I was deferred from Princeton under Single-Choice Early Action, and now I was thinking of sending a Letter Of Continued Interest.
What exactly should I write in it? I will reiterate my love for Princeton, but should I mention specifics? I feel like it’s already covered in my essays.
I’ve included a few things I’ve done since submitting my application, but is there anything else that people generally write in these?
Also, how long do you think it should be? Mine is currently a little over a page long.
Lastly, who should I email this to? The local admission officer, or the overall Princeton admission office?
(P.S. I’m not sure what I should do after deferral, other than this… I’ve heard that people often keep in touch with the admission officers and email them frequently to show interest. Is this true?)
No admission officer wants to be deluged with emails from kids with nothing to say, just trying to keep their name out there. I bet they are remembered; remembered and denied.
At this point one simple letter expressing interest and with updates is fine. One page is way too long!! It should fit into 2 or 3 paragraphs.
Understand, too, that Princeton defers just about everyone they don’t accept. Some deferrals will later be accepted but most won’t. What this means is that for many kids the decision has already been made but they are “letting them down slowly” and go for defer then reject. You have no way of knowing if you are in the “still have a chance group”, but one way to get bumped out of it if you are is to bombard admissions with meaningless emails, IMHO.
You need to understand that admissions officers are swamped. The last thing they want is another page long essay reiterating what is stated clearly in the application. And don’t worry Princeton will assume that a deferred SCEA candidate is still interested.
If you have any meaningful accomplishments since your application write them up very briefly , you can state your continued interested and if true you can write “if accepted I will attend”. The whole thing should be no longer than a paragraph or so. Short and sweet is best.
@mikemac@happy1 thank you for the answers! I also believe too much communication with them would be annoying, and that the LOCI should be as brief as possible. My AGC insists, however, that they won’t mind a long LOCI and that I should mention specifics and go in detail in the letter.