<p>I haven't gotten a packet (applied engineering), OOS TX. I guess it may still come in the mail.</p>
<p>Is it true that you get a free trip, all expense paid trip, to visit Duke if you get a Likely Letter?</p>
<p>i'm a fresh this year and I got a likely letter as a senior last year. johnsmithcollege you're right: you get a totally for free trip to Duke if you get one of the letters. The trip is called Duke UpClose and you'll see some of the smartest kids from across the country. If you get a letter, and don't commit some random misdemeanor or get expelled or sell drugs or something crazy, you're definitely in. If you don't get a likely letter, don't sweat it; only like 2% of applicants get them. word.</p>
<p>Thanks. Just out of curiosity, those of you who were sent likely letter in previous year were you like exceptionally bright students or students with major major hooks. If you don't mind my asking, can you guys post your SAT Scores. Is it possible for an average applicant to get a likely letter (any of you who have gotten it already in previous year feel you were average and received one)? Thanks a lot everyone.</p>
<p>huh, so i was reading a thread about duke likely letters from two years ago and a bunch of CCers got letters on like, Feb 7! and then every day till like Feb 15 they kept getting stuff... Ugh, so jealous. but then it looks like starting last year they sent them out later. like Feb 21 is what i saw. so this saturday maybe? i'm still hoping for today... :)</p>
<p>I don't think likely letters came out till the end of February last year.
Not sure why Duke's holding out, maybe more applicants??</p>
<p>Ah, I'm getting so nervous, so many things that I COULD be getting at the end of February.....hopefully I get one of these.</p>
<p>By the way, when does Duke fly you out to campus?</p>
<p>^ hahaha same dpattz! I <strong>could</strong> get 3 huge scholarship semifinalist notifications (Vandy, WashU, and Davidson) or I <strong>could</strong> get likely letters. All by the end of February.</p>
<p>Can you guess what the key word is? haha</p>
<p>
[quote]
Thanks. Just out of curiosity, those of you who were sent likely letter in previous year were you like exceptionally bright students or students with major major hooks. If you don't mind my asking, can you guys post your SAT Scores. Is it possible for an average applicant to get a likely letter (any of you who have gotten it already in previous year feel you were average and received one)? Thanks a lot everyone.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Pretty much by definition, an "average" applicant is not going to receive a likely letter... they are only sent to about 100ish applicants because the university is trying to keep them from going somewhere else. Why would an "average" applicant, who might not even get into Duke itself, get one?</p>
<p>^ Word. 10char</p>
<p>So who actually thinks they may actually get one and why? For example, excellent SAT scores coupled with great extracurriculars; or high sat with a hook e.g. URM; or whatever. Post away.</p>
<p>I am not getting my hopes up, but I have been told that I have quite a few hooks (and I am not trying to brag, but, as I am very anxious for decisions to come out, I thought I might as well start the suggested conversation). </p>
<p>I am Native American and quite involved with my family's tribe, something I touched on briefly during my alum interview. He seemed very interested in this. He even said something along the lines of, "Duke may be very interested in your Native American heritage" (cos apparently they don't have many Natives and basically none from the Midwest). I don't know what exactly that means though, I am guessing it's a positive though as he did seem to talk about it quite a bit during the interview. </p>
<p>I also have a relatively high SAT (compared to people I know, but not people on this site, lol). </p>
<p>I go to a college prep school and my interviewer said they really like the school, so I think the fact that I can bring both diversity and a highly regarded education (in Duke's eyes) is a plus. </p>
<p>I don't know....haha. </p>
<p>Again, I am really not trying to brag, but I thought I might as well start the conversation. If you have any insight on my situation, please comment! Thanks!</p>
<p>^ I agree that being NA could logically bag you a likely :)</p>
<p>I myself have no hope of getting one whatsoever. Just getting into Duke at all would be nice for me! just a 2270 SAT, 3.98 UW GPA, great essays (IMO)...etc.</p>
<p>I am a nationally recognized orator and a State recognized Mock Trial Attorney, but those are the only EC things I have on a large scale, so....no, I won't be getting one haha</p>
<p>I would obviously love one, but when I compare myself to other applicants, I see that I probably shouldn't get one. I'm not one of those applicants that they need to distract from other schools, lol. I don't have extremely unique ECs or super-high scores, but I do love writing and therefore I hold out hope for some of my top choices- that maybe someone will read my essays and love my writing style... So I'm definitely not a prime candidate for the likely letters. But I am obsessed with the idea of them. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the support, but, like you guys, I don't want to get my hopes up too much.....</p>
<p>Is anyone here just so eager to get home from school everyday that they are basically going insane? Lol, that is me and I usually don't get home until 7:00 because I have basketball after school.....</p>
<p>yo to respond to johnsmithcollege:</p>
<p>I was ranked number 2 out of about 600 (pretty weak, average public school)
SAT:2130
ACT:31</p>
<p>Only two 5's on AP exams
Didn't take any SAT II's</p>
<p>Zero legacy ties to Duke</p>
<p>Basically I think what puts you over the top is writing. All the kids that went to DukeUpClose wrote slammin essays. Your essay has to blow the acceptance committee's minds. Also, really good teacher reqs help. Numbers on a page only go so far.</p>
<p>Thanks IrishDevil for the reply, I'm in the same boat as you pretty much, although I can't boast the same rank as you. I wrote in my opinion, a GREAT ESSAY. I'm really hoping that the essay and my other activities and grades get me an acceptance.</p>
<p>^ Yeah, I loved my CommonApp one a ton, and people on the Duke forum actually told me that my "Why Duke?" essay was great as well, so here's hoping!</p>
<p>So has anyone gotten their likely letter yet? Does it come via email or regular mail?</p>
<p>Likely letters are "likely" sent to students Duke [or any other college sending them] realizes will probably be seeking admission at multiple top ten schools which Duke is in competition with for yield numbers. I don't beleive essays play that much of a role, becasue if you are telling the admit committee- if they take you, this is your number one choice, then why would they bother issuing a likely letter. If they can look at your profile and that includes whole package of goods and realize you may go to Duke, U-Penn, Northwestern, Chicago, Yale, Princeton, Harvard- then they probably realize you are a sought after student and they want to give you ever reason to chose Duke. In My S year of admit the Val of the HS got a likely letter. My S was the Salutatorian and did not get the letter. Duke wants top students and others who will add to the mix to make up an interestign student body. To get the ones they think may go elsewhere the likely letter may help. If you dn't get one its not an issue. It just means they targeted a student the admit committee really wanted for some reason- academics, leadership, sports or the like. As far as yield not everyone will accept admission- becasue those kids are very sought after and get multiple offers- think college football recruiting- same principal. With that said you can be a top student with great EC and still not get a likely letter. Kids with 2340 or better and great EC's did not get them. Think really smart kids with the same things but maybe an under represented minority or olympic medal winner, national champion race car driver etc. Something that uniquely adds to the class that Duke really wants.</p>