I got deferred from Princeton in December, and now I’ve been told that I have to write a letter of continuing interest talking about what I’ve accomplished since my application. Problem is, I really haven’t done anything new since my application, so I was wondering if it’s necessary that I write this letter, and if it is, what do I put in it?
Thanks!
You make it sound like its a burden, or maybe I’m just reading too much into “have to” and “if it’s necessary”.
In any event, being deferred at Princeton gives no insight into your chances of admission unlike a school like Stanford where you really are still under serious consideration.
You have to figure that at a school like Princeton (7% acceptance rate) they’ve already decided most of those kids have no chance and gave them a courtesy “deferral”. Hopefully yours is in the pile still being actively considered.
Didn’t you retake your Math II subject test after the application was sent in? That’s a good score to include with your interest letter.
You don’t “have to,” but it can’t hurt. If you don’t have anything new to report, at least let them know you’re still very interested in their school.
'You don’t “have to,” but it can’t hurt. If you don’t have anything new to report, at least let them know you’re still very interested in their school."
I do not entirely agree, although – clearly – I understand @austinmshauri’s intent. The fact is, it certainly may hurt, because admissions officials are exceedingly busy now, in the 1 February through 31 March period, with tens-of-thousands of highly competitive RD applications to assess, rank, discuss, and eventually accept/decline/waitlist. Moreover, how many “affirmations of continuing interest” will provide no new or relevant information, but will only reiterate “Princeton is my top choice, I love the university, it is my most ardent dream to attend, and so forth?” Reading and filing such mundane, pro-forma garbage frankly squanders these über busy individuals’ time during the most stressful part of their annual admissions cycle.
Therefore, if you have nothing of substance to report but you still believe a renewed declaration of interest/commitment is wise or vital, I urge you to be BRIEF; no extensive or flowery statements are needed.
P. S.: If you actually have truly germane information to report – such as your Math II result – by all means, do so (obviously, adding a concise statement of ardent interest)!!!
@TopTier has an excellent point. I was thinking of a thread which suggested that if deferred students don’t write a letter of continued interest they run the risk of the schools assuming they’re no longer interested. If that were true, and I’m not sure it is, that could harm a student who doesn’t write. But unless a student withdraws an application, it seems like colleges could reasonably conclude s/he is still interested. I agree that a brief statement of continued interest is probably best.