<p>Is receiving a personalized, handwritten postcard from the admissions officer that read your essays a good sign? The note filled the card and complimented and referenced his essay topic. I don't believe this is what you call a likely letter but I've never seen one. My guess is that the student had a solid app and they might think he will have a lot of options and they want him to stay interested? I doubt they would take the time to write personalized notes to every applicant but I don't know. It's a small LAC (labeled in category of "most selective" by USNews). Just wondering whether anyone has any experience with this.</p>
<p>We got a couple Christmas cards. Does that count ? </p>
<p>Schools do all kinds of things to boost their yield, especially at the top of the cohort. Its a sign that they want you to keep thinking about their school. A -really- good sign would be an acceptance. </p>
<p>It is a nice touch, but is certainly no assurance that you will ultimately be accepted.</p>
<p>We got one from a and got very excited but as of today not accepted. 
I think they just like to have a large application pool.</p>
<p>A former poster’s D got a note of this sort from an adcom at a school that subsequently rejected her. So I wouldn’t count on anything. It may just mean that one adcom really liked the essay. They could still be over-ruled by the full committee, or being need-aware could be a stumbling block…you just don’t know.</p>
<p>William & Mary is known to send postcards which are considered likely letters of acceptance provided there isn’t a drastic change n school performance.</p>
<p>Generally a likely letter is a formal letter saying clearly that you will be accepted at the notification date for that school unless a significant change occurs to the students academic profit. You know it is a likely letter when you receive it. The postcard that you describe is more a means to keep a student very interested in the school but it is not necessarily indicative of an acceptance.</p>
<p>Yes, a likely letter states that’s what it is - at least the one my D got. Was a formal letter. Not sure what to read into this postcard - maybe that the adcom really liked it and wants your kid to know so even if he isn’t ultimately accepted.</p>
<p>When I mentioned a postcard this is what I was talking about. (read “good things come in small packages”)
<a href=“http://blogs.wm.edu/category/admission/”>http://blogs.wm.edu/category/admission/</a> </p>
<p>The website states the postcard is an indication of good things to come in April when RD come out.They mention that they wouldn’t send a postcard to someone they are not planning to admit. In this example I would consider a postcard a positive indication of good news to come. Each college is different. </p>
<p>My daughter got a positive email from a college and the following week she got an admit letter to honors program with scholarship. If my child received a note stating admissions liked her essays I would consider that as positive but till the admission letter arrives I wouldn’t take it for granted she has been admitted. I would take it her essays were interesting and well written. </p>
<p>Thanks, raclut. That link was very helpful, even if it is not the same school. I am guessing he lucked out on being read early because he didn’t send in the app until the deadline. 
Although I know it is not a sure thing until you get the official letter, I also doubt the admissions people have a whole lot of time to write personal notes right now. And if they personally liked your application but weren’t sure how the rest of the committee would feel about it, I would hope they wouldn’t send a personal note just to make you feel good for the moment. It might sound nice but since they are representing the college it wouldn’t seem appropriate to contact the applicant without the blessing of the cmmte (as it sounds like is the case in the W & M link). I could see if an adcom fought for you in committee, interviewed you ,got to know you etc. and still couldn’t convince the committee to admit you that it would be nice to hear for them (adcom) to contact you and let you know (some consolation) but I doubt adcoms would go to the trouble or get that emotionally involved. </p>
<p>All we can do is wait patiently till decisions come out. Whatever happens happens for good. </p>
<p>I think its a very good sign. My DS got several of these hand written postcards and was accepted to each of the schools (W&M was one of them). Good luck, these months between application deadlines and acceptance dates can be stressful!</p>