I am actually really surprised how quickly colleges view applications. Like Yale sent out LL’s 3 weeks after the RD Deadline. How does that even work? Surely they can’t thoroughly look at everybody, vote, etc or whatever they do. Which convinces me more that the process is a crap shoot. (or maybe not entirely, but a luck component is definitely there)
In reality, students who are using deadlines as the date to turn in their applications lose out in this process. One can turn in a RD application on August 1st.
^Not really? My friend who got a Penn likely and another who got a Yale likely both turned in their applications the week of. Last year my friend who got a Penn likely DEFINITELY turned his in on the deadline because he started no other apps when he got rejected from Stanford REA. Are you saying adcoms are looking at RD applicants for likelies before /while they look at their early applicants? Based off Penn’s numbers, they had enough to keep them busy before looking at eager RD applicants.
Yale’s earliest likely letters are sent to STEM students – easily weeded out through looking at first major choice. From there adcoms for a region can just skim for the top and most promising candidates, thoroughly read the ones that are the BEST, and then send those ones LLs. Also, adcoms can easily identify an automatic acceptance from an application’s first look-through.
@texag2016 I wish I knew that earlier! But, I also know someone who turned in their writing supplement to UChicago late and got the LL less than a week (literally a couple days) later.
@collegeapps2k14 Yeah, I know they were sent to STEM majors (which is why I’m a little hurt because I’m a math major lol- but obviously I don’t even qualify for an acceptance) And can they really just automatically identify and weed people out? I mean, the majority of ppl that apply are very qualified. Plenty of vals, amazing sat scores, great essays.
@Lanie49
LLs go to the crème de la creme of applicants to keep them from getting attached to other elite schools. If you can’t put yourself in that category (with either exceptional essays or extensive awards) then you can’t pine for a LL. Not trying to single you out – I know I am a candidate who would be lucky to admitted, not one where the institution would be lucky if I attended. I have viable chances but do I need extra persuading to attend? Not really. I’m not someone they need to target (also not STEM for Yale purposes). If it makes you feel better, my very accomplished CS friend did not get a likely from Yale but ultimately got in. Most accepted students don’t get LLs.
My moms friend was an adcom, and so things have probably changed from way back in the day but she said that most applicants fall in a grey area but few applications go to either automatic accept or reject. From there the admissions director reviews those applications and if he doesn’t agree he will send it back to committee. Could have changed but I suspect for some stellar applicants there is little debate on whether to admit them.
I got a likely letter for CAS! I put down Gender Sexuality and Women’s Studies as my major, and wrote that I’m also interested in PoliSci in my essay. My stats are definitely not the best - I had 2 B’s, only a 34 on ACT’s, and no exceptional awards - so I’m still in shock that I got the letter. My counselor also sent out the Mid-Year report just last week, too.
I also got a cool notebook with a quote from my essay!
@superangie : congrats! when did you get the letter?
@kunjiboy The example I gave was something harvard are said last year. They said that one thing they like to use theirs for is to inform students who did get admitted but probably think they have no chance.
DD got a likely to Cornell last year. They were targeting high stats CS girls. They invited them to a special event and wanted to get them scheduled early. She did not get one for Columbia or Penn, but had higher stats than most students who did.
The point is that likely letters do not always go to the best candidates. They go to the type of student each school decides to send them to that particular year. Maybe 1st generation, maybe they need a few more oboe players. Only Dean Furda knows, so don’t overthink it.
@RunningForLife I got the physical mail today 
@much2learn very encouraging.
I got a likely letter and my guidance councilor received a call from the admissions office about my application. I was curious if anyone else who got an LL has talked to there councilor about it? We might be able to find out why we got them
I agree with @Much2learn A week ago, someone I know got a phone call from her regional Harvard adcom telling her of her likely acceptance and she was completely shocked. I’m talking about like 2000 SATs, plenty of B’s, no exceptional awards. (although she is very low-income, hispanic, and I assume had stellar essays)
and @collegeapps2k14 While a lot of the “best” students get LL’s there are plenty of people that are below average that get them too. Plus, I still don’t think it’s that easy to choose the best. I know I would be extremely lucky to get an acceptance, but why wouldn’t me (and thousands of other students) not be in the top? MYRIADS of ppl have 2400 or near, stellar grades, exceptional essays, and the generic but still good EC’s.
Nope–the vast majority of accepted students do not receive likely letters.
In simplest terms, there are more than enough qualified URM candidates other than you to gain an acceptance over you. Getting a likely is harder than getting in so just be happy if you get an acceptance on regular notification day.
BTW I know 3 people who got LLs, and they were all East Asian.
kk thx
and no^ i meant that if they likely URMs that are getting in-- then wold lack of one as a URM mean u arent geting in. I wasnt saying i’m more or less qualified i just meant does urm admit=likely. bc in that case lack of a likely as a urm would mean no admit
Likelies are not targeted at URMs, they are targeted at most desired students which can be anybody and may include some highly desired URMs.
Three people in the AA forum got one. And this just goes to show you that URM competition is high. They are not just walking in to college.
I was a URM with a perfect GPA, a perfect SAT score, perfect SAT subject tests (Math II and Latin), strong ECs and a good essay.
I didn’t get a likely letter.
You aren’t doing yourself any favors by sitting around waiting for one, so, just wait for the final notification
If it’s any help, I did not receive a likely either, nor did a lot of URMs with stats that are better than both yours and mine, but many of these people (you, I, and Tiberium included hopefully!) will get accepted when official decisions come out. I hate this cliche as much as the next guy, but… it’s best not to worry about it. We’ve done almost everything we can at this point. You should get into some great schools with your credentials either way.