<p>A few weeks ago, I got a letter from Harvard telling me about their new financial aid policy, how great a school Harvard is, etc. It was pretty much the same kind of college letter reasonably intelligent students get all the time, except from Harvard. However, at the bottom, it started talking about students from small parochial schools (one of which I attend) and how well they do at Harvard. As a kicker, they even said they would MAIL me an application! Sure enough, I got a big book about all things Harvard with an application in the back about a week ago.</p>
<p>Now, I wasn't originally planning on applying to Harvard. Getting in is such a crap shoot even for highly qualified students that all you're likely to get for your hard work and $70 app fee is a thin envelope containing the words "We regret to inform you..." However, they mailed me an application. The only other colleges that did this are ones that were so desperate to have me that they were willing to waive my application fee and give me a decision within 3 weeks (or, in one case, 72 hours). </p>
<p>Obviously, Harvard isn't that desperate for any student, especially little old me. However, does the fact that they talked up parochial schools and sent me an application mean that they consider me some kind of URM? Could it be that I might have a greater than normal chance of admission? Feel free to crush my dreams if necessary.</p>
<p>for more perspective. If you like Harvard, apply. Anyone who applies to Harvard should also apply to a "safety" college, but I suppose you were already looking for one of those. </p>
<p>The number of recruitment letters sent out by Harvard is greater than the number of applications Harvard actually receives, and quite a bit greater than the number of students who are admitted, but you should still take the invitation to apply to be in earnest, and apply in earnest if you really would like to attend Harvard if admitted. </p>
<p>Thanks for your advice. I probably will apply to Harvard, and even if I don't get in, I have a good safety lined up that meets all of your criteria.</p>
<p>i don't think they mean much....just based on your test scores....
i know they sent me one to my home addres, and one to my boarding school address....and lol i really don't have the straight as that most harvard students had, so I think a lot of people get it</p>
<p>I guess the optimistic thinking is that if you get a letter, it shows you're at least on the right track to A college though not necessarily Harvard...</p>
<p>My son also received one along with a nice brochure when he was a junior. He went ahead and applied, and guess what? he's there now as a freshman. I'm not saying it's a guarantee at all! but, it's nice that you have the scores that make you a competitive applicant. Congratulations.</p>
<p>I think Guitars 101 was referring to what criteria is used to send juniors in high school brochures with letters. PSAT scores are typically used for this purpose, as are underrepresented zip codes. There really is not much other public data available at that early stage, is there?</p>
<p>Are there any other data sources available for such large numbers of eleventh graders? The pre-ACT PLAN maybe, state testing achievers- but would those be available for sale? Intel winners, Math Olympiad high scorers, and other specialized honorees probably do not add significantly to the 20,000 (?) plus targeted with the letters and brochures.</p>
<p>How many are sent out, I vaguely remember it was a very large number close to the total applicant pool number maybe?</p>
<p>Yes, the Fitzsimmon article cited said 70,000 letters are sent, with recipients gleaned from College Board and ACT sources. Two-thirds (about 1500)of Harvard admittees came off of those lists. So that leaves a third (500) from other sources such as local alumni recruiting, sports and math recruiting, etc., and unidentified talented students (who may have not aced the early tests) who decided to apply.</p>
<p>fauve posted very useful info on his prev posts. Of course it's not a guarantee for admission simply because you receive an appl, but at least you know you are on the "radar". Your entire application, with transcript, rec letters, EC's, grades, rigor of classes, etc... are considered.</p>
<p>It's certainly likely that they target those with high scores who they know to be URMs; they may also target high scores from low-socioeconomic or high-URM zip codes.</p>
<p>The year my son graduated from high school, several kids got these letters. Out of those kids, 2 ended up getting in and even that was highly unusual for our high school- normally they send 2 or 3 kids to an ivy, that year was a very strong year and I think around 8 or 9 kids ended up at ivies. Not to take anything away from you but don't want you to get overly hopeful, I have a feeling they send many many letters like that out but it wouldn't dissuade me from applying, I am sure you are a perfectly qualified applicant. Good luck.</p>