How to Write a LOCI (or Appeal) That Actually Works

Receiving a waitlist decision from your dream school can feel like purgatory. You aren't rejected, but you aren't packing your bags, either. How you respond to your waitlist placement is crucial re: your ultimate admissions decision.

The first important thing to know is that universities use waitlists for "yield protection." They need to know exactly how many classroom seats to fill. When spots open up in May, admissions officers look for the students who present the lowest risk (i.e. those who won’t turn them down for more prestigious schools) and the highest value. Your tool to prove you are that student is the Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI).

Year after year I see students suffer the same panic-response: they write emotional, pleading letters to admissions offices that come off as bitter or entitled.

Don't do that. Unlike your personal statement and supps, your LOCI should be factual, data-driven, and direct...people often push back against this, but when it's done, it should look more like your activities list than your essays. Here's a no-BS breakdown of a structure I've seen consistently work over the years, both for LOCIs and appeal letters.

(Note: This exact framework can also be adapted for formal Appeal Letters, though students should note that successful appeals for outright rejections are statistically exceedingly rare—like, I’m talking ~1% rare.)

Paragraph 1

Open with a formal letter intro ("Dear [College Name] Admissions,"). Then vulnerably acknowledge how getting waitlisted / rejected made you feel (maybe some variation of "bittersweet" or "disappointing") but immediately follow that up with something like, "After reviewing my initial application, I am writing to share compelling new information regarding my candidacy." The bit about "compelling new info" is the most important line in the whole thing—it's what separates a meaningful letter from the whiny pleas AOs are used to reading.

Paragraph 2

If you've maintained solid academics since applying, tell them how many advanced classes—that's APs, IBs, Honors, and/or CCs—you've been juggling since applying and flex your straight A's, if applicable.

If you had any weaker grades in your OG application that you feel may have hurt your chances, you can recontextualize them here by briefly stating what extenuating circumstances hindered you back then. But remember: the difference between a sob-story and an honest accounting is that the first is meant to elicit pity and the second is meant to convey actual info. Rather than vague stuff like, "I'm studying harder than ever" or "I haven't succumbed to senioritis," list specific actions you've taken to sharpen your skills. Maybe something like: "Recognizing that calculus came less easily to me than English, I enrolled in weekly tutoring and supplemented my work with Khan Academy to raise my grade to an A-."

This doesn't make you seem dumb or weak; it shows that you're academically humble + don't linger in denial when you're struggling. You can also highlight a specific project or paper or something you've completed recently that you were especially proud of, if you can tie it to your declared major.

Paragraph 3 - X

Now you get into the meat-and-potatoes of the letter: your ECs. New info re: previously reported activities is generally stronger than updates / new activities, but in either case, don't be vague or sound emotional. Each body paragraph from here on out should be a concise, direct, #-driven entry. Some tips:

• Include the hours/week you’ve spent on each one (AOs will tally this up; in my experience, Ivies are usually looking for 35+ hrs/wk cumulatively).

• Include ALL quantifiable metrics that you can (I'm talking funds raised, members recruited, events hosted, etc.)

• Emphasize your personal leadership contributions over the group's success. (Remember, they don't give a s*** about your club; they give a s***0 about you.)

End each EC paragraph by explicitly stating how you'll bring this momentum to their campus. Bonus points if you can name-drop a specific club or resource or something that already exists, OR you can mention how you'll continue working on wahtever EC on their campus. ((None of this is binding, so you can go crazy re: whatever clubs / groups / teams you intend to start. If you sound confident and ambitious, it'll likely land well.))

Conclusion

End succinctly by telling them how they're your dream school, that you'd certainly attend if admitted (this helps AOs maximize their yield protection), and, if true, that you'd be open to attending as a different or undeclared major, should a spot open up. Then, sign off like, "Sincerely, _________," followed by your student ID # if they gave you one.

LOCIs are weird documents, hovering somewhere between a letter, a supplemental essay, and an activities list entry, but as decisions roll out, I hope this structure helps.

Need an expert set of eyes on your LOCI? Crafting the perfect update requires precision. As part of our Founder's Rate Mentorship, the Burgess Workshop Studio is currently offering rapid-turnaround strategic reviews and live calls for waitlisted students. Reach out via our Contact Page to secure a spot before the May deadlines.