<p>...or can you not release that info yet? If not, can you tell us some unique/memorable ones you've had in the past? Just thought it would be pretty fun. Thanks!</p>
<p>The best ones are the unique ones learnmestuff.</p>
<p>I got a likely letter by talking about my favorite book, an international current event that was close to me, and an anecdote about my personal life. mein kamp</p>
<p>Oh, I know. I got a LL bc of my essay too, I'm sure. I was just wondering if Dean read any that were esp. funny, intelligent, etc. I've always wondered what adcoms see!</p>
<p>Sorry, folks. Chances are that being flagged for that letter was not based on your essay.</p>
<p>Despite our seemingly constant plea that essays be personal, I've read more generic, safe essays this year than any other year. I hang up my favorite essays in a spot for my colleagues to read them. In the past, the wall was full of papers. This year, there are just a handful hung up.</p>
<p>I wrote about James Joyce's Ulysses, however I do not know if it was personal enough. I really hope I can get into UVa. Recently, I had to write an essay about Thomas Jefferson's Autobiography for my American Literature course. Even though I knew that he was a genius for his many accomplishments, however reading this piece of literature gave me an insight to his mind and now, I am certain that he believed in what he wrote in the constitution; he wrote not to please his friends and countrymen. This assignment has touched me so, that the Unversity of Chicago is now my second choice college. The University of Virginia is my first. </p>
<p>-Diego Zacarias</p>
<p>Diego: I am curious to read what you may have posted on the University of Chicago thread. Nothing like a touch of sublety. Uh-oh, I just read your other posts. Why does "killing two birds with one stone" come to mind?</p>
<p>lol...because it is exactly what Diego did.</p>
<p>So, (just out of curiosity), how does someone with a 1800 get a LL, while someone with a 2300 does not (according to recent forum posts)? I mean, if LLs are not a reflection of the essay, I'm curious as to why someone with "lesser" SATs would get it over someone with Harvard-type numbers.</p>
<p>Learnme, let's brainstorm together. What other components of the application do you think would be very important in our review? What might tell us that a student is ready for college level work? Hm...</p>
<p>Here's a hit:
Four years vs. four hours</p>
<p>I realize that. BUT, at the info session I went to over the summer, one of the Deans (not sure which one, sorry) told us that the likely letters were given to applicants with often unique components of the application...not necessarily strictly number-geniuses. He really emphasized the essay as a vital part of the application. So I'm wondering why, if the essays were so bad this year, students with "low" (again, relatively speaking) scores were given LLs over students with great, great statistics. I'm not complaining, my numbers were fairly low for UVA OOS--below average, though not horrible by any means--and I got a LL. So I guess my question boils down to, if it wasn't the essay that got your avg.-UVA admits LLs, what was it? I doubt there are that many world-championship kickboxers in the group.</p>
<p>I realize my question is probably a stupid one, and you're probably tired of dealing with us kids lol. But I was simply curious. Sorry if our questions get annoying, I won't ask anymore!</p>
<p>"Four years vs. four hours"</p>
<p>Dean J, you just made my day.</p>
<p>Learnme, we do not talk about those letters in our info sessions.</p>
<p>Likely letter" isn't even used in our office.</p>
<p>someone asked about it, and he responded with that. Just what I heard, I don't know the correct agenda of the UVA adcoms and whatnot.</p>
<p>Sorry, I can tell my (what I thought was innocent) question is getting on your nerves, so nevermind. Thanks for your input though.</p>
<p>Well I guess if anyone else wants to share unique essays they've read or whatever, go ahead. If not, congrats on getting a likely letter for "Four years vs. Four hours." ;)</p>
<p>"Four years vs. four hours"</p>
<p>Dean J, that is a great quote! Your statement is essentially the definition of holistic evaluation. It's not about a four hour SAT or ACT. It's not about the four hours you spent on one essay. It's about what you do and how you do it for four years that defines who you are as a high school student.</p>
<p>That's the same quote the UVA tour-guide and admissions presenter told us lol. Must be the catch-phrase (though a good one, I might add).</p>
<p>I wish my essay is hung up on the wall. Haha.</p>
<p>With all due respect, you folks obsess WAY TOO MUCH over "Likely Letters".</p>
<p>If you got one, be thankful and keep your grades up this semester. If you didn't get one, DON'T SWEAT IT. The VAST MAJORITY of students offered admission to UVa DO NOT RECEIVE a Likely Letter, as Dean J has written on many other occasions.</p>
<p>From what I understand, Likely Letters aren't usually prompted by high test scores alone, or in most cases, any one aspect of an applicant's file. Typically they result from an overall assessment or impression that a given applicant is clearly the type of individual UVa is looking for in their incoming class -- someone with a record of significant academic achievement who also has the potential to be a productive member of the University community outside the classroom.</p>
<p>Last year one of the applicants from my city was a young man that I have known for seven or eight years. (Because I have been a Coach for the last twelve or thirteen years in my city, I know many young people in the local area.) There were many very qualified applicants to the University from my city last year, and ultimately, 25 young men and women from the city chose to enroll in UVa's 2007 incoming first year class.</p>
<p>I don't know how many of these 25 enrollees received Likely Letters, but I do know that the young man I mentioned above received one. And, IMO, of all the young men and women I know from my city who applied to UVa, this is the young man who was the most deserving. He is a smart, diligent, multi-talented and deeply involved person with a pleasant and engaging personality. His four year high school record, both in and out of the classroom, was extremely impressive. (For the record, his four hour test scores weren't too shabby either.)</p>
<p>My point is simple. A very small percentage of the students who are offered admission to UVa receive Likely Letters. Certainly, in one way or another, these students are worthy of this distinction. However, almost every one else who receives an offer from UVa does not receive a Likely Letter. But each of these offered students is deserving of their spot in UVa's first year class; if they weren't, the UVa Admissions' Deans would not have agreed to extend an offer.</p>
<p>In the big scheme of things, Likely Letters don't count for much (although they are obviously nice to have). The real prize is an Offer of Admission; that's what you're striving for. Good luck when decisions are posted later this spring!</p>
<p><bold>Diego: I am curious to read what you may have posted on the University of Chicago thread. Nothing like a touch of sublety. Uh-oh, I just read your other posts. Why does "killing two birds with one stone" come to mind?</bold> </p>
<p>On what basis do you critique me? When reading these posts, did you notice that I have not posted on there for a while? Also, what do you mean by "sublety?" Perhaps you mean "subtlety." I will assume so. I simply said that the writing of Thomas Jefferson has influence me so much, that I have switched my first choice college. There is nothing difficult to understand about that. </p>
<p>Amy: How have I done so? Do not forget that you have said "exactly." </p>
<p>Also, if you two wish to debate with me, please do it through private messages. I do not get on here often, so if I do not reply immediately, do not think that I have "chicken" out. Also, I want to keep this clean and mature. I believe that we are intelligent enough to do so. This is the main reason I do not like to post on forums. I simply say something that is in my head, something that is not meant to argue with or insult anyone, yet someone always interprets it differently. </p>
<p>I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.-Voltaire</p>
<p>Here is my take on who gets those LL. Feel free to critique:</p>
<p>They are trying to get a variety of people to make up their class. So in this first round they are trying to make sure that they attract:</p>
<p>1 super bright applicants with through the roof GPAs (and test scores) who might go to HYP instead.</p>
<p>2 applicants from underrepresented regions or schools </p>
<p>3 URMs with stellar stats (colleges will fight for them)</p>
<p>4 internationals (they pay a lot)</p>
<p>Dean J confirmed, as I thought, that the essay is not going to make or break an application. Class rank will though.</p>
<p>The letters are sent to very strong applicants. </p>
<p>We can't possibly send them to all international students (who pay the same tuition as any other out of state student) or all students from underrepresented regions. An average student from Alaska is not going to get a letter simply because they are from Alaska.</p>