Likely Letter?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I applied to Chicago for Early Action and was deferred because my counselor forgot to send in my transcript. I have not heard back from them until today.</p>

<p>"I am writing to congratulate you on being named a Semifinalist of the Intel Science Talent Search 2010...
As you contemplate your future college home, I invite you to continue to explore the vast research opportunities and resources of the University of Chicago..."</p>

<p>However, I'll probably not go to Chicago because I forgot to apply for financial aid and was already accepted to MIT.</p>

2

<p>Wow, Chicago really sent you that?</p>

<p>I’ve heard that Chicago doesn’t send out likely letters as a matter of principle.</p>

3

<p>Why does it matter if you aren’t going to go?</p>

4

<p>I’m not sure that is a likely letter. It may very well be a standard letter that every Intel Semifinalist receives.</p>

5

<p>Yeah, that isn’t a likely letter.</p>

6

<p>They must have a purpose for sending it considering that I’ve already applied. I have not received similar letters from any other colleges.
Whatever this letter is, I appreciate it. I don’t think it’s a definite signal of admission, but at least they noticed me and showed a strong interest in me.
Do all likely letters explicitly tell you that you will definitely get accepted? Last time I looked at the dictionary, likely means high probability, not 100%.</p>

<p>PBush,
Of course it is a standard letter sent to all applicants to the University of Chicago who were Intel Semifinalists/Finalists. My friend who was a finalist a few years ago receive similar letters from CMU, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford; he was admitted to all of them.</p>

<p>GenericName101,
How do you know I’m not going? If I don’t want to go there, why would I apply?</p>

7

<p>I have a semifinalist friend who was already admitted to Chicago who just got that letter.</p>

8

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<p>Grouptheory, I’m pretty sure he inferred it from that statement.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for confirming my hypothesis. Even if this isn’t the proper usage of the term “likely letter” in the traditional CC sense, it’s pretty clear that Chicago wants the Intel winners to explore the research opportunities and resources of the University of Chicago.</p>

<p>All right, Chicago. I’ll accept your invitation. I’ll attend MIT, but you better promise me a lab to work in during the summer. :P</p>

10

<p>Not sure how they’ll feel about that . . . :P</p>

11

<p>Ummm…I can tell you that Chicago did NOT send out those Intel finalist letters two years ago. Caltech sent them out for Siemens Regional Finalists, but not for Intel, though.</p>

12

<p>Chicago has a new admission dean.</p>

13

<p>Within the past two years, Chicago has increasingly sought out talented math/science candidates. In fact, the old admissions office was restructured partly because many believed that such applicants were being discriminated against in favor of those taking courses in the humanities.</p>

14

<p>Hey I got the same letter this year!</p>

15

<p>Yea, I got this too and I am curious if it actually means anything. I agree that it isn’t a likely letter, but did everyone get one?</p>

16

<p>My friend who already got in EA said he received one. My other friend who got in EA said UChicago sent more official “likely letters” before EA decisions came out. However, she got in without one, so either way, I guess it doesn’t really matter.</p>