Are Brown Likely Letters a Guarantee?

[i_wanna_be_Brown]

^that would make sense. The Ivy League Agreement (https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/fine-print/common-ivy-league-agreement) requires that all Ivies release RD results on one day simultaneously. No other schools to my knowledge have such codified arrangements with other schools. In looking up the agreement, I see that LLs are actually discussed explicitly (I had assumed they were a sort of a backdoor loophole around the shared results date).

a. As determined by each institution, admissions offices may choose to advise applicants of the probability of admission (e.g., likely, possible, unlikely). Institutions may issue likely letters only in writing, from the office of admission. Likely letters will have the effect of letters of admission, to be confirmed on the common notification date, subject to revocation only on the same terms as letters of admission.

Looks like @T26E4 is right in so far as the LL is no more rescindable than a formal acceptance offer.

Interestingly, the agreement specifies that only LLs from the admissions office “count” as acceptances. A coach can talk up an athlete’s chances all he/she wants to the applicant and unlike the formal LL, it can be arbitrarily rescinded for any reason, even if given in writing:

b. Within each institution’s overall admissions process, from October 1 through March 15 an admissions office may issue probabilistic communications, in writing, to applicants who are recruited student-athletes. b**