<p>Has anyone else received an email from the admissions director regarding their application? I got an email today saying how well-written my essay was, and I'm wondering if everyone got this or it's a case by case situation.</p>
<p>Ashley, getting a note about the specifics of your essay prior to decisions is a great sign. No, not everyone gets this. It means that the admissions office is impressed by your application and that they want you to know that they have taken a special interest in you.</p>
<p>Applicants who did not get such an email should NOT start worrying. If years past are any indication, Ashley’s note is unusual.</p>
<p>Definitely not something everyone gets, so congrats! Though I would agree with MWFN, all of you who did not get such a letter should not read too much into it. I’ve never heard of these letters going out before, though I guess they must.</p>
<p>Hey, I got an email like that too! I was also wondering how common these emails were… But congratulations! I’m even more pscyhed for Smith now!</p>
<p>I can’t remember whether our daughter received an email like that from Smith or other schools, but I remember when she did hear from admissions in this way, it was followed up with an acceptance letter.</p>
<p>But I will also back up what MWFN said: my daughter got accepted at schools where she did NOT hear from them in advance. Each school does its own thing.</p>
<p>Our daughter got a letter like this from Wellesley. But that’s a little different, because Wellesley has a check-box on its application where you can get an “early indication” of your likelihood of admission if you get your application in by a certain date. I don’t think Smith’s application had a feature like that. But I could be wrong: I was locked in a dungeon churning out FAFSAs and CSS Profiles and Form 1040s for our daughter and her twin brother during that time. I was kind of out of the loop on the actual application forms.</p>
<p>@randomcoolzip… that’s Wellesley’s Early Evaluation option. It’s kind of like ED or EA, except it’s non-binding and only tells you whether it’s likely, possible, or unlikely that you’ll get in. Smith doesn’t do that. The OP must have written a really great essay to have been contacted about it! I applied to Smith too this year and I didn’t get an email like this.</p>
<p>Don’t worry felicity most women who get in don’t get that letter :)</p>
<p>I applied this year, and didn’t get it either, felicity. No worries… I just can’t wait 'til APRIL.</p>
<p>I still have a “Wellesley '08” magnet on our refrigerator in gratitude for the Likely Letter that D received, the first tangible response. Her first words were, “Oh good…I don’t have to go to <name of=”" safety=“”>."</name></p>
<p>Even though we knew she was pretty much a stone-cold lock for Smith, the wait wasn’t pleasant.</p>
<p>I just realized my post #5 doesn’t make much sense as written. What I do remember is that our daughter received a complimentary email from the Bryn Mawr admissions about her essay and subsequently was admitted. I don’t remember if she received a similar email from Smith about her essay. And, TD, like you, we still have the Early Evaluation letter and 2013 magnet from Wellesley. Most schools don’t do anything to alleviate the uncertainty and long wait. </p>
<p>To all those who are waiting to hear, dive back into high school and realize you only have just a few more months with all the friends you’ve developed over the years, all the teachers you have loved (and despised), all the routines and familiar spots you have come to love. You’ve done all the hard work in applying. Try to enjoy the “here and now” and pretty soon the future will be here and you’ll figure out then what you’ll be doing.</p>
<p>Yes, enjoy your high school time while it lasts. And don’t worry if you don’t get one of these emails. I never got one and I was accepted. I don’t even remember what I wrote my college application essay on. Isn’t it funny how you could forget something that seemed SO IMPORTANT at the time?</p>
<p>We have the Wellesley 2013 sticker too! It was a soothing balm to my D’s feelings after the sting of being deferred from ED at Wash U (even though she did get in RD, much later). It is indeed hard to predict where the acceptances come from…we thought she would be a shoo-in at Wash U but I’m so glad that she is not in a 300+ class of premeds in her Organic Chem class this term.</p>
<p>Upbeat: re 300+ premeds in an o-chem class: yep.</p>
<p>It’s a difference in qualitative experience that you almost have to feel to appreciate, a great “why go to Smith?” bullet point.</p>
<p>I’m surprised and happy to report that I also just received a similar email! Smith’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect - I was rejected EDII from Swarthmore on Saturday, which was really disappointing, so it was really nice to hear something encouraging about my application so soon after.</p>
<p>I can concur with The Dad - one Very Prestigious Univ has an intro Comp class with 150+ students in one class! My D’s intro botany class at Smith is small enough to meet in the Green house and make perfume plus the Prof brings snacks! She loves this class.</p>
<p>My friend took that botany class, she made hand lotions and lip balm as well as candles with plant extracts made by the students. Her friends benefited!</p>
<p>CaliforniaDancer, I’m so glad you got some positive news from Smith after a such a disappointment! This whole process is such an emotional rollercoaster! I know it’s hard, but just try to go with the flow as best you can and have faith that you will have a wonderful college experience wherever you go because you will take advantage of what is offered there. I hope it’s Smith! My daughter loves it–the profs, the classes, her close friends, her house, Northampton, the stimulating environment. It has wound being just the right fit for her. Thanks for letting us know the good news. As you’re waiting the interminable wait, if we can answer any questions, ask away!</p>