does harvard really want me?

I wonder of Harvard's or Yale's admissions offices ever reveal how much profit they make each year.

They accept about 8.6% of applicants to Yale for example.

You are much better off applying to excellent liberal arts colleges and if you do superbly there do your grad work at the name school.

Use the College Board's school search program and see who is likely to admit you. Apply to at least three - and just in case make sure you apply to the best publicly supported school in your state as well.

I got a similar letter from Yale, encouraging me to apply, and I had the same question. Someone said that I got that letter because I was on a mailing list that includes all students who meet a specific criterion (ex. all students with 2200+ SAT scores). That might be a similiar case with you.

My parents freaked out about the letter and think that Yale really wants me now, but I don't think it's that big of a deal. I mean, Yale doesn't know me (and Harvard doesn't know you) besides just as a test score.

I got those too, not from Harvard, but from other colleges. I think it's usually colleges that are looking for similar students though. You know on your collegeboard account you to write your extra-curriculars and SAT scores? If a college think you're what they're looking for, they'll email or write you.

So good luck! You might as well apply anyway. You never know..