<p>This isn’t meant to brag or anything (I think we’re all bigger than that), but I know that some people are geniuinely curious as to what each letter looks like. My letter looked like this:</p>
<p>December 14, 2005</p>
<p>Dear xxxxx, </p>
<p>Congratulations! It gives me great pleasure to invite you to attend the University of Pennsylvania as a member of the College at Penn Class of 2010, the 254th graduating class since Benjamin Franklin founded the University in 1740. </p>
<p>We were pleased to receive an exceptionally fine group of applicants for next year’s entering class. You have my warmest personal congratulations on your outstanding achievements. We were delighted to see that you had selected Penn as your first choice for your college experience. </p>
<p>Your decision letter is in the mail and contains materials concerning your matriculation to Penn. The acceptance reply card should be returned, together with the $200.00 acceptance deposit, to the Admissions Office by January 6, 2006. We do expect that your academic performance will continue throughout your senior year at the same high level you have maintained up to this point. Additional information about your matriculation at Penn, including housing registration forms, will be mailed to you in April. </p>
<p>I look forward to welcoming you to campus next September. Our faculty, staff and students eagerly await your arrival next fall and I am certain that your years with us will be both challenging and rewarding. In the meantime, you should not hesitate to call upon this office if we may assist you during the coming months. </p>
<p>I am sorry to notify you that after reviewing your application thoroughly, our selection committee is unable to offer you admission to the University of Pennsylvania's Class of 2010. All aspects of your application, the academic and the non-academic, were considered carefully and compared to those of the rest of the applicant pool. </p>
<p>Perhaps the most difficult and displeasing part of my job is writing similar letters to thousands of students like you, whose accomplishments are promising and exciting. I realize that Penn was your first choice school and it might be particularly difficult for you to learn of this decision at this time. I assure you that the selection committee gave your application every consideration, but, because of an unprecedented number of outstanding applicants we have to deny admission to a large majority of the remarkable students who seek admission to Penn. Most of our applicants are qualified to pursue successfully a program of study at Penn; however, only a relatively small percentage can be admitted. </p>
<p>We are pleased to have received your application to our University. I am sincerely sorry to disappoint you, yet trust that you will have other opportunities to attend another very good college. I wish you the best in the future. </p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Willis J. Stetson Jr.</p>
<hr>
<p>People are saying it was harsh, but I don't think there is any nice way to say it. I think it's fine.</p>
<p>After careful consideration of your application to the University of Pennsylvania for the Class of 2010, the Admissions Selection Committee has decided to defer the final decision until the Regular Decision notification date in April. I realize that you must be disappointed by this delay, but I want to assure you that this should not be interpreted as a denial.</p>
<p>The Admissions Committee recommends this action when we wish more time and additional information before we begin the re-evaluation of your application. Because we want to give your candidacy the fullest consideration, I ask that you send us a mid-year report of your first semester grades and any additional College Board or ACT test scores that you will have taken through January 2006.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, or if this office can be of any assistance to you during the coming months, please do not hesitate to call upon us.</p>