<p>My daughter applied RD and Bucknell is her first choice. She has been interviewed by a local alumnus, and again during our campus visit in November. Based on the acceptances I’ve read on CC from last year, I’m guessing her chances are 50/50.</p>
<p>Has anyone received a “likely” letter yet? Last year folks received them in early February.</p>
<p>I've never heard of 'likely lettters'... I didn't recieve one....I hope thats not a sign of anything...</p>
<p>Rico - this is a couple of years ago, but S got his likely letter more toward end of Feb. - just about a month before the formal admit letters went out.</p>
<p>D got her likely letter toward the end of February last year.</p>
<p>What exaclty is a likely letter? Is it possible to not get a likely letter and still get in?</p>
<p>A likely letter simply lets you know that things "look good" (or some other positive phrase) for admission...without a formal commitment yet from the school. I think they send them to students they believe are likely to be admitted to other competitive schools and they just want to keep them interested.</p>
<p>And yes, you can be admitted without a likely letter.</p>
<p>I got a likely letter last year around the end of feb, and it said that "admissions is most likely for you" so basically, you are in. I'm sure there are also the people who are more boarder line cases and get in without recieving a likely letter.</p>
<p>My older son got a likely letter around the end of Feb. five years ago and was accepted. My younger son did not get a likely letter and was also accepted. We refer to likely letters as "wink, wink, you're in" - a school would never dare send one to someone who wasn't already on the "admit" pile. So if you get one, congratulations, and if you don't, there's still hope.</p>
<p>I just contacted bucknell about the whole likely letter thing, and this what they said:
"I am so happy to hear that you've chosen to apply to Bucknell! As for the "likely letters" you spoke of, we don't send out anything that would hint at our actual decision until after the decisions are formally released. We do not give anyone particular preference or favor in the admissions process but try to be fair and open-minded. I am not sure where you heard that but I can assure you it is a rumor."</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. It doesn't surprise me that Bucknell doesn't officially acknowledge that they send these letters. Since their RD response is comparatively late, they want to whisper in the ear of certain applicants a hush hush favorable decision, without everyone else knowing. They know the ones they "like" will have choices, and they don't want to lose good ones because of timing.
FYI . . . having gone back in the archive, people on 2/5/05 were posting notices that they had received their likely letter, hence my thread.</p>
<p>waleed....not sure who you spoke to, but S's letter was on BU letterhead...signed by the Dean of Admissions......said he was 'pleased to provide an encouraging word'....'admission appears most likely for you.'</p>
<p>Not really at all related to 'particular preference or favor in the admission process'...but more an indication that your app has already been approved (on an as even a playing field as possible, with no 'preference' given for having your app completed earlier than others, I suppose) and we have moved on to consider others in the app pool.</p>
<p>Yeah maybe your right. It was an admissions intern though. For a moment, I thought people here were lying (sorry for that!) because so many people get caught here, lying about their SAT scores and posting different scores on different parts of the application. </p>
<p>But i wonder why they are lying... Is there something to be ashamed of?</p>
<p>Not surprised it was an intern you spoke to - probably just following directions from superiors....</p>
<p>Schools have this mutually-agreed upon admit notification date of about April 1st...but they all know they are looking at a lot of the same kids...these likely letters just seem to be a way of keeping some of the ones they'd most like to enroll a little closer...of course, there's some disclaimer in the letters about not being able to offer formal admission until April, so they are still holding true to their admit notification date.</p>
<p>My son also got a <em>wink</em> letter in Feb 2 years ago, before he was formally admitted in April. He also was solicited to rethink going ED several times. None of the other schools to which he was admitted sent them. And my second son, who went through applications last year, did not receive any <em>wink</em> letters at all, and he was admitted to all but one school (w/l there).</p>
<p>So I think they do exist at Bucknell, but I don't think most people who are admitted get them. It's hard not to worry this time of year.</p>
<p>February is practically over, anybody get one? I didn't... :-(</p>
<p>negatron (10 chars)</p>
<p>no but I keep getting a girl harassing me about their engineering program, which is pretty cool.</p>
<p>I'm not being harassed :-/, you're applying to the engineering school though? What are your stats?</p>
<p>Does anybody get a postcard from Bucknell with four students? that was just the most interesting card I got till now:)</p>
<p>yeah i got one! it was soo nice of them to send that</p>