How do Stanford likely letters work?

Hey everyone! I'm in the dark about Stanford's likely letter process for the 2023 cycle. Can someone explain what they signify and, if you've received one, when you got it? Also, does Stanford send them out in waves or just once? Trying to manage expectations over here!

Hi there! A 'likely letter' is a communication from Stanford that indicates an applicant is very likely to be admitted when decisions come out. It's not an official acceptance letter, but it's about as close as you can get before actual acceptances are sent. They serve to reassure standout applicants and often target those with extraordinary achievements or talents that the university especially values.

As for timing, if you receive one, it's typically sent a few weeks before official decisions are released. Stanford doesn't publicly detail its process, but it's known that these letters are quite rare, and whether they're sent out in one batch or multiple waves can vary from year to year.

It's also more common for recruited athletes or those with exceptional academic or extracurricular achievements to receive likely letters. So if you haven't received one, don't worry—it doesn't mean you won't be accepted. The vast majority of admitted students will not receive a likely letter and will simply get their good news on the regular decision release day. Best of luck!