continued interest to any schools that you still want to attend after a deferral/wait-list (again, so long as they don’t prohibit it). It might seem annoying to do extra work after everything you already did, but now’s not the time to be lazy: maximizing your odds of admission means taking every chance to improve your application. 

We’ll be honest: getting an admission off a waitlist or deferral is incredibly rare at elite universities. But it does happen! Out of Harvard’s nearly 2000 admitted students for the class of 2027 , only 27 were admitted from the waitlist. Whether that’s encouraging or not is a question of perspective, since it means there is a chance, however slim. What it really means is that you can’t afford to pass up anything that might improve your odds!

How to write a letter of continued interest

If you’ve decided on writing one to a school, you’ll want to look at any specific guidelines or instructions they offer. 

But, unless they give you specific instructions, here is what you need to include in your letter of continued interest: 

• Confirm your interest! This is one of the most important things, and can be done in a sentence. Make it clear that, while you were naturally disappointed by the deferral, you are excited to still be considered, and that you would attend if given the chance . 
• Provide any new information that makes you a better candidate. This is the second-most important thing to include in a letter of continued interest, and should make up the bulk of your letter. What kind of new information? Ideally, updates on things already in your application: if you’ve finished a research project, won recognition in a competition, or wrapped up an internship, these are great things to include. You should not include minor developments: a slightly increased grade, a new club you’ve joined, or a new hobby are not worth writing a letter about.
• Do reference any additional engagement you’ve had with the college! If you’ve done a campus visit, had a meaningful interaction with a professor, or gotten involved with any kind of initiative associated with the college, you should mention it. 
• Finally, end with a brief statement thanking the reader for their time, and making it clear you’re available if they ever want to follow up with more questions. Chances are, they won’t, but it’s still nice to leave that door open. 

Most importantly: look at a sample! It’s always easiest to write something when you have an example. We’ve provided a free sample letter of interest for NYU that you can download by clicking the link below!

When should you send your letter of continued interest?

Again, rule number 1 is to follow any specific instructions provided by the admissions office when they waitlisted or deferred you. 

But, outside of that, you should primarily consider when you’ll get the most bang for your buck! It may be tempting to send your letter the moment you get deferred, but you should wait, for two reasons. 

First, because you want to give yourself time to add any new achievements or accomplishments to the letter, as well as potentially visiting the college itself or reaching out to faculty. This will depend on your schedule, but if you know you might win an award or finish an internship within the next month or two, it’s a good idea to wait until then to write and send your letter. 

The second consideration is also important: you want to send only one letter, and you want that letter to make it clear that you’re still interested when it counts. Sending the letter as soon as you get your decision doesn’t tell them much, since you’re likely to still be interested so close to the initial application. 

You don’t want to wait too long, but give it at least a month after you get your deferral/waitlist notification. The idea is to keep your candidacy on the admissions committee’s mind as they review new, regular decision applications. 

To whom should you send your letter of continued interest?

Often, a university will have a place in your application portal for you to upload additional materials or updates. If so, then that’s the place to upload your letter of continued interest as well. 

If there’s no option to do so, you can simply reach out to the admissions office of the school over email (or, better yet, phone) and ask them whom you could send a letter of continued interest to. 

Don’t get freaked out by the prospect of calling the admissions office! It’s completely normal, and they’ll be happy to make sure you get your letter to the right place. 

Things NOT to do in your letter of continued interest

If you follow the advice above, you’ll write a great letter of continued interest. But we also thought we’d flag a couple things you definitely don’t want to do! 

Don’t: 

• Talk about the acceptances or scholarships you’ve received from other schools: it won’t impress your target school, and will make you seem less committed. 
• Come off too desperate. It’s fine to make it clear that this school is your top choice, but you don’t want to beg or imply that this is “the perfect school” or the “only school” for you. 
• Argue about how good your application is or explain away existing deficiencies. If your grades were lower than they should’ve been, or your test scores were sub-optimal, or your essay was sloppy, don’t worry about it. It’ll come off as insecure, and will only draw the admissions officer’s attention to the problems.
• Send multiple letters (unless they ask you to)!

If you look at our Sample Letter of Continued Interest for NYU , you’ll see that the author carefully avoids making any of those mistakes, but is still able to convey lots of helpful information and passion!

With college admissions more selective than ever, you’ll want to do everything you can to make your application stand out. A letter of continued interest is one way of doing just that if you’ve been deferred or waitlisted. 

If, on the other hand, you’re still in the early stages of applying to colleges, there are lots of things you can do to maximize your chances. We recommend starting with our guide to writing the college essay . There, you’ll find everything you need to know about the college application essay, plus links to other posts designed to help you as you apply to your dream schools. 

In the meantime, you can also contact us for help with anything academic, test prep, or college app related: our tutors can help you bring your grades up, perfect your college application essays, and, yes, even work on your letters of continued interest. 

Top College Essay Posts

• 14 Best College Essay Services for 2023 (40 Services Reviewed)
• Qualities of a Successful College Essay
• 11 College Essays That Worked
• How to Answer the UC Personal Insight Questions
• How Colleges Read your College Applications (A 4-Step Process)
• How to Write the Princeton Supplemental Essays
• The Diamond Strategy: How We Help Students Write College Essays that Get Them Into Princeton (And Other Ivy League Schools)
• What is the College Essay? Your Complete Guide for 202 4
• College Essay Brainstorming: Where to Start
• How to Write the Harvard Supplemental Essays
• How to Format Your College Essay

Mike is a PhD candidate studying English literature at Duke University. Mike is an expert test prep tutor (SAT/ACT/LSAT) and college essay consultant. Nearly all of Mike’s SAT/ACT students score in the top 5% of test takers; many even score above 1500 on the SAT. His college essay students routinely earn admission into their top-choice schools, including Harvard, Brown, and Dartmouth. And his LSAT students have been accepted In into the top law schools in the country, including Harvard, Yale, and Columbia Law.

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy preferences.

Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) Example

by Winning Ivy Prep Team | Feb 28, 2023 | College Admissions

Table of Contents

How do you write a great Letter of Continued Interest (also called LOCI ) after a waitlist or deferral?  

A great Letter of continued interest (LOCI) serves as another update to your dream school. Keep it professional, but also make sure to have your unique voice and personality show. 

Below, we have some LOCI best practices, and more importantly, and awesome Letter of Continued Interest Example. 

Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI): Best Practices

Are you worried that your letter of continued interest or LOCI will be a bit… lame… because you have NOTHING to update colleges on?

No need to stress about the LOCI. I’m CERTAIN you have something to share. You probably don’t think it’s “good enough.”

First, revisit your submitted application. Ask yourself: What have you NOT shared with the college since you last applied?

It can be extracurriculars or personal stories that you share in your LOCI. The Letter of Continued Interest example below will give you ideas, but just know this: Top schools like UPenn or even NYU want to see the personal sides of you. In other words, you don’t always have to flex your extracurriculars.

Here are a few best practices: 

• Thank the admissions for another opportunity to showcase yourself in this letter. 
• Express your LOVE and EXCITEMENT for the school. In order to do that, TALK about something specific about the school that captivates you.
• Showcase your GROWTH throughout the college admissions process and reflect on that in your letter.
• Keep it to one page.

LOCI Best Practice: Showcase your growth

If you do the college application process effectively, you should have a better understanding of who you are, what makes you unique, and what you hope to gain from a college experience. 

In the Letter of Continued Interest or LOCI, reflect on the growth that you have had over the past few months. Here are some questions for you:

• How do you think you have personally grown through writing about yourself 100+ times?
• If you were 1.0 version of yourself BEFORE college apps, who are you now (You 2.0) from doing all this self reflection?

Write about your growth from the experience!

🚨 🚨 Want your College Essays Professionally Reviewed by Us? Check out our college essay review service  

Best practice for LOCI: Showcase your love for the school

Here’s another awesome hack: Showcase demonstrated interest in your LOCI. Basically, that means you’ve done a lot of research into the school and know EXACTLY why you want to go there and how you will contribute to the school community. 

The LOCI example touches on this very well. You’ll see that below. But for now, here are a few ideas:

• Have you done an interview? If so, what did you learn about the school that made you want to go, even more?
• Did you get a chance to go to another virtual information session or even on-campus visit? If so, what did you learn about the school that made you want to go?
• Were you able to talk to a current student/alum of the school? Did they have an experience that you can write in your LOCI about why you’re even MORE excited about the school?

Example of Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)

Below is the LOCI or Letter of Continued Interest example. Obviously, please do not plagiarize 😅

LOCI Example Below: 

Dear XXXX Admissions,

I hope this letter finds you well! I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered again for admission, and I’m very excited to tell you about what I’ve been up to since November!

While writing my college essays, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the last few years of high school so far. I started out at [Name of high school] feeling extremely overwhelmed; it seemed like everyone knew what they wanted to be when they “grew up.” To try to answer this question, I threw myself into everything, from backpacking in Yosemite for 5 days (I decided this wasn’t for me) to performing for a poetry slam. Therefore, since the first semester of senior year, I have been continuing to push myself to get out of my comfort zone, alongside maintaining all As in my classes. 

I have a poster on my wall that says, “Seek Discomfort”. Since November, I led my team for [nonprofit organization] to start our first ever race, where we donated over 40 pairs of shoes to students in [location], and helped them train by running 10-15 miles a week alongside the Pacific coast. We purposely woke up at 5:30am for these sunrise runs, and we purposely pushed each runner’s limits a little further each week. We even ran into the icy cold ocean at the end of one session simply to underline the fact that being uncomfortable is the first stage in personal growth. Currently we have 8-14 students that join us consistently each week on the beach runs. We aim to grow it and have another eager underclassmen from my track and field team to take over this community so it continues to flourish even after we graduate high school.

As the older sibling to my 10-year-old step sister, I have also been spending more time babysitting her since submitting my application, because my mom is working more than ever before. Recently, my sister began to express interest in coding. As an aspiring psychology major, I have little experience, but we have been taking online classes through [Program], and we are in the process of coding a motion sensor security camera for her room using a Raspberry Pi. This is outside of my comfort zone, but we are learning and teaching each other on the weekends. It has been extremely rewarding to spend quality time with her while learning a new skill. Creating our own personal project has made me more interested in exploring how computer science (CS) can be utilized to help diagnose mental health issues and ways to offer more personalized support for those suffering. At [college name], I hope to explore the myriad of ways that CS intersects with the humanities and social sciences to create solutions that help others.

I recently had the amazing opportunity to speak to [name of alum], a graduate of [school name], to learn more about the school. His experiences in [a personal anecdote] extremely excite me, as I aspire to do the same; I’d love to pursue [a particular program at the school] by contributing back to the city of [name]. Through our meeting, I realized that students at [school name] are go-getters; they want to grow as individuals, and they continuously seek discomfort to do so. This is exactly the type of environment that I would love to contribute to. I believe that people with a growth mindset continuously push each other in a community to achieve their best selves. I’ve witnessed this power of a true, growth-oriented community through my running career and mentoring underserved youth through [nonprofit x]. Should I be admitted, I will absolutely attend and I will push my peers to be the best versions of themselves that they can be to elevate themselves, the greater community, and [school name] spirit.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my letter.

Warm Regards,

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Attend FREE, LIVE elite college admissions lightning talks!

Graduation year 2024 2025 2026 2027

Parent or student Parent Student

You have successfully subscribed, thank you!

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

UC Admissions

• [2023 Updated] UC Personal Insight Essay Examples
• UC Personal Insight Essay Ultimate Guide
• UC Essay Tips

Most Popular

English and social studies teachers pioneer ai usage in schools, study finds.

12 days ago

Best Summarising Strategies for Students

How to cite page numbers in apa.

10 days ago

What is Accidental Plagiarism

Is summarizing books a good way to retain knowledge redditors weigh in, writing a college deferral letter.

Steps for Writing a College Deferral Letter

• Start the letter properly. Specify the detailed contact information of the school/college/university you are sending your letter to, as well as your personal contact information.
• Briefly mention the situation you currently are in and what your reasons are for writing the letter. One-two sentences should be enough. This is the introductory part, and the shorter the better.
• Explain what makes you think the school/college/university you were applying to is a great match for you. Connect this institution’s classes, programs, professors, and so on to your interests and goals; this will make your motivation look more specific.
• Update the admission committee on what you were doing since filing your application form. It should be something important and useful, like attending lectures on the disciplines of your interest, having a part-time job, working as a freelancer, and so on. Writing about unique or at least significant experiences will increase your chances of being admitted.
• Double-check your letter for mistakes, typos, and so on. Grammatical mistakes can ruin what you have written.

Key Points to Consider

• One of the crucial aspects of writing deferral letters is doing it as soon as possible. It would be perfect if you wrote a deferral letter right after you received a note from the college you wanted to enter.
• The length of your deferral letter will not impress anyone, so do not bother making it longer than one page.
• Sending a deferral letter via email is a bad idea. Much better would be to make it handwritten on paper, and send it as regular mail. Does it need to be mentioned that your handwriting should be clear and accurate?
• Knowing whom exactly your deferral letter should be sent to is a bright idea.
• Think about third-party proofreading. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with objectivity. If you look into some best academic writing service reviews, you will see many platforms that can give you a fresh perspective on your work.

Do and Don’t

Common mistakes when writing a college deferral letter.

– Expressing your frustration with the deferral in the letter.

– Not checking with the educational institution’s policies before sending the deferral letter. Some institutions ask people who are enrolling to not send them deferral letters in case of being postponed.

– Being too emotional, begging the admission committee to accept you, and so on.

Follow us on Reddit for more insights and updates.

Comments (0)

Welcome to A*Help comments!

We’re all about debate and discussion at A*Help.

We value the diverse opinions of users, so you may find points of view that you don’t agree with. And that’s cool. However, there are certain things we’re not OK with: attempts to manipulate our data in any way, for example, or the posting of discriminative, offensive, hateful, or disparaging material.

Comments are closed.

More from Writing a Letter

Nov 24 2015

Writing an Evaluation Letter

Sep 23 2014

Writing a Refund Letter

Mar 20 2014

Writing a Complimentary Letter

Samples for writing a college deferral letter, creede university deferral essay sample, example, brementon college of english literature essay sample, example.

Remember Me

What is your profession ? Student Teacher Writer Other

Forgotten Password?

Username or Email

The Ivy Coach Daily

• College Admissions
• College Essays
• Early Decision / Early Action
• Extracurricular Activities
• Standardized Testing
• The Rankings

December 1, 2023

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest

Was your child deferred after the Early Decision/Early Action round of admissions to the Class of 2028? Or what if your child is waitlisted after the Regular Decision round of admissions? Either way, the student’s call to action is the same: they need to submit a powerful letter to the school that placed them in limbo. Some call it a Letter of Continued Interest. Others call it a Letter of Enthusiasm . No matter what one calls it, that letter must go in pronto.

What Are a Student’s Chances After Being Deferred of Waitlisted?

Historically, about 10% of deferred and waitlisted students earn admission across all highly selective universities. Of course, in certain years, an elite university will admit more deferred and waitlisted applicants than in other years, but the 10% rule is a general rule of thumb. That said, in the spring of 2020, elite universities reached deep into their waitlists , admitting an unprecedented number of students. Why? Because when so many admits deferred their enrollment by taking gap years due to the pandemic, the schools had to fill seats. In short, you never know how many deferred or waitlisted candidates a school will admit in a given year.

Is It Better to Be Deferred After the Early Round or Waitlisted After the Regular Decision Round?

There is no meaningful statistical difference in a student’s chances of admission after being deferred compared to being waitlisted. And it’s not as though all elite universities annually release the number of students they admit after deferrals or even the number of students they accept off the waitlist. Do some schools release the data on occasion? Yes, but the data has holes. Some years, colleges don’t even turn to their waitlists. In short, don’t get lost in the data; make sure your child is putting their best foot forward with the school that delayed rendering their decision.

What is a Letter of Continued Interest?

Most students know they should submit a Letter of Continued Interest after being deferred or waitlisted. They just don’t know how to go about writing it. But, in general, a Letter of Continued Interest is a note that students submit to the schools’ admissions offices which kicked the can on their final admissions decisions. It’s a letter designed to express that they still wish to attend if admitted. Whether deferred or waitlisted, the approach is the same: students should send a letter.

Why Should Students Send a Letter of Continued Interest?

In our experience, students who do nothing after being deferred or waitlisted significantly decrease their odds of earning admission. When admissions offices don’t hear from these students, they’re likely to think that the student has sour grapes after not getting in or is no longer interested in attending. It’s not the kind of message a student should send if they genuinely want to get in. In short, doing nothing is not the answer .

Should Students Send a Letter of Continued Interest to Every School?

Students should submit a Letter of Continued Interest to every school to which they hope to earn admission. If a student applied Early Decision to a school that deferred their candidacy, this school should  absolutely  receive a Letter of Continued interest. After all, this student earmarked their valuable binding commitment to this institution. Why cut bait now? 

And it’s not just if a student applied Early Decision. If a deferred student applied Early Action to any of the three Ivy League schools with non-binding policies, they should submit a letter. The same goes for any highly selective university for deferred and waitlisted students — unless the student has already earned admission to a college they would prefer to attend over the one that delayed rendering their decision.

But students must keep in mind that if they are going to send in multiple Letters of Continued Interest, they must specifically tailor each to the individual college.

Does a Letter of Continued Interest Really Help?

Submitting a powerful Letter of Continued Interest gives a student the best chance of admission after being deferred or waitlisted. Put it this way: if a student doesn’t put in the effort, they’re all but giving up on getting into that school.

Do the Letters of Continued Interest of Ivy Coach’s Students Really Help?

Over the last 30 years, about 40% of students who have first come to us as clients after being deferred or waitlisted ultimately earned admission to the schools that delayed rendering their decisions. And, yes, this same statistic holds for students we work with after they’ve been deferred or waitlisted from Harvard.

This statistic compares to about 10% of deferred or waitlisted candidates across highly selective universities. So do most students who come to us after being deferred or waitlisted ultimately get in? No, and we want people to know the cold hard truth. All we can do is give these students the best chance of getting in — and if that doesn’t suffice, then Ivy Coach is not the right fit.

What Should Students Include in a Letter of Continued Interest?

A Letter of Continued Interest should be a love letter to the school. It should be chock full of specific after specific of how a student hopes to contribute their singular hook — whatever that singular hook might be — to the institution’s programs, institutes, culture, traditions, activities, and more.

If a student did not frame their narrative compellingly in their initial application, which is all too common, it’s a chance to reframe their narrative. But the letter cannot just be a Personal Statement. It must contain specifics that only apply to the college that placed their application in limbo. It should be a portrait of the student actively engaged on the campus, contributing their singular hook (not well-rounded pursuits).

Of course, the secret sauce of Ivy Coach’s Letters of Continued Interest is indeed a secret family recipe — and it’s rather delectable.

How Should a Letter of Continued Interest Be Formatted?

A Letter of Continued Interest should be a formal letter. We like students to put the finishing touches of the note on themselves (e.g., the addresses, dates, signature, etc.) so it’s in their unique style.

To Whom Should a Letter of Continued Interest Be Addressed?

The letter should — when possible — be addressed to the student’s regional admissions representative. The regional rep is the person who likely read their file. If a student is unsure of the name of their regional rep, they can either look it up on the admissions office’s website or call the main line of the admissions office to ask.

And to those students who wish to address their letters to the dean of admissions, as Julia Roberts said in  Pretty Woman , “Big mistake. Big. Huge.” Students should not go above the head of their regional rep. That is an improbable strategy to inspire the admissions office to want to root for that student. Yikes!

How Long Should a Letter of Continued Interest Be?

A Letter of Continued Interest should be about the length of The Common Application’s Personal Statement (or 650 words). Think of it as a page or a little over a page. It should not be only half a page. And it should not be two pages.

What Should Students Not Include in a Letter of Continued Interest?

Despite what you read online, a Letter of Continued Interest should be free of brags or updates. That’s for the school counselor to relay to the admissions office. Inserting brags and updates in the Letter of Continued Interest will generally render the student less likable. It should also not contain a list of schools to which the applicant has already gained admission, as that will only lead admissions officers to dislike the student strongly. And it should  not  begin with, “My name is…” A Letter of Continued Interest should  not  be uncreative!

How Should Students Submit Letters of Continued Interest?

We encourage students to upload their Letters of Continued Interest to their portals. We also encourage students to send their letters via email to their regional representative. Students can do both — that’s perfectly fine.

When Should Students Submit Letters of Continued Interest?

After a deferral or a waitlisting, we encourage students to submit a Letter of Continued Interest within just a few days. Why’s that? Because we don’t want admissions officers thinking these students developed sour grapes. We also believe in the primacy effect of social psychology: admissions officers tend to remember those who wow them first.

Waitlisted candidates should  always  get that letter in right away. For deferred candidates, there are, however, exceptions. While we would prefer deferred candidates submit that letter a few days after their deferral, if a college didn’t release the decision until December 20th or after, we wouldn’t want the letter to get lost over the holidays. In that case, we prefer the student to submit the letter around January 10th. That said, if the student learned of their decision around December 10th through 16th, they should submit that letter well before the holidays.

High School Counselors Often Incorrectly Recommend Delaying Submitting Letters of Continued Interest

While we’re aware that many high school counselors recommend that deferred students submit a Letter of Continued Interest in mid-March, it’s not the correct advice in our book. Yes, admissions officers return their attention to the deferred pool around two weeks before releasing Regular Decision notifications . But these letters are uploaded to their portals. They will remain in their files for review at that time — and they’ll also be read soon after the deferral when the student’s application is still fresh in the admissions officers’ minds.

How Else Can Students Increase Their Chances After Being Deferred or Waitlisted?

Decades ago, a student famously pitched a tent outside an admissions office, hoping to increase his admission odds after being waitlisted. In the morning, the dean of admissions smelled the bacon the student was cooking on a burner. True story. More recently, a student took out a bus advertisement , imploring the admissions office to let him in — another true story. But don’t even consider it! Such strategies are  doubtful  to increase one’s odds of admission and will more than likely backfire.

After being deferred or waitlisted, a student should submit a compelling Letter of Continued Interest. We’re all for the student then bringing that letter to their school counselor so their school counselor can make an advocacy call on their behalf, armed with how the student presented themselves in the letter. And we’re sometimes ok with an additional letter of recommendation — provided it’s from a teacher in a core subject or professor who directly supervised the student’s research. But that is  all  a student can do.

Should Students Regularly Reach out to the College that Waitlisted or Deferred Them?

Beyond submitting the letter, anything else the student does risks drowning out the power of that Letter of Continued Interest. It risks annoying admissions officers. We’re all for  the high school  annoying the college. But we’re not for the student annoying the college. No tents. No bus ads. Don’t be a gadfly!

Is Writing a Letter of Continued Interest Worth It?

Submitting a Letter of Continued Interest gives a student the best chance of getting in. Does it give them a great chance? No . And if anyone should say they have a great chance, we’d encourage that student to run, run fast, and run for the hills, as no one can give a deferred or waitlisted student a great chance of admission. At Ivy Coach, all we can do is give a student their best chance possible of admission.

Frequently Asked Questions About Letters of Continued Interest

When are deferred applicants reviewed.

Admissions officers typically return their attention to the deferred pool around two weeks before Regular Decision notifications go out (around mid-March).

Are Deferred Applicants Ranked?

No, highly selective universities do not rank deferred applicants.

Are Waitlisted Applicants Ranked?

Yes, many elite universities rank their waitlists. But, no, it’s impossible to discern where your child falls in the pecking order.

When Do Colleges Turn to Their Waitlists?

We’ve had students earn admission off waitlists within a few days of being waitlisted. We’ve also had students move into their dorm rooms only to learn they got off a college’s waitlist. They promptly then move out. Even if a college says they will finalize their waitlists by a specific date, if they need to fill a seat after that date, they’ll fill that seat!

What Can I Do If My Child’s High School Counselor Won’t Reach Out to a College on My Child’s Behalf?

That’s unfortunate but not uncommon. In the spirit of equity, some school counselors assert that lobbying for students is unfair. We disagree. It’s their job to lobby for students. Other high school counselors will undoubtedly be doing so. The counselors who refuse to make advocacy calls are thus often putting their students at a competitive disadvantage.

How to Proceed with Ivy Coach’s Help After Being Deferred or Waitlisted

If your child was deferred after the Early Action/Early Decision round or waitlisted after the Regular Decision round, reach out to us as soon as possible by completing our free consultation form . We’ll then be in touch in short order to outline our services.

You are permitted to use www.ivycoach.com (including the content of the Blog) for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not copy, download, print, or otherwise distribute the content on our site without the prior written consent of Ivy Coach, Inc.

Related Articles

How to Get Into Stanford University: The Ultimate Stanford Admissions Guide

April 25, 2024

The History of Legacy Admissions: When Did It Begin?

April 24, 2024

LGBTQ+ Life at Georgetown University: Past, Present, and Beyond

Parental Donations vs. Bribery: The Right and Wrong Donations in College Admissions

April 21, 2024

What is the International Baccalaureate Program?

April 20, 2024

Class of 2028 College Admissions Statistics: A Year in Review

March 28, 2024

TOWARD THE CONQUEST OF ADMISSION

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s college counseling,
fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.

Fill out our short form for a 20-minute consultation to learn about Ivy Coach’s services.

College essay resources

Deferred or waitlisted how to write a great letter of continued interest, college admissions.

Brad Schiller

This is an article for students who pick themselves back up when they fall down. We all fall down. What matters is if we get up again. When it comes to college admissions, here’s how to get back on your feet.

As college essay coaches , we know that being waitlisted doesn’t make you unworthy — instead, it means the college does think you’re competitive enough to be in their incoming class.

Unfortunately, we’re at the height of a waitlisting wave , with gap-year students taking a big bite out of available incoming class seats, and a surge in applicants from test-optional policies and Covid worries. All of that is outside your control. 

But a continued interest letter is within your control and can be powerful. In addition, because colleges have waitlisted more (way more) applicants than usual, they’ll generally also be admitting more applicants off their waitlist than usual. 

(Great news: if you’ve been working with a Prompt essay coach , you can get feedback on your letter of continued interest at no extra charge. Take advantage!)

Step 1: Emotions are ok 

Some basics: You are a human. Humans have emotions. 

While we led with the “pick yourself up” part, and while you’re probably there already if you’re reading this, and while the “picking yourself up” part is indeed very important, still: you can cry. You can shout. You can sulk. You can rant for a long, long while to any friend who will listen. Give yourself permission to have emotions — even if those emotions lead you to waste some time. 

The college application process is a beast and none of this stuff is easy. 

Step 2: Do things > Write things 

Are you still here? If Step 1 inspired you to hide under your bed for a little while or go have a good cry, no problem. We’ll wait for you to be done!

Now, if you’re ready to get cracking, here’s the crux of it: the best way to increase your chances of getting in is to have new and exciting information to share with the school. 

Those things can include a great final set of grades, so do what you need to do to stay academically focused.

In addition, what did you do since submitting your original application that could make your case now even more compelling? 

• Is there an activity you’ve taken more initiative in?
• Is there an interest you’ve learned more about or dived more deeply into? 
• Is there anything you’ve worked on that could demonstrate any of the 5 traits (ex: drive, intellectual curiosity)?

If you’re on the school paper, did you get a big story published? If you love tech, did you work toward a free, meaningful certificate, maybe in coding or marketing ? 

So many things could make for strong “continued interest” fodder. Make sure you take a moment to account for everything you’ve done (or could still do) since submitting - no matter how small or unusual - as it could be just the thing to mention in your letter. 

Step 3: What is the school asking? 

Colleges are very different when it comes to letters of continued interest. Here’s a very important chart of the common requests they make:

It’s always a good idea to improve your qualifications (as we described in Step 2 above). But it’s a terrible idea to waste time writing an essay the college doesn’t want. So make sure you know what’s expected. 

Step 4: Look into your odds (optional) 

It’s not possible to know your odds of getting accepted off the waitlist. It’s never possible, actually. But with Covid upending normal college admissions policies, it’s harder than ever. 

Nevertheless, it’s only human to want to know your chances. (And, as we said in Step 1, being human is okay.)

One place you can look for waitlist data is from the Common Data Set project — bearing in mind that waitlist numbers change from year to year, and have been wildly different than past years before Covid. (You can also Google the school’s name and the word “waitlist” or “deferral” to see if any articles come up - usually from the school’s student paper.)

Covid has upended many families’ finances, their health calculations, and students’ potential willingness to travel far from home. As we mentioned earlier, in terms of college admissions, this has often translated into many schools admitting far fewer students than usual — and sometimes that has meant that they are more likely to take students off the waitlist than usual. Sometimes. 

Step 5: Use our simple structure to write a great letter   

Before you get into an overly literary mode — dreaming up clever metaphors and such for this essay — make sure you know what the college wants to hear.

All of these letters should be straightforwardly written.

Moreover, some schools explicitly ask for updates only. MIT is an example of a school like that. In that case, your letter should follow this simple structure:

• Dear [admission officer name who wrote to you with your decision],
• Thank you for allowing me to submit these updates on what I’ve been doing since applying this fall. [Or words to that effect.]
• [List of updates .]
• Thank you again for your consideration. 
• [Your name]

To write strong updates , bear in mind the rules we shared in our Activities List article : 

• Focus on the impact you had. (How was the activity different than it would have been had you not been there?)
• Quantify your achievement whenever you can.
• Emphasize new traits, skills, or interests you've gained since submitting your original application. 

For most other letters of continued interest, you should still write up all the impressive updates you can. You’ll also want to add a mini “why us” essay — a quick love letter to the school. 

Side note : the “Why Us” essay is all about demonstrating your interest in actually attending (ie: your ability to improve the school’s yield numbers). Take a quick look at this article on Demonstrated Interest to understand how colleges evaluate your interest and how much this matters to them. 

Structure for updates with a mini “why us”:

Your first paragraph should include:

• A statement that you remain interested in the school. If it’s true : state that the school is your top choice, and you're excited to enroll if admitted. 
• [As in the structure above, some variation on this sentence]: Thank you for taking the time to read my letter of continued interest. 

In your second paragraph , lead with what’s most compelling. If you have great updates, put them first. If you don’t really have much to say update-wise, go straight into your mini-love letter. 

If you didn’t already submit a formal Why Us essay, take this opportunity to write a short, informal one. Read our Why Us article for tips on how to do this. 

In a nutshell, it involves writing about your ambitions and interests and showing the specific opportunities at the college that match those interests (ex: courses, research opportunities, professors, etc. …). The reader should be left thinking you will have a worse life outcome if you don’t go to their school. Dramatic? Maybe, but getting off the “maybe” list and into the “yes” list is a great time for a little drama.

If you did submit a formal Why Us essay , here are some informal ways to write your love letter to the school.

• They’ll be missing out. Think about what the students at the college will miss out on if you don’t go there. Talk about what you’ll bring to campus life and why you think you’ll be a great classmate and contributor.
• Your unique contributions. Another way to get at the same material is to think about what you’ll uniquely bring to this campus. What perspective, ideas, or skills do you have that few others do? 
• Love letter. If you’re contemplating writing yet another essay, you must be in love with this school. Tell them why. Make a list of all the things you’ve loved about the college and why they resonated with you.

Connect your updates to your desire to attend that college , if you can. Show a connection between what you do now and where you want to be in a few months. 

For example, if your update was about a class in which you more deeply developed your coding skills, you might mention a class or club at the college you’re writing where you could develop those skills even further. (It’s a great strategy for waitlist essays that have an especially tight word limit.)

Finally: Get feedback 

Last but not least, seek out a second opinion from someone who understands what colleges are looking for in essays . You want to make sure what you’ve written is not only grammatically correct but, more importantly, that it shows off your potential to the fullest extent. 

More articles on Prompt.com’s admissions-boosting methods:

• Work with a college essay coach
• Strong essays increase your chance of admission by up to 10x
• Don’t let influencers influence your college essays
• Should I apply test-optional?
• Early admissions: Everything you need to know
• College Essay Help Center

Related Articles

What the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Decision Means for College Essays

Cassandra Cloutier

College admissions essays are more important than ever as a result of the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action decision.

Strong essays increase your admissions chances by up to 10 times

Applicants underestimate the power of essays and overestimate academics in college admissions. Essays are the most distinguishing factor in college admissions.

Your “Academic Score:” College Admission Data Shows Even Great Academics Aren’t Enough to Get You In

For college admissions, earning a high personal score is more important than earning a high academic score. Here's why.

• Become a Writing Coach
• Writing Center
• Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
• Sign Up for an Essay Coaching Package
• College Essay Feedback for High Schools
• Prompt for IECs

• January 16, 2024
• 11th Grade , 12th Grade , College Admissions

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest (Tips That Work With Samples)

Each year, top students apply to top schools through Early Action and Early Decision admissions programs. In some cases, these students are neither accepted nor rejected. Instead, they receive a deferral letter . Similarly, qualified students who apply through regular decision are often placed on waitlists. It can be difficult to know how to navigate the deferral or waitlist process . That’s where we come in. 

Sending a letter of continued interest is often the best way to express interest in a school, despite your current waitlist or deferral status. That being said, it can be difficult to know how to write a good letter of continued interest. In this article, we will outline how to write a letter of continued interest by providing you with plenty of practical tips and insights, as well as several letters of continued interest examples. We will also review reasons to send a letter of continued interest, what details to include, and what topics you should avoid.

So if you have questions about what to put in a letter of continued interest, or are looking for a letter of continued interest template, you’ve come to the right place!

Complimentary Initial Consultation

Fill out this form to book your complimentary initial consultation., what is a letter of continued interest (loci).

In other words, just because you have already submitted your personal statement , supplemental essays , resume , and transcript does not mean there is nothing else you can do. Rather, the best way to express your passion for the school is to send a letter of continued interest (LOCI). This letter should stress that the school you are writing to is your first choice. By indicating that the school is your top choice, colleges are more likely to pay attention to your application. After all, they want to accept high school students they believe will ultimately enroll in their institution. This is often referred to as “demonstrated interest.”

You’ll also want to use your letter of continued interest to show that you are continuously striving to be the best version of yourself. The best way to convey this is by providing admissions with additional information about your most recent accomplishments. Do not repeat information that they already have or simply rewrite your personal statement. Instead, provide information that is new. 

If you’re not sure what to write in a letter of continued interest, don’t worry, we’ll look at some examples of letters of continued interest.  

To start, what is a letter of continued interest? A letter of continued interest is a letter that you send to college admissions expressing your continued interest in a school and providing new information, such as recent awards, publications, or an increase in your high school GPA. 

If you’re not sure what to write in a letter of continued interest, don’t worry, we’ll look at some examples of letters of continued interest.

What to include in a letter of continued interest

You can use letters of continued interest strategically to prove you are still interested in a school and bring attention once again to your original application. This may be factored into admissions committees’ decisions as they reevaluate your college application during regular decision. There are many things you can include in your letter of continued interest (LOCI) to help convince the admissions committee to reconsider your application. 

The best letters of continued interest address the four points discussed below. So if you’re wondering “should I write a letter of continued interest?” consider whether the following factors apply to you:

Your GPA has improved.

If you are wondering when to send a letter of continued interest, an improvement in your high school GPA is an excellent reason to reach out to college admissions, especially if you are currently enrolled in AP, IB, and AICE classes . Not only does an improved GPA prove you haven’t caught senioritis , but it demonstrates your commitment to your education. 

You’ve gained new awards or were recently published.

Publications and awards are a great way to highlight your unique and exceptional qualifications. New achievements highlight your dedication to your interests even after the application process. Similarly, if you’ve been working on a passion project , share your most recent progress! Remember, don’t share information that’s already included in your existing application. 

You’ve earned a leadership position in an extracurricular activity.

If you choose to highlight a leadership position, be sure to explain your accomplishments. For example, it isn’t enough to say you are now the President of the Science Club. You should explain what work you’ve done to improve the organization. 

For instance, you may decide to write something like this: “Since your decision, I became the President of the Science Club, where I spearheaded a recycling project on our school’s campus. The initiative collects nearly 100 soda cans a week.”

Remember, extracurricular activities are an important element of your college applications. This is because college admissions officers want to admit students who will be an active participant on campus.

You’ve completed the requirements or instructions stated in your waitlist or deferral letter.

Some colleges and universities ask students to perform certain tasks before gaining acceptance. One of the most common waitlist stipulations is achieving a higher test score. Once you have the ACT scores or SAT scores they require, be sure to send them in as soon as you can, along with an additional letter of continued interest. Notify the college that you achieved the scores necessary and are still interested in attending the school.

​​What to avoid when writing a letter of continued interest

As you can see, there are lots of factors to focus on when you’re learning how to write a continued letter of interest. Now that we’ve discussed some of the topics you should prioritize, let’s review some topics you should avoid:

Do not rewrite your personal statement.

Your letter should focus on the new strengths you bring to the table, as well as your continued interest in the school. In other words, do not include information the school knows. Include new information that makes you look more competitive. Although it may be helpful to review components of a strong personal statement , do not simply rewrite your personal statement.

Do not mention other schools.

Mentioning other choice schools does not make you look more competitive. Instead, it may come off as if you are bragging or underscoring the fact that you have options. Mentioning other schools can actually work against you, as the college may believe you will ultimately choose to enroll at another university. Instead, focus on why the school you are writing to is most important to you.

​​How to format a letter of continued interest

Now, let’s discuss the letter of continued interest format.

First, begin with “Dear [the name of the college admissions officer you are writing to].” Then, thank them for their consideration. Explain that you are still interested in attending their school and that this school is your first choice. After that, highlight recent developments — such as an increased GPA or award — to prove that you are improving your profile to be a more competitive applicant. Be respectful and thank the admissions officer for their time.

Your letter should be no longer than one page. Admissions officers are busy and may not take too kindly to long-winded letters. Try to stick to the point as much as possible. Similarly, use a clear and concise letter of continued interest email subject line, such as “letter of continued interest.” Again, you want to be respectful of the college admissions officers’ time, so do your best to be kind, succinct, and professional.

Wondering “should I send a letter of continued interest to several schools?” In general, it’s better to focus your energy on your top choice university. It may complicate your process if you send multiple LOCIs and every school accepts you. Try to be strategic when sending these types of letters. More isn’t always better!

Letter of continued interest sample

Reviewing letters of continued interest examples is a great way to learn more about what to include in a letter of continued interest. It can also help give you ideas in terms of potential letters of continued interest templates. In addition to reviewing the letter of continued interest example below, check out our article How to Write an Email to a College Admissions Office . This  will help you get an even firmer grasp on how to format your letter.

Dear Dr. Smith, My name is Alyssa Rodriguez and I applied Early Action to Prepory University on November 1st, 2021. Firstly, I would like to thank you for your time in reviewing my application. Although I am currently deferred, I would like to formally declare my continued interest in Prepory University. I know that the PU is an excellent fit for me. Although I have received other acceptances, Prepory University is my dream college. As I mentioned in my application, no other school has a Journalism major with a concentration in Reporting in Applied Science. I recently read a report by Dr. Tao about the data visualizations in journalism and was reminded why this school perfectly embodies all of my interests. Since I submitted my application in November, I raised my GPA from a 3.66 to a 3.84 in a single semester by earning As in my AP Statistics, AP Literature, and Newspaper Publishing classes. I hope to finish my senior year with a strong GPA and even stronger AP exam scores. In addition to improved academics, I also published my third op-ed article in the San Diego Chronicle. Titled “Misunderstood, Misguided, & Misused,” the article focused on the misinformation campaigns caused by poor journalism and misinterpretation of data. I am excited to share that the article has over 1,500 views this month alone and over 25 shares via social media. I have linked the article to my email if you would like to read it. I have also expanded my leadership skills by heading a new section of our school newspaper. The new section will be focused on new discoveries in the science field. I am tasked with pitching story ideas, overseeing the section layout, and editing stories. My editing skills and interpersonal skills have significantly improved since assuming this role. I am confident these new personal and academic developments will make me an even better fit at Prepory University. I hope this letter reaffirms my interest in becoming a Prepory University student. I am happy to provide more information to help prove my interest and qualifications in PU. If there is any other information I can provide, please let me know. I hope to hear from the admissions committee soon. Best, Alyssa Rodriguez

What else you need to know about deferrals and waitlists

The waitlist means the admissions committee read your application and is still unsure of your application. There is no guarantee that waitlisted students will gain admission to the college or university. If you are wondering, what are the chances of getting accepted after being waitlisted? , you should do some research on the school to learn more about your chances of coming off of the waitlist. 

Some schools often pull from the waitlist, while others are less likely to select students placed on a waitlist. This means that the answer to the question, how often do waitlisted get accepted? , is highly variable and depends on the specific college in question. If you have additional concerns about what to do if you’ve been waitlisted , you may want to reach out to the admissions office directly to get a better idea of what your options look like moving forward.

In some cases, deferrals may mean you have to meet a few requirements before your official acceptance. In this case, you know exactly what you need to do to be accepted. If this is not the case, neither decision is better or worse. Both mean you have an opportunity to attend the school, but the admissions committee needs more time. 

The best thing you can do is put your best foot forward! Use your letter of continued interest to highlight your strengths as an applicant and show why you have the traits that college admissions officers look for in an applicant .

While sometimes used interchangeably, deferrals and waitlists are different. Deferrals mean that admissions officers are choosing to make a decision about your application status at a later date. If you apply Early Action or Early Decision , you will most likely be deferred to the regular decision pool. A deferral may also mean the college wants more information to consider you. This may mean grades from the spring semester of your senior year or additional test scores. 

Key takeaways and moving forward

Sending a letter of continued interest can be a great way to reaffirm your interest in attending a particular school while bolstering your application. Remember to be respectful, professional, and succinct while providing only new information. Colleges want to admit passionate students intent on bettering themselves. A letter of continued interest is a great opportunity to share your most recent accomplishments, which in turn, will further highlight your potential. If crafting such a letter seems daunting, our expert coaches at Prepory are here to guide you through the process.

Although gaining admission to your dream school is still a possibility, you may also want to use this time to explore the possibility of transferring colleges . Lots of students transfer colleges and if you earn good grades during your first semester of college and really apply yourself, you may still be able to gain a spot at your dream school. If you have any additional questions or concerns about moving forward with your college applications, reach out to learn more about our services and how we can help you meet all of your college-related goals.

In the meantime, check out some more of our college admissions articles, such as College Admissions Committee Review: What Actually Happens . 

Contact a Prepory college admissions coach and start your college admissions journey.

Our college admissions experts are here to guide you from where you are to where you should be. Through our comprehensive curriculum, individualized coaching, and online workshops, you are set for success as soon as you connect with us.

During our initial consultation, we will: 

• Assess your student’s applicant profile and higher education goals 
• Provide detailed information about our services and programming
• Share tips on how to navigate the U.S. college admissions process 

Let's get started!

Land your next great job with a Prepory career coach!

Let us help you advance your career, Identify new opportunities, participate in mock interviews, build, thrive, grow, and land your dream job.

Subscribe to our blog!

Follow us on social media

Want to get admitted to your dream school or accelerate your career?

College Admissions

Career coaching.

(929) 244-3365 [email protected] 12555 Orange Drive, Suite 100A, Davie, FL 33330

Copyright © 2023  Prepory Coaching Group LLC.  All Rights Reserved.

Ready to take the next step towards college admissions or career success?

Book your free consultation.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 tips for writing a successful letter of continued interest.

College Admissions

If you’ve found yourself waitlisted or deferred from your dream school, you might be worried and frustrated. What does being on the waitlist mean? Do you still have a chance of getting in? What can you do to improve your chances?

While there’s not one singular way of ensuring your eventual admission to your dream school, a letter of continued interest can show your continued dedication to the admissions committee. In this article, we’ll talk about what a continued interest letter is and give a letter of continued interest sample so you know how to write your own if you need to.

What Is a Letter of Continued Interest?

If you’ve been waitlisted or deferred from a college, you may feel sad or confused. But a waitlist or deferment isn’t always a bad thing - it means that the college thinks that you could be a strong candidate. However, they have some reservations about your application, or else they would have accepted you already.

A letter of continued interest lets the admissions committee know that you’re still excited about the prospect of attending that school. More than that, a continued interest letter is a way to update the admissions committee on your achievements, which may in turn push them over the edge and decide to admit you.

What Should You Include in a Letter of Continued Interest?

Colleges want to make sure that they have the best and brightest freshmen class possible. Your continued interest letter should prove that you belong among the admitted applicants.

You should include:

• An indication that you still want to attend the school.
• Updates on your recent accomplishments (academic, extracurricular, and personal).

Basically, you want to show the admissions committee that you’re still working hard and still interested in attending their school. As with any college essay, you should make the letter personal and specific - treat your continued interest letter as a chance to give the admissions committee greater insight into who you are as a person.

The types of updates you include will be specific to school you’re applying to. If you’re applying somewhere that doesn’t accept SAT scores, for instance, it doesn’t make sense to include your SAT scores. Do your research on what your school looks at and make sure to only include updates that are relevant to what you require.

What Should You Not Include in a Letter of Continued Interest?

It’s normal to be disappointed if you’re deferred or waitlisted - but don’t show that in your letter of continued interest.

Don’t express any frustration or negative feelings. Your letter should be positive and focused on your accomplishments, not your anger that the admissions committee hasn’t realized your merits.

You want to highlight positive personality traits, like perseverance, not ones like jealousy or anger.

Letter of Continued Interest Samples

Your letter of continued interest will be different if you’re deferred or if you’re waitlisted. If you’re deferred from an early decision pool to the regular candidate pool, you’ll want to indicate that the college is still your first choice, even though you may not have heard from anyone else yet. If you’ve been waitlisted, you’ll likely have heard from other colleges, so you can be more specific about why the waitlisted school is your top choice.

Let’s take a look at a letter of continued interest sample for each scenario.

Letter of Continued Interest Sample - Waitlist

Dear Mr. Admissions,

I was recently waitlisted for the 2018 school year. I am writing to express my continued interest in ABC University. I am particularly drawn to the school's Music Education program — the amazing faculty, including Professor 123, and state of the art facilities are what specifically make ABC University my top choice.

I also wanted to update you on some exciting news. Since I first submitted my application, I have been awarded the Rockstar Prize for Excellence in Music. This award is given to a high school senior in my state every year. I think winning the award shows my dedication and continued passion in music. I've included an updated resume reflecting this honor.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration. If you have any further questions, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.

This letter of continued interest sample is perfect for a student on the waitlist. First, it details the student’s continued interest in the university. Next, it tells the admissions committee about a new honor, showing that the student is still working hard, even late into his or her senior year . It also provides an updated resume of accomplishments for the committee to review.

Letter of Continued Interest Sample - Deferred

Dear Ms. Admissions,

Thank you for taking the time to read my application. I know that DEF University is incredibly competitive and I’m glad that I am still being considered a candidate for admission. I'm writing to express my continued interest in attending, and to include some new information to add to my application.

Since I applied to DEF University, I have retaken the SAT to improve my score. My math score is now 770 and my reading score is 740. I’m proud of myself for this achievement and am sending an official score report to the school.

I understand that this new information may not impact my admissions, as the candidate pool is so talented, but I wanted to share it with you anyways. I'm still very excited about the prospect of getting my acceptance letter to DEF University and joining the history department this fall.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

This letter of continued interest sample gives concrete updates on the student’s SAT scores. Since the student has been deferred, sending along an updated score report is a wise choice. The same goes for transcripts - if your work continues to be stellar or even improve, you should send updates along to the school as you’re considered as a candidate for regular admission.

3 Tips for Writing Your Letter of Continued Interest

If you need to write a letter of continued interest, keep these tips in mind.

#1: Keep It Short and Sweet

The admissions committee doesn’t want to read a ten-page essay on your accomplishments. Keep your letter brief, cheery, and polite. You don’t need to write more than 300 words to get your point across - you’re still interested in the school and you’ve been working hard.

#2: Include Supplementary Materials (If The School Looks at Them)

If you’ve had any exciting updates to your application, be sure to highlight them in the letter. If your standardized test scores have improved, send along the official reports. If your grades are up, order new transcripts. Only include these materials if they are relevant to the school you’re applying to.

#3: Be Specific

Since your letter shouldn’t be that long, focus on specific achievements, like an improved grade. Give the exact details of what you’ve done and how you’ve improved - don’t say that your grades are better, say that you transformed your B in Calculus to an A. Make it easy for the admissions committee to see what you’ve done.

A letter of continued interest is a good way to show the admissions committee that you still want to attend their school. It probably won’t be the one factor to sway your application one way or the other, but it can’t hurt! If you’re deferred or waitlisted at your dream school, take the time to write and send a letter of continued interest.

What’s Next?

Grades are an important part of a successful college application. This guide to getting a 4.0 GPA will help you plan effective studying habits, giving you a better chance at getting into your dream college. 

Our guide to college applications will help you understand exactly what schools are looking for.

Are you worried about standardized tests and their role in your college application? Read this article to find out when these tests might not matter for you .  Also take a look at this list of colleges that don't require SAT scores.

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

How to Write the University of Michigan’s Expression of Continued Interest (Deferral Letter)

The good news is that Michigan is asking deferred applicants to submit an Expression of Continued Interest, which means you have an additional opportunity to make a case for why admissions should want you on their campus. (Other than the fact that you’ve seen every season of 90-Day Fiance , which would get you admitted if we had anything to say about it.)

The Expression of Continued Interest form reads as follows:

Historically, some applicants to the University of Michigan have sent additional documents or letters to us after submitting their applications. These items are generally meant to express continued interest or to let us know about new achievements on the applicant’s part. If you have additional information you would like to share with us about yourself, you can do so by submitting our Expression of Continued Interest form. This is the only method by which we will accept new application information from you.

This form serves as your singular expression of continued interest in the University of Michigan, and can be used to share additional information about yourself with us. It is voluntary and is not required for us to consider your application in our Regular Decision process. If there is additional information you would like to provide to us, please submit this form by March 17.   Please note: Given the high volume of applicants to the University of Michigan, this form is the only source of additional application information that will be considered. Therefore, additional information/communications sent outside of this form will not be added to your application.   Limit: 250 words

Although this short essay is technically voluntary, like so many other “optional” components of the admissions process, we recommend submitting it. If you don’t take this opportunity to express your interest, why would admissions accept you over applicants who did? #demonstratedinterest

In order to submit a response that will truly work to your advantage, you should:

1. Follow Instructions Carefully

The directions clearly state that this Expression of Continued Interest is the only source of additional information that admissions officers will consider. This means that it would be a waste of your time to submit any additional materials or information outside the scope of this short essay. And, admissions doesn’t want to receive anything else from you — not even cookies (which is crazy to us). They mean it!

2. Reiterate, Don’t Repeat

You already wrote an entire essay dedicated to why you want to attend the University of Michigan , so there’s no need to repeat information admissions already has about you on file. Instead, choose some new details to focus on that remind admissions why you’re a great fit for the program to which you are applying, or the institution as a whole. 

3. Emphasize Your Interest 

If the University of Michigan is your first choice, say so! Swing from the writerly rafters and put your passion into words. Don’t be shy. Also, if you have any special connection to the university (Have you visited? Did your relatives attend?), find a way to address that in your short response. How can you highlight your overwhelming desire to be a Wolverine?  It also couldn’t hurt to be polite, and thank admissions for continuing to consider your application. (Who doesn’t love manners?!)

4. Include Important Updates

What has happened since you submitted your application in November? Have you won any awards? Improved your GPA? Started a new socially-distanced after-school program with friends? This  is the perfect opportunity to get admissions up to speed.

5. Submit as soon as possible.

The deadline for this essay is stated as Feb 20, but there is no harm in showing a little extra enthusiasm for being admitted. Of course, you should not submit your short essay early to the detriment of your application — take your time working on the assignment — but the sooner you submit, the better. You want to show admissions that you are chomping at the bit to showcase your passion for their institution. Who wants to go here more than you? Nobody!

6. Ask For Help

Our final piece of advice is to ask for help. Recruit a trusted friend, relative, or expert to review your short essay. They might remind you of an achievement you left out or help you to streamline your response. As always, our Advisors are standing by to help you with this assignment and others, so don’t hesitate to get in touch !

About CEA HQ

View all posts by CEA HQ »

We're waiting to hear from you!

Written by CEA HQ

Category: Admissions , advice , College Admissions , Essay Tips

Tags: college applications 2021 , deferral letter , expression of continued interest , university of michigan

Want free stuff?

We thought so. Sign up for free instructional videos, guides, worksheets and more!

One-On-One Advising

Common App Essay Prompt Guide

Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

• YouTube Tutorials
• Our Approach & Team
• Undergraduate Testimonials
• Postgraduate Testimonials
• Where Our Students Get In
• CEA Gives Back
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Private School Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Common App Essay Guide
• Supplemental Essay Guides
• Coalition App Guide
• The CEA Podcast
• Admissions Stats
• Notification Trackers
• Deadline Databases
• College Essay Examples
• Academy and Worksheets
• Waitlist Guides
• Get Started

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest with Examples

March 1, 2024

The waitlist: the limbo of the college admissions world. No doubt, it can certainly feel like purgatory for some. For the most part, all you can do is wait (hence the name) and maybe say a few Hail Marys. However, some schools do allow waitlisted students a certain degree of hope that they can turn the decision in their favor. That welcome agency comes in the form of the letter of continued interest (learn how to write a letter of continued interest and see examples below). A letter of continued interest allows waitlisted students to reinforce their commitment to a particular university or college. It also allows them a chance to update the committee on important recent accomplishments or experiences that enhance their profile.

Finally, it’s another opportunity for the student to persuade the committee of why they are a good fit. A sister genre to the application essay, the letter of continued interest is something of an epistolary lifeline when the future is murky.

This article provides an introduction and guide for how to write a letter of continued interest. It identifies the key components of the letter and offers tips for how to write it. Additionally, it includes two examples (written from the perspective of fictional college aspirants), with commentary on what they do well.

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest: Components of the Letter

As with most writing genres, the letter of continued interest has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Before the letter begins, you can include typical information like the date and sender and receiver’s addresses. After you’ve addressed the admissions committee, you’ll want to draft an opening that succinctly states your purpose. In 2-3 sentences maximum, express gratitude to the committee for their continued consideration and reiterate your interest in attending the school. You might also include some identifying information that helps the committee recall you as an applicant. Finally, the opening can convey that the school is the student’s top choice. This helps the committee appreciate how seriously you view this opportunity to be reconsidered.

After the opening comes the real meat of the letter in your body paragraphs. Your body should ideally include some combination of the following information:

• Clear and compelling explanation for *why* the college remains your top choice.
• A concise summary of updates for the committee. These can include any of your relevant achievements, experiences, or projects since the initial application.
• A persuasive case for how your personal goals and interests align with specific attributes or values of the institution.

In the examples below, the writers devoted separate paragraphs to each of these components. Depending on the information you have to relay, this can result in a letter that is anywhere from a half-page to a page and a half. You don’t want to unnecessarily pad out the letter. Instead, relay only the most relevant details in as concise a manner as possible. Remember: your letter will likely not be the only letter the committee has to read, and you don’t want to try their patience.

Finally, before signing off, include a brief closing. Reiterate your eagerness to join their college in a straightforward way and give a final word of thanks.

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest: Tips for Writing

Before we get to the sample letters, some general tips for writing the letter of continued interest:

• Tailor it: You should absolutely tailor your letter to the college or university you are writing to. Think of this as another crack at the “why us” admissions essay, with an even greater need to persuade.
• Stay positive: Don’t risk alienating your audience by seeming sullen or dejected about being waitlisted. Keep the tone light and optimistic.
• Follow instructions: Schools will let you know if the letter of continued interest is even on the table. Further, they might have specific instructions for how it should be written and delivered.
• Keep it brief and easy to read: Focus on concision and clarity, editing with the reading experience in mind.
• Offer something new: You should take this opportunity to give updates or provide new reasons why you see the college as a good fit. You do not want to repeat details or claims from your application essays. Not only is this wasting the opportunity, but it could also connote that you think the admissions committee made a mistake by waitlisting you.

A final tip, which should be a given for all writing genres: revise, revise, revise. Ask friends, family, and mentors to read and provide feedback. Read your writing out loud and experiment with new strategies. Don’t just proofread – dramatically rewrite until it feels like it can’t be reworked anymore (or you run out of time).

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest: Examples

Below you’ll find two examples of strong letters of continued interest. Though playfully written from the perspective of fictional characters, they demonstrate many successful qualities of a good letter. As you read, think about how they are organizing information, handling tone, and personalizing their letters. There is also commentary that can help you identify why both of these examples are effective.

Letter of Continued Interest Example 1

The first letter of continued interest example is written in the voice of Jude Hawley. In this example, Jude is a UChicago hopeful with a passion for architecture and urban planning. (More than likely, your experience on the waitlist will have less tragic results than the original Jude.)

Dear Admissions Committee,

My name is Jude Hawley, a hopeful University of Chicago student and aspiring urban planner based in Chicago, Illinois. While my application for Early Action was waitlisted, I wanted to take this opportunity to express that UChicago remains my number one choice. I also want to share recent experiences and updates that confirm my sense of why UChicago is a perfect fit for me.

• A succinct opening that signposts the purpose of the letter
• Nicely includes information that can help recall specific details about this applicant

Earlier this month, I attended an event at the Seminary Co-op featuring Emily Talen, head of the Urbanism Lab. She was discussing her recent book, Neighborhood, which focuses on urban sustainability and histories of neighborhood design. At the event, I got the chance to meet UChicago students and discuss how to create new urban environments that center sustainable community. That day in Hyde Park I felt like I had found an endearingly nerdy and mission-driven academic home. 

• Finds a novel way to communicate fit and familiarity with the institution’s resources and faculty
• Goes above and beyond in conveying aspects of the applicant’s personality (“endearingly nerdy” and “mission-driven”)

Example 1 (continued)

Since submitting my application, I have been able to further explore urban planning and architectural design careers by participating in the Chicago Architecture Center’s Teen Fellows program. Through the program, I’ve been able to attend college courses on architecture and urbanism studies at Harold Washington College and analyze Chicago’s built environment and architecturally significant sites with my fellowship cohort. Additionally, I’ve begun developing a project focused on increasing green spaces in Ukrainian Village, my home neighborhood, and will participate in a paid summer internship at a local design firm.

• Straightforward summary of important updates, which have clear connections to the applicant’s desired program of study and career goals

My roots in Chicago fuel both my love of the city and my commitment to rethink how it can be a sustainable, inviting community for all its people. I am convinced that UChicago’s Environmental and Urban Studies program is the best opportunity for me to build the kind of career I imagine for myself. I am particularly drawn to the program’s focus on the neighboring Calumet region, which will further my ability to translate technical design and planning skills to specific local challenges. Further, I am excited about the prospect of joining a community that values thinking both historically and creatively about how to address environmental and communal costs of urbanization.

• A stirring justification for why this student should attend the program/school (which is different from how they framed their motivations in the initial application)

Letter of Continued Interest Example 1 (conclusion)

Thank you once again for considering my application. Please let me know if I can provide anything else for the admissions committee to consider.

• Concise wrap-up, no need to draw things out here

Jude Hawley 

Letter of Continued Interest Example 2

In this example, Christine “Lady Bird” MacPherson tries to persuade NYU’s committee about her fit for Tisch Drama. She did in fact get off the waitlist and make it to New York in the end!

As I anticipate the upcoming decision regarding my application to New York University, I want to express my sincere interest in attending your esteemed institution. I am writing this letter to reaffirm that NYU remains my number one choice and update you on recent achievements and performance experiences. I believe these experiences have improved my ability to meaningfully contribute to NYU’s vibrant Tisch Drama program.

• Once again clearly signals the purpose of this letter and its component pieces
• A bit more formal and impersonal than the last letter of continued interest, but which still provides some details specific to this applicant

Letter of Continued Interest Example 2 (continued)

Since applying to NYU, I was cast in my school’s production of Merrily We Roll Along. During that production, I gained experience in Spolin method improvisation and theatrical set design. I also produced, directed, and edited a short film about my mother, spotlighting her tireless and often thankless work as a psychiatric nurse. She has yet to see it, as I want to show it to her as a present before I leave for college. It’s attached here for you to see. Finally, I mounted a campaign for class president this past semester. Though the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, my avant-garde posters left an undeniable impression, breaking the mold of my all-girls Catholic high school.

• Here the applicant identifies a range of new experiences which have varying degrees of relevancy to their desired degree program
• The experiences that are less relevant and even unsuccessful (the class president campaign) still convey the personality and interests this student could bring to campus
• The applicant has included a supplemental piece of their work for the committee to consider (a good strategy if the school allows it!)

Example 2 (concluded)

Although I have deep roots in Sacramento, I’ve long felt that my creative and intellectual personality has been at somewhat odds with my surroundings. Tisch Drama would enable me to experience the incomparable cultural resources of New York City, involve me in a rich schedule of theatrical productions, and allow me to learn from internationally recognized faculty and theatre artists. In other words, the opportunity to attend would be nothing short of life-changing.

• Explains how student’s goals and aspects of their personality could potentially form a good fit with the host institution

Thank you once again for considering my application. It would be an honor and a privilege to be a part of the NYU family, and I am excited about the possibility of joining your community and making a meaningful impact.

• Reiterating the main point (let me in!) in a succinct, complimentary way

Christine “Lady Bird” MacPherson

How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest: Final Thoughts

Admittedly, the incredibly personal nature of the genre defies a one-size-fits-all approach. But a good letter of continued interest will emphasize things like personality, ambition, and intellectual curiosity, and make a clear case for why this school will miss you in your absence. It’s one last shot to make an impression and convince others of what you’ve been convinced about all along. At the same time, always remember that it is best to keep as many options alive as you can. Do the work to reach that dream school, but keep in mind that happiness and success can come from anywhere.

Additional Reading and Resources

• What to Do After Getting Deferred by Your First-Choice College
• On the Wait List? Here’s Some Advice from a Notre Dame Admissions Counselor
• Deferred? We Have Some Advice For You
• Application Strategies

Tyler Talbott

Tyler holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Missouri and two Master of Arts degrees in English, one from the University of Maryland and another from Northwestern University. Currently, he is a PhD candidate in English at Northwestern University, where he also works as a graduate writing fellow.

• 2-Year Colleges
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

What to Do if Your College Application is Deferred

Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications.

See how your profile ranks among thousands of other students using CollegeVine. Calculate your chances at your dream schools and learn what areas you need to improve right now — it only takes 3 minutes and it's 100% free.

Show me what areas I need to improve

What’s Covered:

What does it mean to be deferred, why do colleges defer students, what are your chances of acceptance after deferral, what to do if you’re deferred.

When you apply to a college through an Early Decision or Early Action process, it’s clear that you’re particularly motivated to get admitted to that school. This can make waiting for your admission decision all the more agonizing.

If you’re accepted, your options are relatively simple. Rejection is upsetting, but in a way, it’s even simpler — one option has just been eliminated. There is, however, a third possibility for your early admission decision: deferral, in which the college decides to delay making a final decision on your application until the Regular Decision notification date.

Being deferred can be confusing. It can make you sad. It can make you question your ability to get in. Deferral is a common experience, but that doesn’t make it feel any better. Keep in mind- it is NOT a rejection! CollegeVine is here to help you through it- we’ll talk about what the deferral process looks like, what deferral means for your application, and what you can do to maximize your chances of eventually being accepted to your top college!

When you apply Early Decision or Action to a school, the admissions department does not have all applications for that cycle in. So, they may need more time or information to decide if you stand out in the applicant pool. You have enough great qualities that you stand a chance at acceptance, but your application may not have been strong enough to warrant an early decision. That’s okay! Deferral is a common result of an early application, since competitive colleges often have more qualified applicants than they can accept. Deferral is a tool used by schools to build the best possible freshman class by keeping strong candidates in the applicant pool rather than rejecting them entirely early in the process. It gives you time to strengthen your application , and gets your name in front of the university early. From there, you can try to improve your grades , possibly re-take the ACT or SAT, or add an extracurricular . 

As a deferred applicant, you will usually be reevaluated with the Regular Decision applicants automatically. Some schools may ask that you submit more information or a letter stating your continued interest in the school. Make sure you read the deferral letter very carefully so you can follow all instructions! You should receive a decision with the regular timeline and decision date, usually around the beginning of April. If your Early Decision application was binding, being deferred releases you from that commitment. If you are deferred and then accepted Regular Decision, you will not be contractually obligated to attend that school, and can freely choose among all schools you’ve been accepted to. 

Deferral usually happens when the admissions committee can’t come to a decision either way for an early applicant. There are a number of reasons why this can happen:

• You may be a borderline applicant . Perhaps your application is pretty good overall, but doesn’t particularly stand out in the early applicant pool. 
• The admissions committee may want to see how you compare to the students in the Regular Decision applicant pool, rather than the smaller Early Decision pool alone.
• The admissions committee may decide they need to see more information about you in order to make a final decision. For example, suppose your grades weren’t the best early in high school, but your academic performance has improved over time. The committee may want to see your first-semester senior year grades to confirm your upward academic trend . 

Some number of deferred students get accepted every year, but it’s difficult to say what one particular individual’s chance of acceptance may be. Your chances depend on more than just your application, like the strength of the entire applicant pool that year. Many schools, particularly very competitive schools, defer a large portion of their early applications. For some examples, in the 2020-2021 early round:

• Brown University admitted 16% of early applicants
• Dartmouth University admitted 21% of early applicants
• Duke University admitted 16.7% of early applicants
• Harvard University admitted 7.4% of early applicants

If we look at Georgetown, only 10% of early decision applicants were accepted, with over 89% being deferred. Of that 89%, 15% were then admitted in the regular round. To put it in perspective, Georgetown’s 2020 overall acceptance rate was only 14%. For more information on your chances of acceptance at your ideal university, check out our free Chancing Engine.  

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

Take a deep breath. Deferral does NOT equal rejection

Make sure you READ the rest of the letter. Many schools give especially important information about what steps you should take next, and about things you shouldn’t do. Some will ask that you send updated grades, some will ask that you confirm your intention to be considered in the regular decision round , some will ask that you specifically do not send more information. You must read the letter closely to be sure you show you are motivated and can follow directions.

Re-evaluate Your Application

Most colleges allow deferred applicants to submit an update to their application, though schools can vary as to what updates they will accept. Aside from what your school specifically asks for, a good general rule is to only submit information that is new and substantial. Focus on things that have happened since you submitted your application. Remember, the admissions office already has your original application to consider, so don’t submit information they already know. 

Check over your essay again, or use our FREE essay peer review tool! Make sure your essay is personal, follows all requested aspects from the prompt, and makes you stand out from the larger pool. Some students may also decide to retake standardized tests in hopes of getting higher scores. If this is your plan, put in the effort to study and prepare better for these tests than you did the first time around. A prep course, a test-specific tutor, or taking practice tests can help to make an additional round of testing worth the effort. Remember to have your test scores sent directly to the college. 

Look over your list of schools again

Competitive schools attract more qualified applicants than they can admit, so there is always some element of chance when it comes to your acceptance. While you may have your heart set on a school, if you are deferred, don’t take it personally. You never know what factors are at play, and it’s possible that the school is not the best fit for you. Take a look at what drew you to the school. 

• Geographic location?
• A specific academic program?
• The atmosphere?

Pinpoint some of the most desirable qualities, and look for them at other schools that may be a better fit for you. Also, redirect your focus to schools you were accepted to, or have a high chance of acceptance to. Join social media groups, reach out to current students or recent grads, network to learn more about each school and get a better feel for it. Visit the campus! The more informed you are about all your options, the better prepared you’ll be to make an informed choice once all your final decisions are in.

More Resources

For more information about the deferral process, take a look at these posts on the CollegeVine blog :

• Early Action vs. Early Decision: 4 Key Differences
• Early Decision and Early Action Acceptance Rates at Top Schools
• 4 Reasons to NOT Apply Early Decision
• Deferred or Waitlisted: Tips for Writing A Letter of Continued Interest

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Sample Responses to a College Deferral Letter

A well-crafted letter can improve your college admission chances

• Ph.D., English, University of Pennsylvania
• M.A., English, University of Pennsylvania
• B.S., Materials Science & Engineering and Literature, MIT

If you applied to college through early decision  or  early action option, you may find that you've been neither accepted nor rejected, but deferred. Many applicants despair when their application for early admission ends up in this frustrating limbo because it feels much like a rejection. It is not, and you can take steps to improve your chances of getting admitted with the regular admission pool. One easy step is to write the college a response to your deferral letter.

Key Takeaways: Responding to a College Deferral

• If you have new information that could strengthen your application, share it with admissions officials. This can include improved test scores, a new award, or a new leadership position.
• Be positive: reaffirm your interest in the school, and don't let your anger and frustration at being deferred darken your letter. Be careful not to suggest the admissions officials made a mistake.
• As with all written parts of your applications, pay careful attention to grammar, punctuation, and style. Colleges want to admit students who write well.

Remember that if the college did not think you had the qualifications necessary to be admitted, you would have been rejected, not deferred. Essentially, the school is telling you that you have what it takes to get in, but it wants to compare you to the full applicant pool. You simply didn't stand out quite enough to be admitted with the early applicant pool. By writing to a college after being deferred, you have the opportunity to both reaffirm your interest in the school and present any new information that might strengthen your application.

So, don't panic if you received a letter of deferral after applying to college through early decision or early action. You're still in the game. First, read about what to do if deferred . Then, if you think you have meaningful new information to share with the college that has deferred your admission, write a letter. Sometimes you can write a simple  letter of continued interest  even if you don't have new information to share, although some schools explicitly state that such letters are not necessary, and in some cases, not welcome (admissions offices are extremely busy in the winter).

Sample Letter from a Deferred Student

This sample letter would be appropriate response to a deferment. The student, "Caitlin," has a significant new honor to report to her first-choice college, so she certainly should make the school aware of the update to her application. Note that her letter is polite and concise. She doesn't express her frustration or anger; she doesn't try to convince the school that it has made a mistake. Instead, she reaffirms her interest in the school, presents the new information, and thanks the admissions officer.

Dear Mr. Carlos,

I am writing to inform you of an addition to my  University of Georgia  application. Although my admission for Early Action has been deferred, I am still very interested in UGA and would very much like to be admitted, and therefore I wish to keep you up to date on my activities and achievements.

Earlier this month I participated in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in New York City. My high school team was awarded a $10,000 scholarship for our research on graph theory. The judges consisted of a panel of scientists and mathematicians led by former astronaut Dr. Thomas Jones; the awards were presented at a ceremony on Dec. 7. Over 2,000 students entered this competition, and I was extremely honored to be recognized alongside the other winners. More information on this competition can be found through the Siemens Foundation web site: http://www.siemens-foundation.org/en/ .

Thank you for your continued consideration of my application.

Caitlin Anystudent

Discussion of Caitlin's Letter

Caitlin's letter is simple and to the point. Given how busy the admissions office will be between December and March, being brief is important. It would reflect poor judgment if she were to write a lengthy letter to present a single piece of information.

That said, Caitlin could strengthen her letter slightly with a few tweaks to her opening paragraph. Currently she states that she is "still very interested in UGA and would very much like to be admitted." Since she applied Early Action, admissions officers can assume that UGA was among Caitlin's top-choice schools. If so, she should state this. Also, it doesn't hurt to briefly state why UGA is a top-choice school. As an example, her opening paragraph could state: "Although my admission for Early Action has been deferred, UGA remains my top-choice university. I love the energy and spirit of the campus, and I was truly impressed by my visit to a sociology class last spring. I am writing to keep you up to date on my activities and achievements."

A Second Sample Letter

Laura applied to Johns Hopkins University through the early decision program, and she was deferred. She had a few significant updates to her record, so she wrote a letter to the admissions office:

Dear Mr. Birney,

Last week I learned that my application for early decision at Johns Hopkins was deferred. As you can imagine, this news was disappointing to me—Johns Hopkins remains the university I'm most excited about attending. I visited many schools during my college search, and Johns Hopkins' program in International Studies appeared to be a perfect match for my interests and aspirations. I also loved the energy of the Homewood Campus.

I want to thank you and your colleagues for the time you put into considering my application. After I applied for early decision, I received a couple more pieces of information that I hope will strengthen my application. First, I retook the SAT in November and my combined score went from 1330 to 1470. The College Board will be sending you an official score report soon.

Also, I was recently elected to be the captain of our school ski team, a group of 28 students who compete in regional competitions. As captain, I will have a central role in the team's scheduling, publicity and fundraising. I have asked the team's coach to send you a supplemental letter of recommendation that will address my role within the team.

Many thanks for your consideration,

Laura Anystudent

Discussion of Laura's Letter

Laura has good reason to write to Johns Hopkins University. The 110-point improvement on her SAT scores is significant. If you look at this  graph of GPA-SAT-ACT data for admission to Hopkins , you'll see that Laura's original 1330 was on the lower end of the accepted student range. Her new score of 1470 is nicely in the middle of the range.

Laura's election as captain of the ski team may not be a game-changer on the admissions front, but it does show more evidence of her leadership skills. Especially if her application was originally light on leadership experiences, this new position may be significant. Finally, Laura's decision to have a supplemental  letter of recommendation  sent to Hopkins is a good choice, particularly if her coach can speak to abilities that Laura's other recommenders did not.

Mistakes to Avoid

The following letter illustrates what you should not do. The student, "Brian," asks to have his application reconsidered, but he does not present any significant new information for reconsidering the decision, and the personality he reveals is likely to harm is admissions chances.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in regard to my deferral for admission to Syracuse University for the fall semester. I received a letter earlier this week informing me that my admission had been deferred. I would like to urge you to reconsider me for admission.

As you know from my previously submitted admissions materials, I am a very strong student with an outstanding academic record. Since I submitted my high school transcript in November, I have received another set of midyear grades, and my GPA has gone up from a 3.30 to 3.35. In addition, the school newspaper, of which I am assistant editor, has been nominated for a regional award.

Frankly, I am somewhat concerned about the status of my admission. I have a friend at a nearby high school who has been admitted to Syracuse through early admissions, yet I know that he has a somewhat lower GPA than mine and has not been involved in as many extracurricular activities. Although he is a good student, and I certainly do not hold anything against him, I am confused about why he would be admitted while I have not been. I think that I am a far stronger applicant.

I would very much appreciate it if you could take another look at my application and reconsider my admissions status. I believe I am an excellent student and would have much to contribute to your university.

Brian Anystudent

The increase in his GPA from a 3.30 to a 3.35 is fairly trivial. Brian's newspaper has been nominated for an award, but it has not won the award. Moreover, he writes as if he has been rejected, not deferred. The university will review his application again with the regular pool of applicants.

The biggest problem with the letter, however, is that Brian comes across as a whiner, an egotist, and an ungenerous person. He clearly thinks very highly of himself, placing himself above his friend and making much ado about a modest 3.35 GPA. Does Brian really sound like the type of person the admissions officers will want to invite to join their campus community?

To make matters worse, the third paragraph in Brian's letter essentially accuses the admissions officers of making a mistake in admitting his friend and deferring him. The goal of Brian's letter is to strengthen his chances of getting into college, but questioning the competence of the admissions officers works counter to that goal.

General Tips

As with any communication with a college, pay careful attention tone, grammar, punctuation, and style . A sloppily-written letter will work against you and not strengthen your application.

Writing a letter when deferred is optional, and at many schools, it won't improve your chances of being admitted. Write only if you have compelling new information to present (don't write if your SAT score went up just 10 points—you don't want to look like you're grasping). And if the college doesn't say not to write a letter of continued interest, it can be worthwhile to do so.

• Sample Letters of Continued Interest
• How to Handle College Deferrals, Waitlists, and Rejections
• Deferred? What Next?
• How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest
• 5 Bad Ways to Demonstrate Interest
• How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest for Law School
• Sample Appeal Letter for a College Rejection
• Application Deadlines for Top Colleges and Universities
• What Is Early Decision?
• How to Get Off a Wait List
• How to Demonstrate Interest in a College
• NYU and Early Decision
• Can You Appeal a College Rejection?
• The 6 Most Common Blunders of College Applicants
• Tips for Appealing a College Rejection Decision
• What Is Early Action?