UPDATE: all my decisions are back. 3 acceptances, 2 rejections, and waitlisted at Michigan (my #1). worth writing a LOCI?
Posted a chance me here back in september so figured I'd close the loop. Long post, sorry.
**Demographics:** Female, Ohio, public school (sends a handful to T20s each year), not first gen, no hooks
**Intended major:** Biomedical engineering
**Stats:** 3.94 UW / 4.5 W, 1510 (780M / 730RW), 10 APs
**ECs:**
1. Science Olympiad, co-captain, 2 state medals
2. Hospital volunteer, ~180 hrs
3. Research at a university lab two summers (no publication)
4. Varsity swim
5. Tutoring at a free after-school program
**Essays:** Common App was about teaching my little brother to swim after he was scared of water for years. Michigan's community essay was about Science Olympiad build nights. I thought both were strong, my English teacher read them.
**LORs:** Chem teacher and AP Lang teacher, both knew me well. Research mentor wrote an optional one for the schools that took it.
**Results:**
- Ohio State Honors: **Accepted** (+ merit)
- Purdue: **Accepted**
- Case Western: **Accepted** (merit, decent)
- Georgia Tech: Rejected
- Johns Hopkins: Rejected
- Michigan: **Waitlisted** (my top choice since 9th grade lol)
Honestly the Michigan waitlist stings more than the rejections. I did everything: visited twice, did a virtual info session, applied EA, interviewed with an alum (went great, we talked for an hour about her old lab).
I already put a deposit down at Case so I'm not stuck if the waitlist doesn't move. My counselor says a LOCI "can't hurt" but I've also read people saying they're pointless. What should it actually say? Is there anything else I can do?
Edit: thanks everyone, this is really helpful
Edit 2: to the person who DMed asking, yes I opted into the waitlist through the portal already
- ?
Congrats on a strong set of results, and good call depositing somewhere you would be happy.
A letter of continued interest is not magic, but at schools that read them it is one of the few signals you control. How much the waitlist moves varies a lot from year to year at Michigan, so treat it as a possibility, not a plan.
What a good LOCI has:
1. **One clear sentence up top:** Michigan is your first choice and you will enroll if admitted. Only say this if it is true.
2. **Real updates since you applied:** grades from this semester, Science Olympiad results, anything new in the lab. Concrete, short.
3. **One or two specific reasons Michigan fits,** tied to BME there specifically: a lab, a design course, a program. Not the campus or the football.
4. **Under one page,** polite, no arguing with the decision.Send it through whatever channel the waitlist instructions name (often the portal). One letter is enough. Do not have relatives call, and do not send a pile of extra recommendations unless invited.
Then commit emotionally to Case. If Michigan calls, you get to choose. If it does not, you are going somewhere you picked.
If Case gave merit and Michigan admits you off the waitlist, compare the real net prices before you decide. Waitlist offers usually come with less time and sometimes less aid flexibility.