<p>So yesterday I got a mail from Harvard saying that I should apply to the school despite the fact there is no "magic formula" and blah blah. I just want to know if they send this out to everyone. My mom says that they probably just want to get my $50 or whatever the application fee is. I do think she is right, but just out of curiosity, is this something that I should feel good about getting it?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>i got it, but like 2 wks ago... no biggie... 'cept i'm URM, are you? lol... i think app fee is $65 though...</p>
<p>no, I am not umr. I am probably the "over-represented minority"..haha</p>
<p>well, a lot of colleges send out that stuff based on certain test scores released to them. so, yeah, you can feel special considering that your test scores were good enough to have Harvard mail you something. but even if your scores were good enough to get you onto Harvard's mailing list, they may not be good enough to get you into the school. so, your mom is probably right. it's a ploy to get more apps, that being said, if you think you have any shot at all then go ahead and apply.</p>
<p>lol, i did horribly on the SAT (1290, im such a horrible CCer)... lol, is there an ORM abbreviation? hehe</p>
<p>these can be any test scores, FindFish, not necessarily the SAT.</p>
<p>...i got a 170 PSAT.... LOL... what other reason than to spike up (or down) their admission rate... i doubt my scores were near a cut-off</p>
<p>maybe there is something else appealing about you. it could be your test scores combined with your URM status.</p>
<p>even for URM... a 1290SAT/170PSAT is far from impressive... especially for harvard</p>
<p>I got this letter a few weeks ago too. My mom thought it was really cool, she said, "I bet Harvard doesn't even need to send out letters like this...blah blah"</p>
<p>But she was also excited when I got a postcard from Yale telling me to apply.</p>
<p>thousands if not get such mail from harvard, yale and the like...</p>
<p>the valedictorian from my school got mail from harvard, applied, got rejected</p>
<p>i got mail from yale, applied, got rejected</p>
<p>but hey, you never know, so if you cand afford the app fee, why not give it a shot ? you never know</p>
<p>Many of you will be getting mail/applications from selective colleges. This does not mean that they will accept you - it means that they have your name on a mailing list they purchased (could be from PSAT, SAT, AP, whatever).</p>
<p>Remember, Harvard and Yale get over 20,000 applications each year. Multiply by the application fee, and they are able to cover a lot of their admissions budget.</p>
<p>Just because you got mail doesn't mean they are interested in you. They automatically send thousands of those letters out to those who check "I would like to receive mail from colleges" on their tests.</p>
<p>I got one of those a few days ago too. I told my friend (somewhat sarcastically) and he said, "yeah, you and another 50,000". I'm pretty sure it has everything to do with numbers and what tier you fall into based on standardized test scores and nothing to do with you as a person. It's a money maker. On the other hand, it's still nice to be getting some sort of "recognition" from Ivy League schools or other top colleges.</p>
<p>A mass mailing is not recognition. Harvard and other top colleges need to make sure they keep getting enough applications to reject at least 10 of every 11 applicants or their ranking will fall.</p>
<p>Ha this makes me laugh. It is such garbage! I got an application this morning ( I stayed home sick today so the mail came before I woke up) and my dad came into my room and woke me up, he had the happiest look on his face, and when he told me harvard sent an application i laughed then threw it in the garbage then went back to sleep.</p>
<p>My daughter got a similar postcard from Harvard a couple of weeks ago. The funny thing is she just graduated and is already enrolled in college for next year (somewhere else). Why would they send this to a senior? I believe she got it at the end of 11th grade also.</p>
<p>hehe, i just checked the mail... i got a common app/viewbook thingy from them.... lol</p>
<p>I posted this post because I wanted to see how many people got it, not because I thought I would get in. (I'm pretty sure I won't so I would rather save my $65, lol)</p>
<p>Is the new common app out already, then?</p>