Yes, I received a "likely" postcard. I would be interested to see how many students from the regular decision pool received such postcards. I'm not sure if William and Mary's version of the likely letter was sent out to a small minority of the applicants, like at other top schools, or if William and Mary is using its "likely postcard" to stand out among other accepted schools that a postcard recipient would be choosing from. By sending an early postcard letting applicants know that they have essentially been accepted, maybe William and Mary is trying to distinguish itself from other top schools and cement itself in these students' mind as a school that paid extra attention to them (my postcard had a handwritten note at the bottom). The reason I mention this is because I feel that the school might be trying to bring up its yield rate, and if the postcard was sent to a good chunk of accepted students, then I would not be surprised if the postcard was created not for its use as a traditional likely letter, but rather for its value as a smart admissions tactic to increase yield. Or I could be completely wrong hahaha. An important fact to know would be if W and M has done this before.
pretty sure W&M has done this in the past... you can probably look through this forum and find something.
Obviously if you got one, W&M would like that you attend, but I don't think they are looking to secretly increase the yield. Obviously every school wants the highest yield possible so they can try to game the US News rankings, but it's a way for the W&M admissions staff to say that they really liked your application and hope that you will consider attending. W&M is a strong community and the handwritten note is your first experience with it, albeit still from the outside.
Way to go to those of you who received the postcard! Your applications were outstanding and we thoroughly enjoyed reviewing them. We enjoy sending the postcards to compliment students on their outstanding accomplishments and efforts. We're just a hand-written note kind of place.
We have sent out likely postcards in previous years. They've been visually different but they've always been a postcard of some form. Unfortunatley we aren't able to send them to all of the great students we admit. The fact is that our review process is ongoing and some applications get read before others. Those that get read later are also great but we don't have the time to send them a postcard before we send their decision.
My son LOVED the card and we were all impressed by its "uniqueness" and that the Regional Dean had taken the time to include a personal message. Thank you, W&M!
Those of you who received the postcard yesterday (Wednesday), are you in VA or out-of-state? Just wondering if my son (out-of-state) has a chance of receiving this postcard today. Thanks.
Postcards are sent on a rolling basis as we continue to read applications. The first batch were sent on Monday of this week.
While there's no doubt that those selected for Murray Scholar finalists will receive the postcard there are way more postcards sent than there are Murray finalists. Those semi-finalists will likely be contacted in the next few weeks.
Got mine today. Pretty surprised cuz im oos but I im definitely excited to hear my decision later on. Congrats to everyone else that got their postcards.
my son got a likely postcard today (NY)....he was thrilled that someone out there noticed him! It was a great way to get students focused on W&M....our dinner table discussion was all about what a great school it is...its traditions and how his brother got in but ended up at Vandy...and how he will not follow his brother....anyway thanks W&M...it was his first college semi-acceptance...that deferral from Stanford during EASC was tough!
Congrats to all who get the likely postcards....my son's friend loves it there!
My D got a postcard too!!! We were all very excited - especially since it was totally unexpected (such a nice touch, W&M!). OOS and all the way across country here - but somehow D's postcard arrived last Saturday. I don't know how it managed to sneak ahead, but it came at the absolutely perfect time - at the end of an EXTREMELY rough week (for me, not D).
