Since there have been a number of questions about this, this is off of Dartmouth's website under a Calendar for Volunteer Interviewer program:
February/March: Maintain contact with top prospective applicants and keep the Admissions Office informed of any significant developments in their candidacies. Be aware of possible "Likely" letter actions. A candidate may receive a letter during this period telling him/her that, as of the sending of the letter, his/her application has been reviewed, and the probability of acceptance in April is very high. By Ivy League agreement, all such letters must be sent by early March. A photocopy of the letter is also sent to the candidate's guidance counselor. It is important to stress that only a relatively small number of exceptional candidates may receive such a letter; hundreds of students who will ultimately be accepted by Dartmouth may not be sent an early indication. Those who do not receive such a letter should not think they no longer have a chance!The theory behind the letter is simple. We are very confident that the applicant will have several excellent schools to choose from in April. Our early indication of probable acceptance may help take some of the uncertainty out of the entire waiting process for the student. Further, this early assessment gives the candidate more time to think about his/her ultimate decision, plan a visit to Dartmouth, and to zero-in on those factors that may cause a decision "for" or "against" Dartmouth. There is, however, no commitment required of the candidate at this time. Accepted candidates will have until the Common Reply Date (May 1) to respond to our offer. Use this information to "fine tune" enrollment efforts. Telephone calls to the applicant or counselor (except 48 hours before and after Decision Letters are sent in early-April) are certainly appropriate, as are early invitations to post-acceptance gatherings, and other forms of special attention.It is important to remember that the interview is both an evaluation as well as a recruitment tool. Thus, you should feel free to schedule an interview with those candidates who have received "Likely" letters so that those individuals can have contact with members of the Dartmouth community and have their questions or concerns addressed.
Calendar