Penn sent 200 "likely letters" to Class of 2014 applicants

[45_Percenter]

<p>That’s equivalent to about 7% of all those accepted RD last year.</p>

<p>

200 students promised admission
Academic ‘likely letters’ ensure seniors’ acceptances if they maintain grades
by Brooke Huestis–Friday, March 19, 2010 at 1:25 am</p>

<p>Unlike their anxious friends, a few regular decision students already know that they’ve gotten into college.</p>

<p>While it is customary for athletes to receive “likely letters” from schools involved in the recruiting process, non-athletes are also being sent letters notifying them of their successful application this month.</p>

<p>Dean of Admissions Eric Furda explained that a likely letter informs a student of their acceptance before April 1. As long as the student maintains solid academic and moral standing, their admission is secure.</p>

<p>This year Penn sent out approximately 200 likely letters — an increase from last year’s 120.</p>

<p>The increase came from targeting those who study natural sciences such as physics and chemistry since these are traditionally “under-enrolled” majors, Furda said.</p>

<p>Before likely letters, Ivy League schools would inform athletes of their acceptance after most other schools. In order to prevent students from having to decline other offers because they are waiting to hear from the Ivies, likely letters were sent out.</p>

<p>Now, they are “used in a strategic fashion for students who are clearly at the top end of their applicant pool,” Furda explained.</p>

<p>Vanna Cairns, upper school dean at the Harvard-Westlake School in California, said they did not see a difference in likely letter numbers this year.</p>

<p>Cairns said a letter creates a “psychological advantage” for the student and college since the student becomes excited about that school in particular.</p>

<p>She did not believe that it affected the students who had applied to the same institutions but did not received letters because they would find out anyway and because applying to schools “isn’t a kind process anyway.”</p>

<p>As for why colleges issue these, Cairns said that it is most likely because “yield of those receiving likely letters is higher.”</p>

<p>Calvin Jones, a senior at the Pingry School in Martinsville, NJ, received a likely letter from Penn.</p>

<p>“Although it’s great to know I’ve been accepted into such a school as prestigious as Penn, receiving a likely letter probably won’t affect what school I choose when I make my decision in May,” he said.</p>

<p>Calling likely letters the college version of “first dibs,” College Confidential advisor Sally Rubenstone wrote in an e-mail that the letters allow colleges to say they really want someone while other schools just want them.</p>

<p>Because the letters “turn up far more heat in the admissions pressure-cooker than they reduce,” Rubenstone wrote that she believes colleges should not send out likely letters.</p>

<p>Since students are very active electronically, Rubenstone wrote that “news travels fast, and stress levels skyrocket for every candidate who doesn’t receive a likely letter.”</p>

<p>While Rubenstone thinks schools should stick to their original date of acceptance releases, Furda said sending likely letters is a “fairly common practice.”

</p>

<p>[200</a> students promised admission | The Daily Pennsylvanian](<a href=“http://www.thedp.com/article/200-promised-u-admission]200”>http://www.thedp.com/article/200-promised-u-admission)</p>

[45_Percenter]

<p>And from the print edition of the above article:</p>

<p>

PEERS THAT SEND OUT LIKELY LETTERS</p>

<p>-Amherst College
-Brown University
-Columbia University
-Cornell University
-Dartmouth College
-Duke University
-Harvard University
-Williams College
-Yale University

</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.thedp.com/files/pdfversion/2010/03/0319pdf.pdf[/url]”>http://www.thedp.com/files/pdfversion/2010/03/0319pdf.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[JHS]

<p>Kind of a weird list of peers. It omits Princeton, which certainly uses likely letters, especially for athletes. Also Chicago, which just used them this year for the first time.</p>

<p>I agree with Sally Rubenstone, but for a school like Penn it’s kind of a prisoner’s dilemma. Everyone would be better off if no one did it, but anyone who does it gets an advantage over those who don’t, so effectively everyone has to do it.</p>

[muerteapablo]

<p>Someone in the admissions office did the math, and realized that with x number of likely letters, the yield rises by x%. I’m sure that they’re targeting natural science prospects, but yield is probably more pressing to Furda.</p>

[Poeme]

<p>Interesting. I applied as Chemistry major. I was not aware that it was an “under-enrolled” major. There’s a good chance that will be my major, but I’m thinking about taking a look at Physics and Biophysics too.</p>

[raffles88]

<p>Does anyone know when they sent out the likely letters?</p>

[CuteAccountant]

<p>Around last week. A handful of people in my class got them. Don’t know what major they chose though, but I think they were all either CAS or SEAS.</p>

[spiritualwitch]

<p>So, based on this, if I had changed my major to Biology like I want to, I might be more likely to get in? This is kind of interesting…</p>

[45_Percenter]

<p>Posts by individuals who received “likely letters” here:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/882678-likely-letter.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/882678-likely-letter.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>and here:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/826055-likely-letter-im-so-excited.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-pennsylvania/826055-likely-letter-im-so-excited.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[ocgirl92]

<p>Interesting.</p>

<p>I applied under a Community Health major, and my stats/accomplishments are by no means exceptional. </p>

<p>Its definitely stressful to hear about other people getting likelies. April 1st can’t come soon enough!</p>

[bluewatermelon]

<p>i read other threads and they said they received likelies for wharton. i didn’t get one. makes me pretty nervous.</p>

[45_Percenter]

<p>^ Remember, the number of likely letters sent is equivalent to only 7% of the number accepted RD last year; i.e., roughly 90% of those to be accepted RD on April 1st will NOT have received a likely letter.</p>

[kempner]

<p>So Penn will most likely send out likely letters this year around mid-March again. I saw poeple posting that they got likely letters not only A&S, but also Wharton and one even got one from Fisher! (I’m talking about the likely letters for non-athletes)</p>

[c0nfused11]

<p>Ivy is March 30th this year</p>

[CYou93]

<p>Got a likely letter from UPenn tonight CAS</p>

[winstiford]

<p>As did I actually. It’s exciting. Super corny video…
I was wondering if anyone knew how many were sent out this year to non-athletes?</p>

[maserrano]

<p>did you receive it last night or tonight?</p>

[ivygeek]

<p>Likely letters go to financial need students to let them know they will receive aid as well, so they can start to think about attending.</p>

<p>Congrats and good luck to all</p>

[kempner]

<p>Interesting that Penn is sending out its LLs a week earlier than it did last year despite of the soaring # of applications.</p>

[45_Percenter]

<p>^ If anything, it’s because of the soaring number of applications, with the increased overlap with peer schools and unpredictability of yield. Also, according to recent articles in the Daily Pennsylvanian, Dean Furda has made it a priority to increase Penn’s overall yield above the 63% or so it has been for the last several years, and this would be consistent with that. Increased yield combined with increased applicant pool equals significantly lower acceptance rates in the future.</p>