<p>who typically receives a likely letter? is it only the top 5% of applicants, or is it a higher or lower percentage? or is receiving a likely letter based on some other quality ( great essays, recommendations, or extra curricular activities?) also does where one lives increase or decrease the llikelihood or receiving a likely letter?</p>
<p>Last year a couple of our applicants to Dartmouth received likely letters. THey were extremely high scorers [above 1540] and good students, who I would assume were in the top 5% of Dartmouths applicants, and had a profile that would have suggested that they would probably be admitted to equally and possibly more competitive schools.</p>
<p>ursdad:
My D received a likely letter this year. I had read about them frequently on CC but had never seen one or known anyone to receive one. The letter was from a highly selective university. My D's SATs were good but not the best based on those reported on CC but she did have 11 APs, 4 years in MATH, Science, Social Studies, English & French (6 years). Her GPA at this point is 3.8 UW and 4.9 W. Her essay was excellent and although we did not see her recs I assume they were good as well. Good ECs as well . So I have come to the conclusion that her secondary school report was considered stellar and thus the likely letter. She has also received acceptance into two Honors Programs which I think are based more on the secondary school transcript than anything else.</p>
<p>Recruited athletes receive likely letters in October.</p>
<p>The problem with these questions is that the answer changes constantly. Things are really changing quickly with the way college admissions has changed just in the last 5 years. Likely letters were something very rare and mainly for athletes once upon a time. Then the very top applicants started getting them. And now schools that I had never heard of getting these letters are sending them. So you can see how this whole college admissions process is turning into a real frenzy.</p>
<p>Williams actually sends out lots of likely letters. Their theory is that they are trying to lure candidates away from Ivies, and this is their one big shot, short of ED. Smith also sends out letters about their merit scholarships and STRIDES (paid research assistantships) even before they send out admissions letters, on the same theory.</p>
<p>I have a sense (totally anecdotal, of course) that Williams is involved in an "early write" war with Dartmouth, and it may be escalating. (It is theoretically possible that they choose their early writes not necessarily on the basis of "quality" - however defined - but on whom they are competing against.)</p>
<p>Did you notice that Amherst has begun sending out actual admissions letters early this year?</p>
<p>hello CC , i'm brand new to this so pls bear with me. what are likely letters? are they sent when a student has already applied or are they a form of recruiting?</p>
<p>Momof3teens , Welcome to the parents forum.</p>
<p>Hope this helps:</p>
<p>Colleges are courting their best students earlier in an effort to win their affections. Here are some of the techniques they're using.</p>
<p>[ul]
[li]Dartmouth College "Likely" letter Sent before the Ivy League's agreed-upon mailing date for acceptance letters. Dartmouth says the letters are not a violation because they only hint at admission rather than grant it. "We do these letters to try to introduce some 'humanity' into the pressured admissions process," says dean of admissions and financial aid Karl Furstenberg. </p>[/li]
<p>[li]Grinnell College "Wink" letter Not much winking and more of a straight admission. Letter reads: "I am both pleased and excited to send you this early notification of your acceptance to Grinnell College." </p>[/li]
<p>[li]Clark University "Love" letter A note, often handwritten, saying "how much the admissions office enjoyed reading the application or that we appreciated the effort the student made to present a thoughtful essay," says dean of admissions Harold Wingood. </p>[/li]
<p>[li]Williams College "Early write" A committee meets every week for several weeks in January and February to "really look for the superstars," says Richard Nesbitt, director of admissions. The result: About 200 students every year receive an admittance letter two months before the rest of the pack. </p>[/li]
<p>[li]Colorado College "Early notification" School admits about 10% of all "regular" admissions candidates about three weeks early. </p>[/li]
<p>[li]Smith College Early scholarship notice "The fact that Smith thinks these students are special is conveyed to them," says director of admissions Audrey Smith. The message is reinforced with $2,500 a year in scholarship money and a paid position as a campus researcher. </p>[/li]
<p>[li]Mary Washington College "Honors" admission Sends "fancy, shmancy, suitable-for-framing" certificates that say "honors admission" to about one-third of admits, says Martin Wilder, vice president for enrollment.[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Momof3teens, a likely letter is sent before the acceptance letter, but after the application has been reviewed, and the college sending it tells the student that he is likely to be accepted. Unless something sinister is discovered or arises, the kid is in. This used to be the way that schools like the Ivies that supposedly do not deighn to recruite athletes let them know they are in. Lately, that has not been enough for athletes, and many get much stronger acceptances than that, especially if they report a strong competitive offer, and the school really wants them. The letters are also sent to the strongest in the admission pool that the school really wants.</p>
<p>Mini, do you know if Williams is sending out more likely letters these past few years?</p>
<p>No idea. Anecdotally, though, it seems like there are a lot of them. (Even if there are just 200 likely letters, if they resulted in 75% acceptance rates, plus all the EDs, it would be well more than half the class, I think. And to think I was only on the waiting list!)</p>
<p>It think Grinnell's early letters have gotten both Carleton and Macalester more heavily into the practice.</p>