Letter from the Dean of Undergrad Admissions?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Hey all, I'm posting this in the Athletic Recruit section as well, since I am one of those. </p>

<p>I'm looking to play Div. I tennis at an academically prestigious school starting in fall '10. I sent a letter to the coach of the men's tennis team at a bunch of different universities, including Duke. The letter details my tennis history and speaks briefly of my school history. Of course, what I'm expecting is a reply from the coach. However, a little over a week after I sent the letter (I sent it on Sep. 23) I get a letter back form Christoph Guttentag, the Dean of Undergrad Admissions. It reads:</p>

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<p>Greetings from Duke University!</p>

<p>We are excited to see you have started the Common Application and selected us as one of the universities to receive your application. It is hard work to complete a college application, but well worth it when you are done. Please know we are looking forward to learning more about you. </p>

<p>In the coming weeks ahead, we will be sending you emails to let you know more about what is happening at Duke and to remind you of important deadlines. Our Early Decision deadline for applying to Duke is November 1, 2009. Our Regular Decision deadline is January 2, 2010.</p>

<p>Would you like to be on our mailing list and receive Duke Viewbooks and other interesting mailings? Just go to our web site, Duke</a> University Admissions and choose Join Our Mailing List at the bottom of the page. </p>

<p>We hope you enjoy the fall season and have a great final year in high school. </p>

<p>Best Wishes, </p>

<p>Christoph Guttentag
Dean, Undergraduate Admissions</p>

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<p>My question is: what the heck does this mean? Am I highly desirable, so the Dean is after me? Is this a generic letter any student who contacts Duke receives? I'm a little confused because this letter makes no mention of my tennis, which is what I'm trying to use to spearhead my way into a good school.</p>

<p>Any thoughts would be infinitely appreciated.</p>

2

<p>It sounds like a generic letter, since he didn’t mention anything about your playing tennis. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply. It’s entirely possible, if a bit strange. Has anyone else had similar experiences?</p>

4

<p>I actually got the same letter, though in an email and I haven’t checked my PO Box recently.</p>

5

<p>Ah, I completely forgot to mention - it was an e-mail. I call it a letter, but it was electronic. Sorry for the confusion.</p>

6

<p>yeah, so in that case then I’m pretty sure it’s a generic email to everyone who added Duke as a school on the commonapp.</p>

7

<p>That’s… encouraging. Hehe.</p>

<p>Cheers.</p>

8

<p>Yeah, it’s a generic letter if you’ve added Duke to your common application colleges. I received the same one as well. Good luck on your tennis/application, though!</p>

9

<p>Its generic, I received one last year as well.</p>

10

<p>That’s peculiar. Duke is one of my CA schools but I haven’t gotten anything of this sort.</p>

11

<p>Every once in a while, Duke Admissions Office scans through the list of people who have started their common application and sends out this email. Whether or not you got it, the email doesn’t mean anything.</p>

12

<p>its no big deal to get this lettr</p>