Every law school applicant hopes to be accepted and fears being rejected. If you are waitlisted, however, you may not know what to expect. Many schools accept a Letter of Continued Interest (or LOCI), which is a key tool to improve your chance of acceptance. Fortunately, the LOCI has a clear structure, which will make writing it easy.
LOCI: The Basics
There are two main reasons schools ask for a LOCI. First, it tells the school that you are still interested and will attend if accepted. Schools don’t want to take students off the waitlist only for them to go somewhere else. Second, it lets you inform the school of any new information since you sent your application.
The school will explain how to format and send your letter, and you should follow these directions carefully. Generally, you will format the LOCI similarly to other application materials, and will address it as a letter to the admissions committee. Your tone should be polite, respectful, and informative. The LOCI will generally be around one page.
It’s generally better to send the letter sooner than later, but you may want to wait for new information that would affect the content of the letter, like another school’s decision or new experience on your end. You will generally only write one letter unless you have another truly significant update.
Structuring the LOCI
Most LOCIs have a similar structure, which makes writing it straightforward.
Thank the admissions committee.
Even being waitlisted is an achievement, and you should express gratitude for the admissions committee’s time and consideration.
Express your interest.
If the school is your first choice and you would certainly attend if accepted, let them know. Otherwise, express your interest genuinely. Remember, schools want to accept students who will attend, but you will write a stronger letter if you are honest about your interest.
Explain why you are interested.
Inform the committee of your reasons for choosing their school, like the location, class size, faculty, or extracurricular opportunities. Make these reasons as specific and personal as you can—explain why class size, say, matters to you, instead of simply giving a generic statement. This section may be a little like the “Why X School” essay you likely wrote earlier, but keep in mind that every piece of application material is an opportunity to tell the committee something new.
Update the committee on your candidacy.
It will have been several months since you applied, and you should let the committee know anything that would increase your competitiveness. For example, you may have retaken the LSAT, gained new work or volunteer experience, or achieved something personal. Of course, you may not have any updates. In that case, keep the focus on your interest in the program.
Conclude the letter.
Finish by reiterating your interest and offer to give the committee any other information that may be helpful. Thank them again for their consideration, and sign your name.
If you’re at the stage of writing a LOCI, you are already a competitive applicant. Being waitlisted can be intimidating, but do your best to remain stress-free. Good luck!
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