<p>ohh and to answer your question they don't give them to everyone, two people from my school who applied to bucknell didnt get one</p>
<p>when would they send these "likely" letters?</p>
<p>most likely as soon as they review your application, however only the best (if not athletes) will probably get them, a borderline applicant won't get one b/c there may be many more apps after theirs that are better, an average applicant won't get one, b/c what if they are average at the time, and then a whole new pool of superior applicants come in, they will only give them to people they know they have to accept b/c they are that good, and who also might go to a "better" college than Cornell (if that is even possible), but really don't worry about it, just b/c you dn't get one doesn't mean you are gonna get rejected or you aren't good enough, its just that they go to the best applicants that Cornell sees a must in having</p>
<p>superior= URM, legacy, recruited athlete</p>
<p>superior= amazing URM or legacy, recruited athlete</p>
<p>Not just any old URM or legacy will get a likely letter. Likely letters are reserved for those extra special kids.</p>
<p>Does anyone know what Cornell's likely letter would look like? I recieved an email from Cornell engineering that seemed quite general.</p>
<p>I got that e-mail too. I don't think its a likely letter. A likely will come through snail mail.</p>
<p>prncyss - that was from Emory? did you apply ed or ed2?</p>
<p>I didn't apply to Emory, my likely letter is from Yale</p>
<p>According to past pattern, Cornell sends "likly" letters in early March.</p>
<p>early march... can't wait</p>
<p>Good luck to all the kids!!</p>
<p>likely letters are used by the Ivy League for athletes
<a href="http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=7741%5B/url%5D">http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=7741</a>
<a href="http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/admission-statement.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/admission-statement.asp</a>
<a href="http://www.collegejournal.com/aidadmissions/newstrends/20030127-chaker.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegejournal.com/aidadmissions/newstrends/20030127-chaker.html</a></p>
<p>it's not used just for athletes. when I applied in 2001, I got one in early march. I believe that students who get likely letters often end up getting a merit scholarship as well.</p>
<p>That's correct: Cornell sends "likely" letters to top caliber (non-athlete) applicants,
and some of these get multiple merit awards as well.</p>
<p>Hmmm, the Ivy League does not award merit-scholarships, only need-based financial aid.</p>
<p>I think by merit awards they might mean private scholarships and such (i.e. not from Cornell itself, but THROUGH Cornell)</p>
<p>Cornell and a couple Ivies do offer merit aid even though it is prohibited by whatever bylaws dictate Ivy League schools. They offer certain students scholarship based on merit, but the amount awarded is determined by need. It's a tricky way of circumventing the rules.</p>
<p>edit: NickyJane, it is through Cornell. I can think of a few off the bat. Pres. Research Scholars (CPRS), Dean McMullen award or whatever it's called (this is what I have), and Meining National Family Scholars. There are a few more but I'm too lazy to look them up. They are usually awarded at the time of admission but you can apply into a few of them like CPRS.</p>
<p>shizz.... what were your stats like to be selected for one of those merit awards? i got information about those via email and snail mail, but the stuff that they sent me didn't say anything about what kind of people actually receive the scholarships.</p>
<p>See this thread which explains the Cornell Commitment merit awards:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=33085%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=33085</a></p>
<p>The winners are selected from the best applicants of the year, based on credential, e.g. the Meinig rewards leadership, Presidential Research Scholar is for research achievements, Dean McMullan's Engineering Award for math/sci excellence, etc.</p>