Letter of Interest

I was curious about whether or not a Letter of Interest commits you to the college. I have heard of many people sending these letters after being deferred, but what exactly does it do? Is it possible to say that the college is one of your top choices, but not commit? Thanks a lot for the help!

Such a letter would be non-binding.

I know someone who did that for Michigan after being deferred EA, and he was accepted two weeks ago. He is not sure if he is going to Michigan as FA is an issue for his family, so no, I do not think a Letter of Interest would be binding at all.

If you say how much you want to go there, without saying “if accepted I will definitely attend”, I don’t see a problem.

@prospect1 @rhandco I appreciate the help! Do any of you know how to write a Letter of Interest or the format of it? If so, could you message me or reply on this forum? Thanks again!

@rhandco‌

I said the ‘if accepted I will definitely attend’ to two of my top choice schools in an email.
Should I be worried? What happens if I’m accepted to both the schools?

I sent an continued interest email a week ago, without making a commitment about definitely joining if admission is offered. I got a standard reply from my regional counselor. When you avoid the commitment statement, you should be alright. Although, it may not become a binding statement.

I’ll say that even if you took your enthusiasm too far, a college is not going to sue you and make you attend. I doubt colleges will contact each other about letters of interest.

Bad form and all perhaps to “tell two people you’ll marry them if they say yes”, but it’s too late and as for your choice, you choose if you get in both. Obviously you can’t attend both, and things can change.

To be honest, if I was a regional rep at College A and my friend was a regional rep at College B, and we found out the same student said “I will definitely attend if accepted” to each of our schools, we’d laugh about it. Applicants are expected to be eager, and that faux pas is a symptom of enthusiasm in my mind.

(also, college reps know that most students have no idea about finances, and any offer is contingent upon satisfactory financial aid in the view of the parents)