What is a Likely Letter?
Around this time of year, many colleges and universities send letters to very strong students telling them that their applications are impressive. These letters are commonly referred to as "likely letters".
Why do you send Likely Letters?
In this day and age, it's hard to feel confident about admission. These letters let some of our strongest candidates know we were impressed by their applications. These letters are not specific to UVa. Selective schools around the country send them. Doing a search for "Likely Letter" or "Love Letter" on College Confidential will yield signs of them being sent by plenty of other schools.
How many Likely Letters do you send?
We don't have a target number, but it's safe to say that the number is comparatively small each year. I don't have year by year statistics, but I'd say the percentage that gets these letters is in the single digits. So, ninety-something percent of you won't see these letters.
If so few applicants get them, why are you writing about them here?
As you have probably seen from comments posted in the last few weeks, people are already asking questions about these letters. When the letters land in mailboxes, the talk will increase. I'd rather let you know the facts that leave you in the dark. I hope that makes you all worry less than you would if I didn't talk about these at all.
Will I see the Likely Letter on my SIS page?
No. Likely Letters aren't decisions. They won't show up on the SIS.
Does this mean I'm getting into Echols/Rodman/College Science Scholars?
No. There are students in the scholars programs who never got a Likely Letter and there are students who got Likely Letters who aren't in any scholars program. For more information about these programs, see the Echols, Rodman, and College Science Scholars websites.
I got one! What does the Likely Letter mean? Am I admitted?
Congratulations! The letter means exactly what it says, no more and no less. In a nutshell: we like you! Keep in mind that this is not an offer of admission. Obviously, we aim to only send these to candidates we think are among the strongest in the pool, but there have been times when mid-year grades or some other new piece of information has changed a decision.
We are still a few weeks away from having decisions finalized.
When will I get my Likely Letter?
You shouldn't assume you are getting one. While I think I can help with the management of expectations, you have a hand in that, too. If you expect a Likely Letter, you are increasing the chances of being disappointed. Try to look at the big picture. Most students don't get them.
For what it's worth, I don't control the US Postal Service, so I can't predict when anyone will get a letter. What's more, we use a regular stamp on these, so if you are far away, I imagine it could take a while.
The Reader's Digest version:
- Likely Letters are sent via standard mail
- There is only one batch of Likely Letters this year
- The vast majority of applicants will not get a Likely Letter
- Likely Letters are not offers of admission
- Decisions are not finalized yet
- Getting a Likely Letter does not equate to an offer into one of the scholars programs
Do not read into the absence of a letter.
Please do not call our office to ask about a Likely Letter. The front desk does not have a list of who got them. Similarly, there is no need to reply to a Likely Letter. See it as a pat on the back.
If you have a question, look at the replies I made to questions about these in the past. If you still have a question after that, post it below. Please use this post for questions about Likely Letters only. If you have a question about something else, comment on the next post.
27 comments:
Hello Dean J,
Thank you for your Blog. I wonder why someone would not be checking their SIS page if they were truly interested in attending UVa. I hope students only apply if they are engaged and interested in the outcome of their application. Also, I don't quite understand the concept of the likely letter. I suspect those students that get them can be fairly certain that they will be admitted on the strength of their application alone. A nice nod though,if someone is on the fence on decision day.
Thanks Dean J! Do these letters get sent to international students?
So, a likely letter means that you will probably get admission in UVA? If it does not mean that, why bother wasting postage to mail them out?
I got one from another school and it made me relax a little bit. I wound up at my first choice (HERE), but at least I knew one school was more or less a lock.
Dean J, do some transfer student receive these letters as well?
Thanks!
thanks Dean J for keeping everyone informed. It makes this admission process a little easier and bearable
Dean J,
Just got my likely letter and I could not be more excited. Thanks so much for your blog; it's really helped keep me calm these past few months!
Dean J,
I just received a very nice email from the Alumni Association inviting me to apply for the Legacy Scholarship. In a previous post you said,
“Most students won't hear anything from us until April 1st*, notification day. If you happen to get a nice call or email from a student, a Likely Letter from our office, or some information from a school or department, see it as a nice surprise.”
Can I take this as a wink wink, nudge nudge or is that just over anxious wishful thinking?
Lisa, we send LLs to international students, but they are put in regular, slow mail. In some countries, the mail service in unreliable, so the letter might not get there for quite some time!
7
Anonymous, it's a yield thing. I didn't think I had to spell that out. :)
Transfer, the transfer review process is way too compact for these letters. There is only about 8 weeks between deadline and notification.
Johnny, you're asking about an Alumni Association mailing and I am not familiar with it. I imagine the mailing was sent to all legacies.
Thank you so much for the information! I was so nervous about the letter! I was like...does this mean I'll get deferred or rejected or accepted? So now that's clarified. Thank you again!
Dear J
It is wonderful to read your blog. I am an international student and got an email from you updating UVA activities dated 8th March. Do I assume this to be one kind of likely letter? I am keeping my fingers crossed.
we are in the midst of our mock exams and letters from the Dean definitely is very encouraging. It makes the admission process less stressful.
thank you Dean for taking the time out to answer all our questions. That's why I love UVA..
Is a student expected to respond to a likely letter? My child's letter gives the number for admissions if she wants to schedule a visit. I'm afraid Admissions doesn't realize she already visited.
Hi!
I am just wondering, is the email my child just got from Dean Roberts just pure marketing to all applicants, or is it sent to stronger apps (ie, is it a "likely" email?) Seems like it would be torture to send this very encouraging email at likely letter time, only to deny the student a few weeks later.
Thank you for this Blog Dean J.
Signed, Cav Mom Wanna Be
Anonymous 9:36 PM, I think I mentioned this in the entry. We do not expect a reply.
Anonymous 7:56 AM, Likely Letters are sent in the US Mail. Your child got an email update from the Dean that went to the entire applicant pool. The Dean has taken time out of application review to write emails to the applicant pool every few weeks. This is the third in a series.
We aren't cryptic in our communication. You can see the difference between the email you got and the Likely Letter here:
http://tinyurl.com/y9xjpol
Do specialty school applications (i.e. if I'm applying to the school of nursing) get these letters as well? Are they sent at a different time?
Anon, yes. The Likely Letters went to students from all four schools that take first year students. As you can see above, there was only one mailing this year.
I guess I get the concept behind these letters. They're a sort of early recruiting tool sent to the very top echelon of applicants, but they are not offers of admission.
I contrast this to a college to which my daughter has applied which sent her a letter last month offering her admission on the premise that the Admissions Committee had no question that she would make the "cut" once all of the regular decision applicants had been reviewed. This has been followed up by phone calls of contratulations, letter of encouragement to visit campus again, a letter from the president of the college to her parents, etc.
William & Mary has sent offers of admission to applicants to be awarded the Monroe Scholarship.
Perhaps UVa can't or won't emulate these "early action" initiatives for good reasons (e.g. Va:OOS ratio), but it seems to me that the actual offer of admission that my daughter received is serving exactly the purpose for which the college intended it.
Hey Van--UVA has three honors/scholar programs and they all send letters before admissions. William & Mary used to send all the IS decisions in Feb, not just Monroe scholars.
I just got a likely letter and I was so shocked! UVa rocks and thanks so much DeanJ for your blog.. seeing SOME kind of regular update about admissions kept me sane :)
Dean J,
As have others, I appreciate your honest responses to questions and comments. And I am beating the proverbial dead horse here, but here's a question about the likely letters (yes, another one!).
My child did not receive one. Having done some math, here are my figures. UVA has app. 22,400 applications this year and will accept app. 3500 to the Class of 2014. If 5% of those applicants (you state the
number as being in the single digits) received likely letters, that's about half of the number who likely will be offered
admittance (app. 16% of the applicant base). (From my child's high school, 3 of the 4 who are at UVA this year received likely letters.). So perhaps my child has a 50% chance at receiving an offer to matriculate? And from what I have read elsewhere, if my child is placed on a waitlist, well, the odds at that point are abysmal as app. 50 of 2100 were accepted from last year's waitlist, and they were shortchanged on housing, orientation, course selection, and so forth.
Thanks. I apologize for the lengthy post, but I hate to see my child foster false hope at this point.
Sorry, Anon. I don't do "chances" discussions on the blog or College Confidential. I don't see any correct stats in your post. Please visit the Office of Institutional Assessment's website for offer rates and numbers. They are very different from those you posted.
Anon, make sure you don't confuse "accepted" and "enrolled" student numbers.
Hey Dean J,
If I received a likely letter, does that mean my ENTIRE application was reviewed? I am just a little worried because I sent my SAT scores in the third week of February. So, I just want to make sure that UVA admissions committee reviews everything, except maybe mid-year grades, before sending out Likely Letters. Thanks you so much.
just wondering, are likely letters based more heavily on either academics or personal qualities (extracurriculars, leadership), or is it a combination of all aspects to decide who gets one and who doesn't?
Anon, it means whatever was here when we read the file was read. As I written before, mid-year grades have trickled in this year for many reasons, so some weren't here for our initial reviews.
Joanne, we read holistically. There isn't a statistic that would prompt a likely letter to be sent.
I received a likely letter and am thrilled! I am hoping that I will be considered for the Echols Scholar program as well. Is there anything else I can do to be considered for that? I haven't received a phone call and I am reading on College Confidential that some have. Does that mean I am not being considered for it?
Hopeful, there is nothing to do when it comes to Echols. If you don't get an offer at this point, you can apply to be in Echols during your first semester.
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