<p>Ok, maybe this is not relevant right now, since the decisions are almost released, but this question has been bothering me the whole application proccess. In the begining of the school year I have been receiving letters/emails from colleges saying that my results thus for make me competitive for admission, or they are impressed by my achivements in high school and so on and so forth. So, my question is: how credible are theese kinds of letters? Do the colleges really mean that I might be competitive for admission?</p>
<p>Thank you all in advance, any comments are welcomed.</p>
<p>For top tier colleges, they know that getting mail out of the blue impresses many kids. They'll be thinking "Harvard is writing to me! Maybe I have something they're looking for. It must mean something. I'll apply!" Harvard, of course, is delighted by this. It gives them more kids to look at when they choose their class, raises their selectivity which helps keep them at the top of the lists, and lets not forget that the application fee generously covers the time their employers actually spend handling your app.</p>
<p>As you slide down the prestige ranking, the letters become more seductive. The name alone is not enough to excite keen interest, so they resort to a little of what's called "marketing". They come as close as possible to saying that you've been singled out for the fast track, that the dean or other important person who's name is on the letters is personally interested in YOU, without ever actually saying so. If they create the image in your mind that some admiring teacher at your school tipped them off to you, that they're sitting around the office and the Dean says "Smith here sounds like a great kid! Write him a letter and see if he's interested in our school" then their dreams have come true. Their dreams of what they want you to believe, that is. Look for letters saying "We look forward to receiving your application", "you'd be one of our top applicants for the class of 2012" (and top applicants get in, right?), "we are impressed with your accomplishments to date", and so on.</p>
<p>It's a bit sad how colleges take advantage of kids trusting nature and inexperience dealing with marketing literature to twist things for their own ends. Here's my advice: don't let the glossy brochures that show up in the mail determine what schools you consider and where you apply. Do your own research, figure out what's a fit for you. Then, if you want, call those schools and ask for their viewbook if you haven't received it already. They'll be happy to send you the same flashy stuff as the other schools.</p>
<p>I got letters like that from Harvard and MIT, both of which are SUPER REACHES for me seeing as I have a 3.4 GPA and a 1930 SAT. I was like ohh cool but I know applying would be a waste of time for me.</p>