<p>Does not getting a likely letter mean that I’m not eligible for any merit based scholarships?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say you have no chance of getting a merit-based award. Your chances are most likely a bit slimmer (or, much slimmer) but if you’re exceptional in certain areas you might yet get one. </p>
<p>All I can say is: keep the faith!</p>
<p>Go Blue Devils!</p>
<p>You definitely still have a shot. </p>
<p>I did not receive a likely letter but I was still chosen to be a semi-finalist for the Robertson Scholars program. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>often times, likely letters go to candidates in certain underrepresented categories of Duke’s population (certain major, geographic location, ethnicity, etc.)</p>
<p>Not getting a likely letter simply means you were not in a group they were targeting. There is every chance that you will receive merit money, but not receive a likely letter!</p>