<p>While calling an admissions office of a top LAC in the beginning of the month I got what I think is some great news. I was calling to see if they had received a completed application with all the rec letters. The person who took the call took my info and then asked if my son applied ED. I replied definitely not, which prompted her to say, "That's strange" and asked if I would hold on. After waiting on hold for a few minutes she came back and told me that she had read the screen incorrectly and that they had decided to admit him already and we would be getting a letter. She thought he was ED because she was surprised that the decision had been made so early. She said that she wasn't supposed to tell me this but due to her initial error she had no choice. She then congratulated me and let me know that "we never had this conversation".
It has been over two weeks since the call and no early letter has come.
She never said that they were mailing it immediately but I assumed they would. Their usual notification date is April 1st for RD. I called them yesterday without giving my name and someone told me that they don't send out likely letters or early write letters but I did find out something interesting.
If you have been selected for one of their academic scholarships they send those letters out March 11th. Hopefully that is the correct scenario.</p>
<p>Schools are using a variety of tactics to signal admission before a stated April 1 date: likely letters, merit aid awards and just plain early notification. </p>
<p>It would seem that your son is in good shape at that school.</p>
<p>poisonivy, your son's situation is both exciting and nerve wracking. Sounds like you should be lining up the champagne bottles but not popping the corks just yet. We'll be anxiously awaiting your news in mid-March. Did you, by any chance, get the name of the person whom you didn't have the conversation with? Since she seems to be a sympathetic soul, you might try her again for mailing details.</p>
<p>Momrath....I can't tell you how many times I have thought of calling back trying to get the same person again but always stopping myself just in time.
The person that I spoke with honestly sounded a little green which only added to my perception that the whole thing was on the level. I also wanted to call back asking for someone higher up to tell them what happened but I have decided to wait until mid March for the letter (I hope).
Last week during an online admission fin-aid chat event did I learn that they do notify on March 11th of their special scholarships.
I have to keep busy until then so posting this only helps.</p>
<p>It's nice to have that under your belt as April approaches.
Congrats!</p>
<p>"Schools are using a variety of tactics to signal admission before a stated April 1 date: likely letters, merit aid awards and just plain early notification".</p>
<p>What advantage would the schools get in notifying early? If you get into a more selective school wouldn't one go to there? I must be missing something very obvious.</p>
<p>For students who are really highly qualified, the schools often find themselves competing with other highly selective schools to which those students applied. Some of them figure that by giving an "early write" they are showing enthusiasm for the applicant and will gain a competitive edge. My son got an "early write" in the first week of March from Williams some years ago, which did prompt a visit there that otherwise he probably wouldn't have had time to make if he had received the acceptance only on April 1. In the end, though, he chose Chicago over Williams, Carleton, and some other selective schools. So the early write didn't pay off.</p>
<p>This can be such a drawn out, stressful process. Some kids will just be so happy when they get an acceptance, that they will jump at and say they just want to commit. They want to know where they are going and stop having to think about the other schools. I know one young man who was deferred at his ED school, but has 2 EA choices and just wants to be done with it. He has made up his mind and does not want to even consider the ED school or the other choices anymore. He just wants to be done, and he is adament.</p>
<p>nopoisonivy - Did you get the name of the person you spoke to on the phone. If no acceptance letter arrives by April, will you be able to call the admissions office and tell them of this conversation?</p>
<p>I can understand that completely. Still if the early write school is a safety you will still wait patiently for April anyway.</p>
<p>A post above cites one of the reasons for early notification, to get a visit or a second visit where that a student might not make otherwise. Related to that is the general rationale, simply to get the student to focus on the early notifying school.</p>