<p>So I just got a letter from Uchicago saying congratz on my accomplishments blah blah but no where within the letter did it say that I am likely, yet it did say please come and take a serious look at Uchicago where research is key...Also, it was addressed specifically to me and from the president's office... Anyone have any thoughts?</p>
<p>Are you a junior? If so, this could be for National Merit (and sadly, the letter doesn’t mean much).</p>
<p>no i appllied rd and had information about awards I have won (Intel related)</p>
<p>It sure sounds like a “likely letter” to me.</p>
<p>I got the same letter (plus a very similar one from MIT). OP, what do your stats look like?</p>
<p>That’s pretty standard marketing talk I think, a likely says something more like “while we cant promise at this time, if you record keeps up it is likely you will be admitted.”</p>
<p>^ Why market to seniors who have already applied, and won’t ever file another undergraduate application?</p>
<p>In case they choose to enroll at a college they were accepted to in the early round maybe?</p>
<p>I agree with Snipersas, yet I will read this at face-value and take it as an extensive congratulations. Also, not to completely contrast what I just said, but I read today that some likely letters come in the form that leaves students thinking “well does this mean I’m in,” which is certainly how I feel.</p>
<p>“Also, not to completely contrast what I just said, but I read today that some likely letters come in the form that leaves students thinking “well does this mean I’m in,” which is certainly how I feel.”</p>
<p>Well, most marketing material often seems like an indication that a university is highly interested in a target applicant, even if that’s not the case. Which is why you have so many students going around thinking they’re getting recruited by Harvard even when they just received materials encouraging them to apply.</p>
<p>Your letter could mean a lot of things; no one really knows. But it’s sure as heck a good idea to keep your expectations low and assume that it’s not a likely letter. In all honesty, it probably isn’t.</p>
<p>Definitely seems like a likely letter to me. That’s a good sign.</p>
<p>Snipersas asked a good question about what is the point of sending marketing letters to those who have already applied, and XCyoungX replied that it might be to help prevent them from enrolling at another school. But this is also the exact reason that schools send likely letters as well. As the OP noted, some likely letters do leave the reader wondering. My son got one like that from UVA (followed a short time later by RD acceptance). He got accepted EA at UChicago, so he did not get a likely letter from them. But I don’t recall hearing about UChicago sending likely letters before, so (if that’s what this is) they may be starting this practice now to try to improve yield. Since the OP mentioned an Intel award, it may be intended to counter Yale’s likely letter and other measures to court STEM applicants.</p>
<p>Just to clear up any confusion: the letter you have received is not a likely letter. From what you have described, it sounds like the letter that the President likes to send to congratulate applicants who have won or achieved high placement in programs like the Siemens or Intel research scholarship programs. Congratulations on your achievements!</p>