<p>Well, I am kinda starting to worry more and more about my app to Princeton. A couple of weeks ago, Dartmouth- my second or third choice school (harvards up there too)- sent me a likely letter. Now, I was deferred from Yale SCEA and only got a 15k scholarship to Emory so I am a bit concerned that those to events may be bad omens for upcoming Pton admissions decisions. So, does my LL from Dartmouth (or the other two negative events) give any indication at my chances to Pton or any of the HYPS for that matter?</p>
<p>I think you are intelligent enough to know these events will have little bearing on your admission to Princeton. Each school looks for something different in an applicant, as all of us ivy-league hopefuls are well aware. Perhaps Emory thought you were using them as a safety? Yale SCEA is a crapshoot for anyone, and you might well get accepted RD. Finally, only the top 400 or so applicants to Dartmouth receive likelies; consequently, you are to be commended for even receiving one! At this point, its not worth stressing over.</p>
<p>Haha, I’ve wondered about the same thing. Dartmouth is like one of my very top choices so I’m unbelievably happy right now, but sometimes I get bored and can’t help but wonder too whether colleges weight factors equally in admission, or whether a likely at one school is a good sign that your app will be read just as favorably at another school, or… you know, a whole bunch of other things. If it makes you happy, I think on the Dartmouth thread, quite a few people who posted about D likely letters last year ended up at Princeton. If Princeton is your top choice, that’s got to be a good sign =)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be upset about a deferral at all. Essentially, they are telling you that while you are qualified, they wish to see if there are stronger applicants than you. It’s great that you were not flat-out rejected, and you can be somewhat more confident in your chances now.</p>
<p>So wait, the fact that you got into Dartmouth makes you concerned about your chances at Princeton? I got into UC Davis. Should I be concerned that I won’t get into Harvard?</p>
<p>^^^^
No, I am sorry for the vagueness. I am thrilled I got into Dartmouth and I dont think it gives ANY bad indication of my chances. I was just wondering if getting a LL from Dartmouth is a good indicator of future success at HYPS.</p>
<p>It’s a good sign. Likelies at places like Dartmouth are most often sent to those that the school knows have a very, very good chance of being admitted at even higher-ranked schools (like HYP).</p>
<p>Dartmouth and Stanford send out likelies to the people they know HYP would really want. 70-80% of people who get into Harvard end up choosing Harvard; it’s a way for them to pull these applicants away because they know that they are not worse than H and would have nothing to to lose by basically telling these kids, “Come to Dartmouth.” It probably works well for their yield or else they wouldn’t do it.</p>
<p>I dont think this question was horrible. Dartmouth sends out likely letters to 1 in 4 of its applicants. I was just wondering if they really did send these out to HYPS people or just to the admits whose applications they read first. Also, I am starting to lose faith in my app and am looking for some reason to think I still have a decent chance = D.</p>
<p>That’s not possible. I think you meant to say 1 in 4 of the students it admits. Even that’s a high number. FWIW, we know a student who received a likely from D a few years ago. He was admitted to both Y and P (no LLs from either).</p>
<p>@Duke: haha, I thought of the same thing when I read kwu’s post. When did Dartmouth become a safety school? :P</p>
<p>The OP’s question has been asked in the past years. Someone, supposedly a parent if I remember correctly, commented on a Dartmouth thread that of the two kids in her family, one got a LL from D but was then rejected from HPY, but the other didn’t get one but ended up attending Harvard or something like that. </p>
<p>I think Dartmouth sends out LL to around 400-500 students, which is about 1/4 of all admits.</p>
<p>They don’t do either. The send out likely letter to the admits they want the most. These are probably not the same group whose applications they read first and these applicants may or may not be accepted to HYPS.</p>
<p>@kwu – this is the first time I have ever heard the idea floated of being overqualified for Dartmouth.</p>