Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, we decided to not send in such a letter, although we have a 85%-certain choice. We did not want to be in a position of not honoring a commitment, regardless of whether it's binding, and if that's to our DC's disadvantage, so be it. Plus, who knows whether a decision looks differently when actually faced with real choices.

This is exactly right. You may be even more certain than that, and then between the time you applied and the time your child gets in, things change, the child changes, whatever. Unless you are beyond certain that, no matter what, it's your first choice, I think it's unwise to say that. I also don't think it helps very much to say it's your first choice at this stage.

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, we decided to not send in such a letter, although we have a 85%-certain choice. We did not want to be in a position of not honoring a commitment, regardless of whether it's binding, and if that's to our DC's disadvantage, so be it. Plus, who knows whether a decision looks differently when actually faced with real choices.

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, we decided to not send in such a letter, although we have a 85%-certain choice. We did not want to be in a position of not honoring a commitment, regardless of whether it's binding, and if that's to our DC's disadvantage, so be it. Plus, who knows whether a decision looks differently when actually faced with real choices.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either a letter or a personal conversation with Admissions.

The school is curious about where else you are applying.

And they really want to accept those who are highly likely to attend. The want to fill the class without going to the wait list which is a administrative mini-nightmare.

But your statement has to be supported by some logic as to why this is your DCs first choice and that you guarantee he will attend if accepted.

At the end of the day, it isn't going to hurt your child's chances by telling the school it is your first choice. However, only do that if it is a true first choice. DO NOT ask current families to write a note on your behalf unless it is your true first choice. I'm still annoyed that we had "friends" ask us to do this because they were definite that they wanted our child's school for their daughters. They got into two schools and apparently played the first choice card at both schools. I don't think I could ever write another letter on someone's behalf.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems cheesy and like a last ditch effort to me.

This could have (and should have) been addressed in the student's personal essay as part of their application. To get to the final weeks, right before decisions are made, and to come in begging seems a little cheap to me. Why don't you send a gift too?

+1

Maybe I am in the minority, but I think the kid's record and application should stand on its own. We have also stayed out of our kid's education path. They advocate for themselves. They do their own work. They write their own essays. By the time a kid is applying to HS, let them handle their application.

My kid is the one that approached his teachers for recommendations. He handed in the transcript request form, etc.

+100000. Awesome!

Frankly, I would be suspicious of any parent that was always bugging admissions and sending letters, etc. My 'future major pain-in-the-ass' meter would be blowing up.

If my kid is going to get rejected, he will get rejected on his own.

And I meant to add...if he gets in, it will because of his merit and hard work. The sooner you start teaching your kids this, the better they will do in life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either a letter or a personal conversation with Admissions.

The school is curious about where else you are applying.

And they really want to accept those who are highly likely to attend. The want to fill the class without going to the wait list which is a administrative mini-nightmare.

But your statement has to be supported by some logic as to why this is your DCs first choice and that you guarantee he will attend if accepted.

At the end of the day, it isn't going to hurt your child's chances by telling the school it is your first choice. However, only do that if it is a true first choice. DO NOT ask current families to write a note on your behalf unless it is your true first choice. I'm still annoyed that we had "friends" ask us to do this because they were definite that they wanted our child's school for their daughters. They got into two schools and apparently played the first choice card at both schools. I don't think I could ever write another letter on someone's behalf.

Isn’t there a difference between having a family write a letter and a family saying the school is someone’s first choice? I know many who had letters written for their top choices, but they were careful not to have anyone say they would definitely go or that a school was someone’s first choice, since they were having a couple of letters written. I assume you got asked to write a first-choice letter?

Yes I was. The mother wrote me a long email about why the school was her first choice. She asked me to write a letter to admissions on her behalf. My family has done a lot of volunteering, and helped at admissions open house and follow up calls to accepted students. It was embarrassing to me that I also conveyed that it was their first choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either a letter or a personal conversation with Admissions.

The school is curious about where else you are applying.

And they really want to accept those who are highly likely to attend. The want to fill the class without going to the wait list which is a administrative mini-nightmare.

But your statement has to be supported by some logic as to why this is your DCs first choice and that you guarantee he will attend if accepted.

At the end of the day, it isn't going to hurt your child's chances by telling the school it is your first choice. However, only do that if it is a true first choice. DO NOT ask current families to write a note on your behalf unless it is your true first choice. I'm still annoyed that we had "friends" ask us to do this because they were definite that they wanted our child's school for their daughters. They got into two schools and apparently played the first choice card at both schools. I don't think I could ever write another letter on someone's behalf.

Isn’t there a difference between having a family write a letter and a family saying the school is someone’s first choice? I know many who had letters written for their top choices, but they were careful not to have anyone say they would definitely go or that a school was someone’s first choice, since they were having a couple of letters written. I assume you got asked to write a first-choice letter?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either a letter or a personal conversation with Admissions.

The school is curious about where else you are applying.

And they really want to accept those who are highly likely to attend. The want to fill the class without going to the wait list which is a administrative mini-nightmare.

But your statement has to be supported by some logic as to why this is your DCs first choice and that you guarantee he will attend if accepted.

At the end of the day, it isn't going to hurt your child's chances by telling the school it is your first choice. However, only do that if it is a true first choice. DO NOT ask current families to write a note on your behalf unless it is your true first choice. I'm still annoyed that we had "friends" ask us to do this because they were definite that they wanted our child's school for their daughters. They got into two schools and apparently played the first choice card at both schools. I don't think I could ever write another letter on someone's behalf.