Official Stanford "Early Approval" Letter Thread

<p>This thread is for anyone who applied to Stanford in the Regular Action cycle, but was accepted in early February. The letter was worded something like this:</p>

<p>"February 2, 2009</p>

<p>xxx
xxx
xxx</p>

<p>Dear xxx,</p>

<p>It gives me great pleasure to inform you that initial review of your application indicates that you will be offered admission to Stanford. This early approval is a tribute to your extraordinary achievements as a student and scholar. . . .</p>

<p>We will hold a place for you in the freshman class and send you a formal announcement of your admission in early April by letter and email. . . .</p>

<p>Signed
Dean of Admissions </p>

<p>Handwritten note next to signature: Come to Stanford!"</p>

<p>There is already a post about this, here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/648967-got-into-stanford-yesterday.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/648967-got-into-stanford-yesterday.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>However, I wanted to make a dedicated thread to find any and all who received this very surprising letter.</p>

<p>Stanford started reviewing apps like 2 or 3 days ago. I mean with the amount of work these apps take to review, how are they sending these things out already. Seems suspicious.</p>

<p>I know, I feel the same way as well, ScaredAsHell! I know apps were due January 1st (which seems forever ago!), but I did just get the e-mail saying Stanford has begun the process. And, as the applicant pool is SO competitive this year, I don't think they'd be making decisions this early on. </p>

<p>I label this as fake, although I am for some reason hoping for an e-mail or letter as well! :).</p>

<p>Oh and why would they write "Come to Stanford!"? That's just really informal and it doesn't sound appropriate for a likely letter to say. Also, the likely letters I've seen from people at HYP are much longer and talk about why the school is great, but they DO NOT explicitly say, "Come here". That's awkward.</p>

<p>^ Stanford isn't an Ivy League school though. That means they don't have to follow Ivy guidelines/standard practices.</p>

<p>i got the same letter. surprising but true!</p>

<p>Oh, yeah, I know, but it just seemed kind of strange.....what are your stats (isitme and ngolsh)? Congrats! </p>

<p>However, I have one more comment. I saw some posts on the other thread and you guys were talking about how you are in similar situations, that is, both lower income communities. However, how would Stanford know it? They look at your zip code/city more in depth? Because I have been told Stanford is need-blind, however, that may be only in regards to finaid.....?</p>

<p>I have a theory.. Look at ngolsh's join date; and notice that it is in the month of february of this year... Also notice that he first posted in itsme's thread...also note that he placed the "...." in all the same places as itsme... The only difference in the letters is that ngolsh made all the corrections to itsme's flawed letter, so that it looks legit...and let's not forget that they both have SIMILAR situations...hmmm...maybe they are one-in-the-SAME!!!!
hahaha</p>

<p>Yah... I just checked their IP addresses. Their IP addresses are "similar" if you know what I mean.</p>

<p>FB, how do you check that address?</p>

<p>We're definitely different people. I just wanted to repost this with a more obvious name.</p>

<p>I don't give out stats guys, i don't like being reduced to numbers.</p>

<p>I call bullshjt</p>

<p>The Assistant Deans of Admission hand-wrote personalized notes for apparently every single EA admit (I assume that CC people aren't the only ones who got them). That number is much, much greater than the number of people who got likelies. I find it odd that the people who are heavily recruited RD would get something totally generic, especially given the fact that they are much fewer in number.</p>

<p>Remember, the SCEA admits are the people who want Stanford over Yale, and presumably over everything else. Why spend time writing them personalized notes instead of the people whom you really want to take your offer RD (and didn't like you well enough to apply SCEA?).</p>

<p>Just screenie the letter and post the link. boom. Done.</p>

<p>that also is true Baelor.. I don't remember my acceptance note being so generic</p>

<p>Correction Baelor, the corresponding admissions officer wrote personalized notes for every single EA admit. Some had the dean himself, some had the assistant dean like you and me apparently, there are others. I remember reading a thread somewhere before that the dean or whoever signed the notification of admissions letter wrote exactly "Come to Stanford" for multiple RD admits. I wouldn't be suprised if this was legitimate, seeing that that is exactly what they wrote for some of last year's RD admits, nor would I be suprised if this guy went back to some old threads or saw that somewhere and made up this letter. What wouldn't suprise me is them writing "Come to Stanford" on the bottom of a likely, seeing that they have been known to do that and, if they wanted to write something more personal, they could write it on the actual acceptance letter when it is sent out--which will occur at a more critical time in the applicant's deciding where to go next year, thereby upping the yield potential.</p>

<p>The original thread also has spelling mistakes. Wouldn't Stanford make sure these things are sent out without grammar mistakes? This is fake.</p>

<p>
[quote]
The original thread also has spelling mistakes. Wouldn't Stafnord make sure these things are sent out without grammar mistakes? This is fake.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I guess you don't make mistakes when you type things on a forum, eh ScaredAsHell?</p>

<p>^pahahahah.</p>

<p>I think these letters are legit, lay off.
I'll keep my fingers crossed when i check the mail tomorrow... ;D</p>

<p>Haha edited mine.</p>

<p>Eating food, that letter that itsme posted was supposedly copied and pasted. So why is February wrong? Plus "It gives great pleasure to inform..." That too, eating food, how can they start sending out admissions this early? They started reviewing just 2 or 3 days ago.</p>

<p>Yeah, I get what s/he's saying with the spelling because presumably it is a letter rather than an e-mail...if it were an e-mail it could be copied and pasted, hopefully with no mistakes.....I dunno, I find this a bit odd, especially so early in the review process....and why would you care about stats at this point? You obviously know they are good if you will be offered admission come APril!</p>