Do you have to be really smart to be getting college letters in 10th grade ?
No. You get rec letters from teachers during junior year. It would be smart to try connecting more with your teachers and getting to know them, but colleges want rec letters to come from junior year.
I think OP means mailings marketing the college. No, not uncommon. Lots of threads where some kids are barraged. Your early 10th grade record is just too little for them to be hinting you’d get in. More likely, they got your name from the PSAT or another CB test.