<p>I've got letters from a few places saying that I'm a "top prospect" and will have access to a special application. The descriptions of these special applications range from not having to write an essay to having first priority for scholarships. Are these actually authentic and elite offers, or does everyone get them just like everything else?</p>
<p>Somewhere in between. They’re genuine offers, but colleges send out lots of them. They’re a marketing tool, designed to get the college more applications from students with whatever characteristic it is that they’re looking for. Probably it’s standardized test scores above some certain threshold, and probably they bought your name and contact information as part of a list of students who scored X or above on the SAT or ACT. </p>
<p>When you signed up for standardized testing, you probably checked a box opting in to let the College Board or ACT share your name with colleges. Along with all the rest of the email in your inbox and the flyers in your mailbox, this is a result of checking that box.</p>