<p>My son was accepted at Swarthmore but did not receive a “likely” letter. In reading many posts on College Confidential, I think Swarthmore does issue some “likely” letters.</p>
<p>Colleges use “likely” letters as a recruiting tool for students they have targeted. It could be for a variety of reasons. Diversity of building a class at Swarthmore can include academic excellence, geographic location, or special achievements.</p>
<p>I would guess that “likely” letters carry much less weight in choosing a college than financial aid or “fit”, but it has to be fun to receive one!</p>