At first, writing a Letter of Interest for University Admission may appear difficult. You may be wondering how to make a good impression and why you should send a college letter of interest to the admissions office.
If you’re still unsure how to write an effective admission letter, you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know to write your own letter.
What is a College Letter of Interest?
A college letter of interest, also known as a statement of purpose, is required by many universities and graduate or professional programs as part of their admission process. This letter for the masters program includes basic information about the students and their goals to enroll in their desired graduate program.
Furthermore, it is a formal letter that focuses on who you are and why you are applying to that particular program. This letter for admission might focus on your achievements related to your goals.
When Should You Send a Letter to the Admission Office?
Most university admissions officers consider emails from high school students as evidence of proven interest, or the extent to which you express an interest in attending a school. One of the many factors considered by college admissions officers when assessing your application is demonstrated interest.
Moreover, it is the best way to show that you have already gathered information about their college and are eager to discover more. In fact, demonstrated interest was one of the most important factors in the college admissions decision process.
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Guidelines on How to Write a College Letter of Interest and What to Include
It is very important to know how and when you will send out a letter of interest during the college admission process. You will be assessed based on the level and essence of your correspondence, so be prepared.
Before you contact an admissions officer, read the following tips and craft your own.
- Start your letter with your address
This is the first part of your letter wherein your mailing address can be found. This informs the admissions officer where they can send your acceptance letter. Given that most colleges now use email, this may be useless in some cases.
Begin writing your address with your full name. Include your mailing address, city, and province or territory of residence next. You can also include your phone number, which is optional.
- Address it to the admissions officer
The letter should be addressed to the associate dean. Because this is a formal letter, you should address it to their office rather than their home address. Begin with a warm welcome, such as, to the admissions officer. Include the mailing address of the school.
- Choose appropriate salutation for your letter
It is the opening greeting of your letter. It may have an impact on how the admissions officer considers your file. The appropriate salutation is determined by the situation.
You can make your letter more personal if you know the admission officer’s name and title. You can address it to the admission officer’s office if you don’t know their name or title. Use salutations such as to whom it may concern or dear sir/madam instead.
- Start your introductory paragraph
In this part, it is necessary to indicate your reason for writing the letter. Be specific and state the program you’re applying for, as well as any other relevant information. Make sure your opening paragraph has a pleasant but formal tone.
- Discuss your qualifications
The main body of your letter should be discussing and convincing the admissions officer why you’re qualified in that program. In order to do so, you should talk about your achievements, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities.
Make sure you research the college to find out what they are looking for in applicants.
Note: Be as specific as possible when discussing your accomplishments.
- Summarize why you chose the university
Aside from your qualifications, the admissions officer is also interested in why you chose their institution. This is a way to assess whether candidates are a good fit for the college culture. When writing this part of your letter, ensure that you use your personal reasons.
- Conclude the letter
The last part of your paragraph can determine how the admissions officer remembers your application. Keep it short and simple.
The admissions officer should then be informed of any additional documents you included with your cover letter. To show enthusiasm and respect, mention that you are available for any additional questions.
Tips for Writing a Letter of College Application
Here are some tips that you can follow when writing a Letter of Interest for University Admission:
- Be brief: Most admissions officers expect letters to be no more than one page long. Make a point of prioritizing your most relevant qualifications and remaining straightforward.
- Be specific: Always ensure that you provide specific details about your qualifications.
- Specify your achievements: To quantify your accomplishments, use numbers, percentages, and averages. It increases their appeal to the admissions officer.
- Be personal: The letter’s purpose is to establish contact with the admissions officer. Personalize it with your own experiences and effective humor.
- Be formal: Even though you want to communicate with the admissions officer, a letter of interest is still a formal document. Maintain a formal and considerate tone at all times.
Ways to Develop Your Letter
- Write with confidence
It can sometimes be enticing to use extremely self-language, such as “If I have the privilege of admission to this college…”, or “I believe I can…”.
Such language appears uneasy on paper and may indicate to the admissions committee that you will be unable to handle the demands of your chosen program. More so, writing confidently means you do not have to be arrogant.
- Show rather than tell
This timeless advice for writing stories also applies to writing letters of interest. Instead of simply stating that you are a hard worker, explain how you manage a part-time job, volunteer opportunities, and coursework while maintaining a good overall weighted average.
- Avoid cliches and overused phrases
Hundreds of applications will most likely be read by the admissions committee. Avoiding tired expressions and expressing yourself in a genuine way will make your letter stand out.
- Use transitions
Use transitions and connect ideas together to move smoothly from paragraph to paragraph.
- Define your academic and professional goals
A goal that is clearly outlined and expressed gives the impression that you are focused and disciplined.
- Customize your letter to the school
Show that you’ve completed your coursework and are a good fit for the program or school to which you’re applying.
Sample Letters to College Admissions Offices
These sample letters should give you a great idea how to craft your own letters.
Example Letter No. 1
Hello Mr. Jackson,
My name is Kate Hummington, and I am a senior student at Gregory High School. I plan to specialize in Environmental Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall of 2023, and I’m working hard to complete my application by the January 10th deadline.
I was excited to see all of the research areas for Environmental Engineering, and I was curious to know if there were any specifically for first-year students in that program?
Would it be possible for me to double major in Environmental Engineering and Ethnography in four years?
Thank you so much for your assistance!
Warm regards,
Kate Hummington
Example Letter No. 2
Dear Mr. Erikson,
My name is Fiona Mosefo, and I will be graduating from Lacoma High School in the spring of 2022. More so, I am planning on studying Linguistics at Unison University.
The Field Methods component of the Linguistics program piqued my interest. How do students get in touch with native speakers of the language they want to learn? Are only certain languages available?
I’m also interested in the Teacher Preparation Program. Is this a four-year program that you complete along with your major, or is it a shorter program that you finish separately?
I am grateful for your time and assistance. Thank you very much.
All the best,
Fiona Mosefo
Key Takeaways
- Writing an insightful, proper format letter to a college admissions officer shows that you are committed to your education and your application.
- Take advantage of this opportunity to put your best effort forward. Ask specific queries and use professional language and formatting. Always be courteous to admissions officers and thank them for their assistance.
- Before sending out your letter, do not forget to proofread and check spellings and grammars.
- Do not send a letter to a college admissions officer expressing your interest in attending or listing your credentials and qualifications.
- Be considerate of their time. Keep your message brief and to the point. Do not bombard them with too many questions.