<p>I heard rumors about people being "admitted" to colleges by a friendly hint in the mail. A kid from my lit class said he got a letter from Dartmouth saying they reviewed his application and believe he would enjoy staying at Dartmouth, and our vale got a similar one from Duke. Our school also has a princess who got two, one from Upenn and another from another Ivy, I think it was Princeton.</p>
<p>So, are these common or just a rumor? How do they determine who gets these? Do they actually mean anything?</p>
<p>"Likely letters" happen with a number of schools. They do it as a recruiting tool for high applicants -- letter usually assures applicant won't accept somewhere else before receiving the college's actual decision. Nevertheless, it is not always clear that something is a likely letter -- I do not remember the school involved but remember someone posting on these boards that they had received what they thought was a likely letter from an interviewer who praised the student, said the student would surely like the college, and then when the actual decision came it was a rejection.</p>
<p>My son got an e-mail from his assigned admissions officer, saying how much he liked my son's essay. Several people have told me this amounts to a likely letter.</p>
<p>My son applied to SUNY Geneseo RD. At the same time they were sending out ED acceptances with t-shirts, they sent a t-shirt to him, and have been sending him literature extolling the virtues of the campus ever since. I also received a letter from the admissions office, thanking me for sending in the supplemental character assessment, and calling his academic record "impressive." </p>
<p>I think if they did not want him, they would not have wasted money on a t-shirt. After all, this is a state school with a limited budget.</p>
<p>He likes the school, and I know he could be happy there, but is waiting to sort out the rest of his admissions and merit offers. It was definitely nice to get these little encouragements though.</p>
<p>While likely letters can be comforting, just remember that nothing is "official" and you're not really IN until that Congratulations! letter arrives.</p>