<p>Quick update: I’ve heard some people say that a likely email from Columbia is only for athletes. Is this true?! It would definitely ease my fears of rejection if it is, since I’m not going to be an athlete at the school.</p>
<p>^No, some non-athletes on here have received likely letters. However, the majority of admitted students do not receive likely letters. Don’t sweat it, you’re still in for the running!</p>
<p>I got the email!!! I wasnt expecting it at all.</p>
<p>Live4cedar, I wouldn’t be too nervous if I were you, after all, like so many have said in this post and throughout the forum, a likely letter is rare and not receiving it is by no means an indication of rejection. This letter actually increased my nerves because whereas before I kept hope at bay now the thought of being rejected after this notice is really unbearable. I wish this were a bit more conclusive.</p>
<p>The first college I applied to (a state school) never sent me correspondence before sending their acceptance letter, and considering the massive number of applicants Ivies have received I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them were a bit bogged down with that inflow. However, I can’t help but be puzzled at having received financial-aid information requests from only three Ivies when I have not completed the IDOC for any (mailing it in today, cutting it too close as usual). I also hope this isn’t an indication of disinterest, but each probably has its own schedule.</p>
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<p>A likely is a guarantee of acceptance unless your midyear report is exceptionally poor or you are suspended/arrested/etc. (How’s that for conclusive :)?)</p>
<p>Haha, very 
But I kept hearing different opinions from counselors at my school, such as ‘don’t become too attached just in case’ and when I called Columbia to inquire as to the letter the rep said that it meant just what it stated, an increased ‘likelihood’ and confirmed my thoughts on that not being a sure thing. I mean, ah, I wish they wouldn’t tip-toe around it but maybe they did mean acceptance was conditional just on the basis of a major mess-up like you said. Anyway, I count myself extremely lucky and the disbelief at having possibly gotten into my dream school fuels this doubt. 
I will stop being so insufferably negative and enjoy it!</p>
<p>Jannie132, which colleges did you receive financial aid emails from?</p>
<p>^Just answered your PM, but in case anyone had a similar experience and wanted to confirm whether these colleges were indeed requesting information from applicants at this time, they were: Cornell, Columbia and Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I received a likely last year, and I have also talked with admissions about it a little bit after I got here. My high school counselors said the same thing, but that’s because they don’t really know what they’re talking about. A likely is the biggest wink wink nudge nudge a school can give you because they are locked in to the April 1 deadline. As people have said on this board–I will confirm it having talked to various admissions people–the only way to be denied afterward is something horrendous. Congratulations! And if you were wondering, schools send out likelies as a recruiting tool; they want you, and they want you bad. Hope you decide on Columbia!</p>
<p>So I had a dream last night that I got a likely from Columbia. ■■■.</p>
<p>Tymanx2 thank you so much for sharing your experience and collected information. I feel the biggest relief short of an actual acceptance letter. At this point I am about a visit short of deciding. </p>
<p>nne, I wish you peace X) I truly hope you get in :)</p>
<p>Do deferred students get likley letters?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don’t think deferred students get likely letters. They probably would have just been accepted early decision.</p>
<p>I got an email from columbia earlier today… but it was for their high school program. Lame. But I wasn’t expecting one anyways, with my mediocre stats.</p>
<p>i was deferred. i really hope i get accepted though :)</p>
<p>so if you don’t get a likely letter are you most likely not going to get in? i got financial aid requests and a reminder that they didnt recieve my transcript twice from columbia, but no likely letter 
should i just stop hoping? because this just crushed my hopes. i know they dont have my transcript yet for some reason but do u think they would have sent me a likely letter even if they didnt because my applicatoin was that good? ughhhh so nervous</p>
<p>columbia admits about 1800 students regular, and maybe gives out something like 300 likely letters (guessing). so the vast majority of students do not get likely letters, and are admitted. so hopefully this is makes you feel comfortable. likely letters go out to athletes and particularly incredible students, folks that you and i would wow at. but normal folks get admitted every year.</p>
<p>I was wondering if you could tell me what you think of my credentials? i just joined and really would like your input on my chances on getting into columbia. I applied RD. basically i’ve had family issues since the 6th grade, my parents have thrown me back and forth between them like i’m a football. when i turned 18 my mom threw me out and i’m legally homeless. she made 8,000 a year with 3 kids and my dad is unempoloyed and gave her only 456 a month in child support. i dont have any tax returns because i never really had enough money to do file for one. im with a friend temporarily and am waiting to get into a shelter, but they’re so packed its highly unlikely. i’m a persian american, i speak fluent farsi and german, i’m a zoroastrian and female. my mom didnt finish high school and my dad got a bachelors, but im an independent now so they’re information isn’t really important anymore.</p>
<p>-i’ve taken 1 AP freshman year, 1 sophomore, 5 junior and 7 senior. I made one B in calc in junior year and 2 B’s for my mid year grades this year, 1 in calc and one in bio. other than that alll my grades have been As. there are 857 people in my senior class and im top 2%.
-29 on Act, no SAT, 640 on Sat subject math and 700 on Sat reading. i’m not very good in standardized testing at all.
-have the maximum amount of community service hours i can put on my transcripts (they can only count 99 per year) so i have 396 recorded but over 500 in reality, something i’ll probably note in my resume
-positions i’ve had over the course of high school: co-president of youth in government, legislative advisor of youth in goverment and advisior of junior yig, president of south asians middle easterns of america ( i opened it at my school), president of mock trial club( opened it at my school), president of national english honor society (opened it at my school), vice president of german honor society, secretary of writing club, president of young democrats. also head debater in debate club, in model UN for four years, and math honor society, science honor society, social studies honor society, national honor society, and of course english honor society
-in youth in goverment i’ve been the only person in the history of florida yig to have my bill place high on the docket for four years, reach the cabinet in three, and have my bill signed by the governor and to be presented to governor scott
-i was selected to attend girl state and my bill passed and was sent to governor crist for review ( only 300 girls in florida are chosen to attend girl state which is an all paid 10 day trip to tallahassee and you are immersed in florida politics)
-i am in the center for international studies magnet program. i’ve hosted int’l students, have run events like middle eastern night, volunteer in committees for these events, on the CIS newsletter staff
-was on the yearbook staff for three years and was editor of freshman section and editor of junior section
-awards: top ten student award freshman and sophmore year, portuguese award, future ambassador award, 3rd in poetry contest in county
- volunteered for homeless shelter mostly, relay for life, hospital, and tutoring at school, sending supplies to poor children in Iran
-worked for a year at a fast food place because my mom was in serious financial trouble, we had to move to an apartment in an extremely poor area to a low income apartment
-i have primary immunodeficiency which i noted in my application, i get sick very often because of low white blood celll count, so i have to manage that and everything else
-got into a car accident at end of junior year and ended up missing a quarter of school, but stayed on track and managed to just get one B in calc
-i want to go into law and am hoping to become a senator one day, so i try to immerse myself in as many government/law related clubs as possible, hence youth in government and mock trial - my columbia essay was unique, i can explain it if anyone wants to know?</p>
<p>what do you think?</p>
<p>i’m sorry im just very nervous and you seem like you what you’re talking about adgeek! i dont have anyone to help me out or give me tips or advice, so i’m kinda lost on everything</p>
<p>So it turns out my dream came true. I just got a likely! I’m literally shaking right now.</p>