<p>I think it is done in 3 waves so that way it is a continuous process as the admissions committee will send letters as they review applications.</p>
<p>Imagine if there was only 1 wave of likely letters. The school sends out 500 letters this week and that's it, everyone else waits until the last week in march.This means that the admissions staff would have to have all of the applications read by this date. Since there is still some reading going on, those who have not received a likely still have a chance of getting a likely letter.</p>
<p>This likely letter process can sometimes be a 2-edged sword; while it is suppose to alleviate some of the stress as a student/family waits until official decsions are given. But at the same time, it can produce more stress if a student does not recieve a likely letter, having some students feel that they were not a "first choice", which imho is not true because whether you were the first ED candidate chosen, or the last RD candidate chosen from the waitlist, you were still chosen from a field of highly accomplished and equally amazing students. I believe that each and everyone of you will end up someplace wonderful, and one year from now, all of this will be a distant memory.</p>
<p>Again, I know that this is easier said than done, but breathe, those who are on winter break this week, enjoy your break and do something that is uncollege related with your family and friends. Have faith that when all of this is over and done, that you will end up where you need to be.</p>
<p>My brother just got his on friday. Wait, a likely letter is one tht basically says he's in right because it said tht he has a spot. I can't rly think it can be anything else since acceptances don't come out for a while. Anyway, he is very excited.</p>
<p>Can those of you who received likely letters post the date when you submitted your app or the date when you received notice that your application was complete? It may confirm the "waves" thing.</p>
<p>I actually received a letter from Dartmouth yesterday just confirming their receipt of my application (how cruel is that? heh). So they've already decided some people are accepted, and they barely even checked to see if my SAT scores and everything were sent??</p>
<p>I submitted the app about a week before 12/31. And in January, I got an email from them with my username and PIN to log in to their site. The letter was just reminding me I can check the status on there.</p>
<p>i applied in mid-october. i got the confirmation a couple of months ago, and i got the letter saturday right after my interview. however, the letter was dated february 8, 2008.</p>
<p>the dartmouth website finally says that they have received all of the materials they need to review my application - this happened yesterday. Do you think I could still get a LL if they only recently updated my file? I haven't been home for a few days and won't get back till sunday and I am absolutely going crazy not being able to check the mail!</p>
<p>Ahhh...I didn't get a letter, but the regional admissions officer emailed my interviewer saying that I should be getting one in the next few days!! :D Hopefully, it wasn't a glitch or something.</p>
<p>To Ephemeral: nope! Just your average Asian girl.</p>