<p>I'm a deferred applicant and am planning to submit an update to Stanford sometime this weekend. I don't have much to report, but I did just get a likely letter from Columbia (which is awesome and a complete surprise!). I know someone mentioned in the Deferred thread that it's wise to update Stanford on any likely letters from other top tier schools, so I'm wondering if including that really is a good idea. I would try to work in the news in a reasonable manner, but I don't want to come off as if I'm trying to take the upper hand over the Stanford admissions committee.</p>
<p>Please don’t. Stanford does not and will not care you got a likely from Columbia! If you do mention a “likely” from Columbia or any other school…it may actually backfire…in that…Stanford admissions will think you wouldn’t be too upset getting a rejection…after all, it is the toughest school to get into…</p>
<p>I was deferred last year and had gotten likelies from Yale and Harvard by the time I submitted my update form. I was very hesitant about “name dropping” to Stanford Admissions, but my mom insisted. I wrote a one sentence update about it saying something along the lines of “Although I have already received ‘likely letters’ from Yale and Harvard, Stanford remains my first choice.” It was short and sweet and mentioned H and Y but also demonstrated my continued interest. They ended up accepting me, but I can’t say that it has anything to do with my admission to Yale and Harvard. It’s really up to you and you should do what you feel most comfortable with.</p>