whats this deal with likely letters?

<p>I'm an international student and i've been getting impatient reading about these likely letters everyone is getting. What are these supposed to mean? I got one from UNC Chapel Hill, but i submitted my sat score in jan. So does it mean it might delay my letter if i was to get on? And people who dont get it dont get in then?..THANKS FOR THE HELP..im getting really nervous</p>

<p>Most applicants don't get likely letters, and many of them are admitted later.
Usually only the top applicants (incl special cases like athletes) get those letters. Internationals usually do not...</p>

<p>I read something about this in an issue of Newsweek. They are called Early Write invitations or, "likely letters." Schools I know of that give out early writes are Cornell, Dartmouth, Middlebury, Smith, and apparently UNC- Chapel Hill. They should be sent out around a month to six weeks after your application was sent in. The letter is basically a large hint to the applicant that he/she has a very strong chance of getting admitted. Only the very top applicants receive Early Writes, as Dartmouth sent out 500 Early Writes, and 300 for Smith. Congratulations on receiving an Early Write from UNC.</p>

<p>Harvard, Yale, and Stanford also give out likely letters.</p>

<p>As does Duke.</p>