<p>What does it mean? Has anyone else gotten this?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Quote:
I am writing to inform you that your application to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University has been carefully evaluated and that you have earned designation as a likely candidate for admission. As long as our midyear review finds that you are maintaining your current level of academic progress and good standing, you can expect to receive favorable word when admissions packets are mailed on March 31st.</p>
<p>The Committee on Admissions was deeply impressed with your scholastic and personal achievements and with your demonstrated interest in the fields of engineering and applied science. I offer you my sincere congratulations on your accomplishments thus far and eagerly anticipate those that lie ahead.</p>
<p>If we can be of any help to you, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Office at <a href="mailto:ugrad-ask@columbia.edu">ugrad-ask@columbia.edu</a> or 212-854-2522. If you have any questions about studying engineering and applied science at Columbia, feel free to contact the professors in the departments listed below. Please save the date for Columbia Engineering Days on Campus on April 17th and 18th, which will include an overnight stay, a chance to visit classes and labs, tours of New York City and much more. I hope you can join us, and all of us here wish you the best during the exciting months ahead.</p>
<p>Sincerely yours,</p>
<p>Jessica Marinaccio
Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
<p>It's a likely letter. As long as you don't screw up too badly (get suspended, arrested, bad grades), then you will most likely get accepted to Columbia! It's a likely, but not a guarantee so don't slack off like major! Congrats! (:</p>
<p>My friend got one last year, and he's a freshman at Columbia now. The wording is intentionally vague because they can't tell you anything "official" until March/April.</p>
<p>I believe likely letters are usually sent to athletes. If you are not an athlete then you have obviously made an impression in some regard. These letters are sent as an indication that it is most likely you will be admitted. Colleges are aware that applicants have submitted elsewhere, and in this case they are giving you a sort of preliminary notice, unofficially, in order that you do not make a decision about another college before considering Columbia.
Congratulations!</p>
<p>If they send you a likely letter, then they really want you. All the top colleges agree not to release admissions decisions until late march/early april. If you're a really qualified candidate, then you're liable to get quite a few acceptances, and the colleges (since they are, after all, in the business to make money) need to start marketing to you right away. They can't accept you technically, but they're allowed to say that you have a 99.999% chance of getting in. ;).</p>
<p>You would really have to work at getting rejected at this point. Like you would seriously need to fail out of half of your classes or murder someone.</p>
<p>I got one too! Congrats :) I couldn't believe it either, but I was with a Columbia alum/interviewer when I read it, and she said "You're in." Obviously it's not a guarantee, but close.</p>
<p>Yep, it means you'll almost definitely get in. Just don't screw up big time. </p>
<p>Likely letters are also used as a recruitment tool - basically you become familiar with the idea of going to school at Columbia early on and so are more likely to end up going there when you finally get your acceptance. Colleges do this to boost their yield, aka the number of acceptees who actually attend. </p>