Crafting a Compelling Statement of Persuasion
If you have been deferred to Regular Decision after applying Early Decision/Early Action, or you end up getting waitlisted in the Regular Decision round, there is only one thing left to do: write a Statement of Persuasion. Sometimes referred to as a “Letter of Enthusiasm” or “Letter of Continued Interest,” the Statement of Persuasion is your last chance to show the school what you would add to the campus community—your unique perspective and talents. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Don’t simply tell admissions officers that College X is your dream school. The fact that you applied early already shows that you’re interested. Admissions officers are not going to be impressed by the fact that you tell them that you’re interested. Be creative. Really use your skills to show the admissions officers that you are a perfect fit for the campus environment.
Don’t brag. Now is not the time to start listing off the high school accomplishments that you left off the list the first time. If it wasn’t vital enough to go in the original application, then it isn’t of interest to them now.
Don’t exaggerate. Unless it’s their first day on the job, the admissions officer is going to see right through this. Telling them that you got a standing ovation for your speech at the U.N. is going to set off their b.s. detector and result in your application getting stamped “denied.”
These are just a few tips. Ultimately, we cannot tell you what to write. How you frame your letter is up to you. Just make sure you express, in a compelling manner, what you could add to the school. That is what they are interested in.
What we’ve described above is not an easy task, so don’t be afraid to ask for help! Ivy Link advisors have worked with hundreds of students to successfully turn a deferment into an acceptance. Contact us today to get started.
