.png)
A LOCI, or letter of continued interest, should run about a half page to one page, roughly three to five paragraphs. Lead with a clear statement that the school is a top choice, include one or two genuine updates, and stop there. If the school specifies a length, that instruction always wins.
By Ali Unar, JD candidate at Georgetown Law and founder of Lovare Institut. Last updated August 2026. Every figure on this page was verified in August 2026 against the sources listed below.
A LOCI should be about a half page to one page. In practice that means three to five short paragraphs, a single side of a page, and no more than a few hundred words. The point of a letter of continued interest is to be read in full, so brevity is part of what makes it work.
Match your LOCI length to how much you genuinely have to say. The table gives a quick guide.
Your situationSuggested lengthLittle new since applyingA short half page focused on interest and fitOne or two solid updatesAbout one page, the most common caseSchool sets a word or format limitWhatever the school specifies, always
Keeping a LOCI brief respects how committees read waitlist letters, which is quickly and in volume. A tight letter puts your strongest update and your clearest interest statement where they cannot be missed. Padding a letter to fill a page usually weakens it, because the important lines get diluted by filler.
Trim a LOCI by cutting anything already in your application and anything that does not signal interest or report a real update. Remove flattery that could apply to any school and replace it with one specific detail about this program. What remains, a clear top-choice statement plus a genuine update or two, is the right length by definition.
About a half page to one page is the standard length for a letter of continued interest, or three to five brief paragraphs. That gives room for a top-choice statement and a couple of updates without repeating your application. Always follow a school's own limit if one is stated in the waitlist notice.
Open by naming the school as a top choice, then report one or two real updates since applying, such as a higher GPA, a promotion, or a new project. Tie the update to why the school fits you, and close briefly and warmly. Avoid generic praise that could go to any school.
Yes, a well-judged letter of continued interest can help off a waitlist by showing a committee you remain genuinely interested and have kept progressing. It works best when it is short and specific. A LOCI will not overcome weak numbers, and actual waitlist admit rates differ widely by school and cycle.
Verified August 2026.
August 21, 2026
August 21, 2026