<p>I got letters from Harvard and Univ. of Pennyslvania, saying that I am a strong applicant. They also congratulate on my "academic achievement" as well as my scores, despite my low SAT score (lower than their 25-50% range of mean SAT score). I am kinda suspicious because they must try to increase their selectivity rate by encouraging me to apply there. Is this true? Did anyone get this kind of letter and get in (or rejected) from these schools? I don't know if these letters mean the possibility of getting in. What do you think? Thanks.</p>
<p>Yeah, unfortuntely everyone gets them. It's not an indicator of getting into the school or not. They just want you to apply.</p>
<p>yeah, i thought so.</p>
<p>These letters mean nothing. The colleges & their PR consultants know that kids are surprised and delighted to receive these letters, and the early ones often make a lasting impression. So you'll get tons of mail that comes as close as they can to saying "we want you" without actually promising anything, all to get you excited and entice you to apply.</p>
<p>Treat these letters like an ad in the paper, or like a credit card solicitation your folks see. They're ads, that's it.</p>
<p>you got one from wash u too right?</p>
<p>i never get anything...</p>