Did you receive a likely letter from Stanford in the mail today?
Stanford has likely letters? Did you?
I don’t know anyone who has gotten a likely letter from Stanford.
Stanford uses likely letters for recruited athletes, because in some sports (such as the ones with November national letter of intent signing dates) recruits have to know where they stand with Stanford in advance of the regular admissions timeline . . . highly recruited athletes are generally not going to turn down opportunities elsewhere unless they’re confident they will be admitted to Stanford, and likely letters provide that assurance.
In the past Stanford has also used likely letters for some non-athletes as well - see link for an example from 2012 - but I’m not positive if that’s the case this year.
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/the-envelope-please-eric-eichelberger/?_r=0
I know a couple of students with extremely high scores/ interesting backgrounds who did.
@Camiale When, and were they athletes or URMs? Last year someone who was not an athlete or URM received a likely letter from Stanford at the end of February.
Ten days ago or so. Yes, URM with exceptional qualifications. Already accepted at MIT, And likelies from other Ivies.
@Camiale Thanks—maybe, like some other schools, Stanford sends out likely letters in waves. Perhaps the earliest consists of URMs and/or athletes with exceptional qualifications.
Not only URMs get it. I met a kid at Yale YES weekend who showed me his likely letter. He was white and a top math student at the lower USAMO level.
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Interesting—though I’m wondering (and skeptical) about a student bringing another school’s likely letter to YES-W (and showing it to other students).
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During YES-W we spent a lot of time chatting in the butteries. We struck up a conversation and after talking and joking around for around 2 hours(keep in mind is was 12:30AM) we talked about our college acceptances. He got an email from Stanford and a letter a few days prior.
Sounds legit. I wonder how many other likely letters Stanford has sent out—haven’t seen much about them, in contrast to some other schools.
Lol what other accomplishments did this student have? I’m guessing he had a lot more than just that as I am the same level at math as him and didn’t even get deferred early.
I’m guessing some spectacular research or strong leadership positions as well; lower level USAMO doesn’t seem to be convincing enough on its own for a likely letter.
@theanaconda lol I’m almost certain starchow is talking about me. I think it’s mostly pretty random, because I don’t really have anything that stands out a ton. I got perfect test scores and have a couple school-wide leadership positions, but not much beyond that. I just got lucky.
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Ayee @sesquipedalian4 don’t knock yourself down! Stanford AND Yale both didn’t make the same ‘mistake’ lol
Has anyone recently gotten a letter?
Do they come in mail or email? Because I never check my mail lol
bump. anyone else?
Stanford does give out likely letters. If you haven’t gotten one yet, you probably won’t. But don’t fret, MOST of the incoming class does NOT got likely letters 