Should I write a letter of interest to my school?

Hello CC users!!

I’m currently a QuestBridge Finalist who unfortunately did not get matched to any of my schools (Rice, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Duke, and Brown). I’m completing my applications for my regular schools all the while hoping that I get into one of my original QB NCM schools.
I’ve heard about this letter of interest that people sometimes write to their colleges, and I’ve been wondering if I should make one for those 5 QB scools. Questions:

  1. Could someone please the letter of interest and what people usually talk about in the letter?
  2. Is it too much to include an ‘other recommender’ recommendation? I’m planning on emailing the schools to find out how I could send a separate recommendation, assuming that I’m allowed to send it in the first place.
  3. Am I doing too much if I were to send the schools my commonapp essay also?

Thank you very much! I just really want to get into Rice :slight_smile: