How to Write the Perfect Waitlist Love Letter (LOCI)

So you've been waitlisted, and you've decided you still want in. Good — because now it's time to write the most important letter of your admissions journey.

It's called a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) — but we like to call it a waitlist love letter. Because that's exactly what it is: your chance to look a college in the eye and say, "I'm in. Are you?"

If you haven't already, check out our guide on what being waitlisted actually means and what to do next. And when you're ready to write your letter, this is everything you need to know.

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Before You Write: Read Everything First

Read the Waitlist Letter or Email

Before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), carefully read the communication from the college. Not every school is open to receiving a LOCI. If they are, and you've decided to hold your spot on the waitlist, then this letter is your shot — so make it count.

Read the Directions — All of Them

Check the waitlist letter, the applicant portal, and the school's website for any specific instructions. Follow them to the letter.

And if they don't mention sending anything? Send something anyway. Letters of Continued Interest are surprisingly rare considering how many students get waitlisted. Yours will likely be read — and appreciated.

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What to Write: The Heart of Your LOCI

Show Genuine Interest

Don't just say you're interested — prove it. Attend virtual info sessions. Dive into their social media. Read their school newspaper. Explore their website. Then, in your letter, show them how you've connected with the different aspects of their college. The more specific, the better.

Be Honest

This is no time for hedging. If they admit you, will you absolutely, without question, immediately accept? Say so. Are you turning down every other waitlist spot but theirs? Tell them. Would you consider a gap year or spring enrollment just to attend? Let them know.

If your financial circumstances have changed and you could contribute more than your original application indicated, that's worth mentioning too.

Just don't lie. Authenticity is everything here.

Be Nice

Be positive. Thank them for the continued opportunity to be considered. Whatever you do:

• Don't complain about being waitlisted
• Don't ask them why you weren't admitted
• Don't assume you know why you weren't admitted — you might accidentally spotlight something they were overlooking

Be Yourself

Just like in your personal essay, use your own voice. Your own words. Be friendly, be warm. Think of this as your chance to sit down and have a cup of bubble tea with the admissions team, telling them why the two of you are a perfect match.

Bare Your Soul

This is it. No holding back. Tell them why you are so drawn to their school, and give them every reason to be drawn to you. You've basically got nothing to lose here, so let it all out. Show them why they need you.

Create a Picture of Yourself on Their Campus

This is where your research pays off. Draw specific connections between who you are and what their campus offers:

• Watch their virtual tour videos (especially ones on the official website)
• Read the school newspaper
• Learn the school motto
• Explore specific departments, clubs, and programs

Then weave all of it into your letter. Your goal is to paint a vivid picture of yourself already on their campus — walking to class, joining that club, sitting in that lecture hall. Show them why they need you and why you need them.

Think of this as the ultimate Why College Love Letter.

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The Practical Details

Keep It to ~500 Words

About a page is the sweet spot. Say everything you need to say, but be concise. Admissions officers are reading a lot of these — respect their time while still making your case.

Include Updates

Has anything changed since you submitted your application? Bullet-point your updates so they're easy to scan:

• Improved test scores or grades
• Awards, competitions, or honors
• New extracurricular achievements
• Personal milestones — maybe you hit a goal of walking 3,200 miles, wrote a poem every day for six months, or built a castle out of toothpicks

Start this section with something like: "Since my application (or my last update)..."

Be Specific

Mention something concrete from a virtual tour, an info session, an Instagram story, or the school newspaper. Name classes, professors, clubs, events. Do your research, and let it show.

Also, be specific about yourself — the kind of student, classmate, and community member you'll be on their campus.

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Formatting & Logistics

Format

Follow whatever instructions the school provides. If they don't give clear guidance, here's what we recommend:

1. Email the text of your LOCI directly in the body of the email
2. Attach a clean PDF version as well
3. Upload the PDF to your applicant portal, if available

Don't overthink the design. No fancy fonts. No colorful formatting. Let your words, your love for the school, and your voice do the work.

Who to Send It To

Unless they say otherwise:

• The admissions officer who signed your waitlist letter
• Your regional admissions officer (if you have one)
• CC: the general admissions office and the director of admissions
• Upload to your portal if that option is available

When to Send It

If the school doesn't specify a deadline:

• Send your LOCI by mid-April
• Consider a brief, polite follow-up in the first or second week of May

Note: Always defer to any instructions from the college — in their waitlist letter, on the portal, or on their website. Their guidance overrides ours.

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After You Send It: Find Your Inner Elsa

Here's the hardest part: once you've written your letter, sent it off, and poured your heart into every word — let it go.

Don't plan on the waitlist working out, no matter how incredible your LOCI was. Make other plans. Get excited about the school you've committed to. Start picturing yourself there.

If the waitlist call comes, it'll be a wonderful surprise. If it doesn't, you'll already be exactly where you're supposed to be.

Life's too short to wait around on college acceptances. Write the letter, send it, and then — like Elsa — let it go.

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At Tutors, Inc., we help students navigate every twist in the admissions journey — including the waitlist. If you need help crafting your LOCI or figuring out your next steps, we're here for you.