Does sending LOCIs to regular decision schools work?

I'm considering sending a Letter of Continued Interest to some schools after applying for regular decision. Has anyone done this before? Did it help your application? I'm trying to gauge its effectiveness.

A Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) can indeed be useful, but usually, it is more pertinent in certain cases like after being waitlisted or deferred from early action/decision. Sending one after your regular decision application but before a decision has been released might not have the intended impact, as admission officers are likely busy reading through applications.

On the other hand, if a significant update has occurred since your application submittal (like a major award, an impressive project completion, or qualifying for a national competition), this could be an excellent reason to get in touch. Explaining how the recent accomplishment strengthens your application could potentially sway the admission officers in the right context.

Please note that it's crucial to respect each school's communication preferences. Some colleges prefer to limit their communication to essential updates only, so it might not be welcomed at every institution. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the specific guidelines of each school to which you apply.

Nevertheless, if you don't have significant updates, it might be best to let your original application speak for itself rather than potentially come across as pushy or desperate. Remember, admissions officers are skilled at identifying genuine interest and differentiating it from attempts to game the system. Keep your interactions respectful and professional.

In conclusion, sending a LOCI can be effective under specific circumstances, but it might not always be the best route for regular decision applications without significant updates. It's always a good practice to research the preferences of each school and cater your approach accordingly.