<p>I think the significance of likely letters is overblown because while my son did not receive one, he was accepted at Dartmouth last March.</p>
<p>Here is what I have learned about likely letters which I hope will make everyone feel better.
There are schools like Dartmouth and Duke who send out Likely letters. Often these letters go to about 12% of those the schools accept. The likely letters dont tend to go to the student who will ulitmately be accepted and has a great package. ie. high scores and grades, exceptional talent and leadership in unique extra curriculars, ect - or applicants who have a great package. Those applicants typically make up the 88% of the applicants who will get the acceptance regular decision and not the likely letter. The purpose of the likely letter is to attract the cream of the cream of what the school is looking for. Usually these are students who have perfect or near perfect SAT scores and have some major accomplishments lilke intell ect.OR the student might be an under represented minority student who has high grades and scores - higher than most minority applicants, or the applicant may come from a very under represented geographical location and be compelling.
The point is that while everyone would love to get a likely letter, the important thing is to be one of the 2,000 that gets accepted. It is only the top of the top of the top who are accepted who get the likely letter, or one of the categories I am talking about above. (Recruited athletes receive a different type of likely letter usually earlier)</p>
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The point is that while everyone would love to get a likely letter, the important thing is to be one of the 2,000 that gets accepted.
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<p>this pretty well sums things up</p>
<p>I completely agree. While a likely letter would be nice, I'm certainly not counting on anything. I just wanna get in.. :)</p>
<p>I got a likely letter today.. :)</p>
<p>When did you submit your Dartmouth app, Anita?</p>
<p>in the middle of december</p>
<p>Congrats! That's so amazing.
Can you post your stats and the contents of the letter? :)</p>
<p>i got a likely letter today, too! i'm so excited!!!</p>
<p>sureee</p>
<p>SAT- 800m, 800w, 730cr
SAT II- 800chem, 800math2C, 730bio
GPA- 96.54/100.00, school doesn't rank, top 10%
-my essay was funny, kind of a risk
-i'm sure my recs were great, both were from teachers who know me very well, and my peer rec writer is one of my best friends
-solid ECs with leadership, mock trial team went to county championships 3 times in the past 4 years, i attended NJ Governor's School
-indian girl from jersey<3</p>
<p>i'm so excited!!</p>
<p>Congrats! When was your letter postmarked?</p>
<p>postmarked february 13th, 2007</p>
<p>lunarchik, what are your stats?</p>
<p>wow i've never been so surprised.... i got one :)</p>
<p>Did all of you fellas submit your apps relativley early (i.e. around mid-December) as opposed to last minute (Jan. 1)?</p>
<p>i submitted mine really late, like 11:50</p>
<p>I just got mine today. Postmarked February 12.</p>
<p>oh, this whole process makes me depressed. its not like i'm really expecting anything less than a rejection anyways. congrats to all!</p>
<p>congrats! Where do you guys live? Do you guys live near New England or the Northeast?</p>
<p>123orange, i'm from CT too</p>
<p>I got one today too, yay!~~~~~~</p>
<p>postmarked FEB 13th</p>