What's a Columbia Likely Letter?

I stumbled upon the term 'Likely Letter' relative to Columbia University. Can anyone enlighten me on what it means? Is this something I should anticipate if I apply there?

A "Likely Letter" is a type of early communication sent out by some universities to a select number of applicants during the regular decision round, which indicates that the university is reasonably certain they will offer that candidate admission. It's like an early acceptance letter of sorts, which isn't used by all institutions, but Columbia University is one that does partake in this practice.

In essence, if you receive a Likely Letter from Columbia, it means that as long as there are no serious issues with the rest of your application (like disciplinary actions or a sharp drop in your grades), you can expect an official admission offer when they announce their decisions.

It's worth mentioning that receiving a Likely Letter is not the norm—it's the exception. Universities like Columbia send these letters to a small percentage of their applicants. Oftentimes these are student-athletes or those who have exceptionally compelling applications, and the Likely Letter is a way of Columbia ingratiating themselves to an applicant who they suspect will also receive other acceptance letters from excellent schools.

If you apply to Columbia and don't receive a Likely Letter, don't be disheartened—it doesn't mean that you won't be accepted. Most applicants will simply receive their admissions decision on the official announcement day.

Finally, if you apply to Columbia and want tips on how to maximize your chances of acceptance, I'd check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-columbia-university-essays/. At selective schools like Columbia, the essays are a great way of setting yourself apart by showing what you have to offer that even other talented applicants do not.

All the best with your college journey!