Anonymous wrote:It’s a very bad idea to lie about this, because admissions officers do talk to one another. If you indicate to two schools that they are both your top choice, that’s a good way to get rejected from both.

Both of these topics have been covered in the past. I agree that indicating to two schools that they're both "first choice" is an error — not least because it's not honest.

That said, I have done this work for 15 years with hundreds of students, and I have never encountered a single concrete reason to believe that admission offices speak with each other during admission season. On the contrary, I have had countless conversations that make no sense if they do.

In reality the schools with the most competitive pools are far too busy during February to worry about what others are doing, and every admission director is aware that it is likely illegal to speak about applicants. If this really does occur in a town teeming with lawyers, why has nobody brought an antitrust suit?

I do not know why this conspiracy theory persists; perhaps it speaks more to a basic human desire for rational explanations, even in situations where none may exist, than to real understanding of the process.

Peter

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We haven't written a first choice letter even though I have a clear preference. I feel it's a little too ass-kissy for me. And a total turn off to me if the schools use this sort of stuff to influence who they accept. I don't really want to be surrounded by parents who take that approach to be honest. Seems disingenuous to me since, for all the school knows, the parents have written this letter to every school that is hard to get a spot in.

It makes a difference to schools if you are their first choice, because they want high yield. Between two similarly qualified candidates, they will take the candidate who indicates the school is their first choice. This is not about kissing ass. It’s about saying you’ve made a decision about where you’d like to go — given the option.

It’s a very bad idea to lie about this, because admissions officers do talk to one another. If you indicate to two schools that they are both your top choice, that’s a good way to get rejected from both.

Anecdotally, I know many families for whom a first choice letter made a difference, including mine.

You sound rather new to and naive about the admissions process.

How do you know that it was the letter that made a difference? It could just as easily be that whatever aspects of the school appealed to you also made your child appear to be a good fit to the admissions office.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry - hit send too quickly.

DC is applying to 9th grade. Our applications have been to the Big 3 and a couple of others that are usually included in the Big 5. We are new to the area and just heard about the "First Choice" letter. Is it really common for people to send such letters to the school of choice? And more importantly, do people think it actually makes a difference to the decision? We always thought that SFS would be our top choice if DC got in but DC really enjoyed the shadow day at one of the Cathedral schools (NCS/STA) so now we're not so sure whether we really have a top choice. But at the same time if these letters do make a difference in acceptance then we will have a family discussion and agree on a first choice school to which we can then send a letter. Please Help!!!!

First Choice letters are important for NCS.. When we applied and after our interview our daughter was told if NCS is your top choice please let them know.

We are new at this. In terms of communication method / protocol, is sending a "first choice" e-mail sufficient, or is this to be a hand-written letter? By prospective applicant/student? Or do the parents send?

I would not put this kind of communication in an email. It should be handwritten or typed and mailed. Students are generally required to submit an essay which could include a paragraph on why the school is first choice. The parents can send a separate communication, which is what we did. Our children (twins) were admitted but no way of knowing if the letter had an impact. I tend to think it may have shown a level of commitment but I believe the applicants' qualifications and unique qualities would weigh more and if they are a stretch, then not sure a first choice letter would matter.

Um, no. Snail mail handling during admissions gets absolutely crazy. Send a first choice letter via e-mail to all members of the admissions office. That way, you have the best chance of it actually being read and noted.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - so do people think that First Choice letters would actually help at Sidwell Friends or NCS/STA or is the yield ratio at these schools high enough for them not to be swayed by such a letter?

A lot of families apply to multiple schools and will apply to Sidwel, STA/NCS, GDS, Maret, and Potomac. So actually first choice letters are pretty important to Sitwell and NCS/STA. I have it on good authority that the schools are swayed by such letters, because it sorts out who will say yes to that school vs. parents who are just prestige-shopping.

Anonymous wrote:We haven't written a first choice letter even though I have a clear preference. I feel it's a little too ass-kissy for me. And a total turn off to me if the schools use this sort of stuff to influence who they accept. I don't really want to be surrounded by parents who take that approach to be honest. Seems disingenuous to me since, for all the school knows, the parents have written this letter to every school that is hard to get a spot in.

It makes a difference to schools if you are their first choice, because they want high yield. Between two similarly qualified candidates, they will take the candidate who indicates the school is their first choice. This is not about kissing ass. It’s about saying you’ve made a decision about where you’d like to go — given the option.

It’s a very bad idea to lie about this, because admissions officers do talk to one another. If you indicate to two schools that they are both your top choice, that’s a good way to get rejected from both.

Anecdotally, I know many families for whom a first choice letter made a difference, including mine.

You sound rather new to and naive about the admissions process.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I would not put this kind of communication in an email. It should be handwritten or typed and mailed. Students are generally required to submit an essay which could include a paragraph on why the school is first choice. The parents can send a separate communication, which is what we did. Our children (twins) were admitted but no way of knowing if the letter had an impact. I tend to think it may have shown a level of commitment but I believe the applicants' qualifications and unique qualities would weigh more and if they are a stretch, then not sure a first choice letter would matter.

Don't write it by hand. The last thing the admissions staff wants to do at the busiest time of their year is decipher your handwriting. Don't make it long, no matter how much time you've devoted to learning every last detail about the school. They don't really want to read it. Don't send it in the mail because you want to make an impression. Send an email. Be professional and to the point.

Don't send flowers.

+1

We're in 2018 folks.

Anonymous wrote:

I would not put this kind of communication in an email. It should be handwritten or typed and mailed. Students are generally required to submit an essay which could include a paragraph on why the school is first choice. The parents can send a separate communication, which is what we did. Our children (twins) were admitted but no way of knowing if the letter had an impact. I tend to think it may have shown a level of commitment but I believe the applicants' qualifications and unique qualities would weigh more and if they are a stretch, then not sure a first choice letter would matter.

Don't write it by hand. The last thing the admissions staff wants to do at the busiest time of their year is decipher your handwriting. Don't make it long, no matter how much time you've devoted to learning every last detail about the school. They don't really want to read it. Don't send it in the mail because you want to make an impression. Send an email. Be professional and to the point.

Don't send flowers.

pbraverman wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suppose families needing financial aid to determine where they can go, are not in a position to write a first choice letter? Or are they?

It's still fine to do so. I would just amend the note to say something like, "If Mildred is offered a spot, we intend to accept it, assuming the financial aid situation permits us to do so."

Peter
_____________________

Disclaimer: The anonymity here makes me uncomfortable; it's easy to be uninformed, personal, or simply mean-spirited if people don't identify themselves. For that reason, I have an account so you know whose words you're reading. I have more than 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools, and I have counseled hundreds of students in finding their next schools. I hope I can be helpful to some folks. If you don't like something I've said, you're in good company — there's a long line of past students and parents ahead of you. If you want to chat further, please feel free to contact me offline: peter <at> arcpd <dot> com

LOL. Go Peter! Still chumming to try to get clients on DCUM! Such creative marketing. Does it still work for you?

Anonymous wrote:What if you checked the box saying you would apply for FA, but then after crunching the numbers/seeing the annual bonus/unexpected change in financial circumstances decide you won't apply for FA? Tell them or just don't apply for it and they'll figure it out?

Unless the two issues (first-choice and financial aid) must be conflated — such as an expression of a first choice that is dependent on financial aid — I would not put the two together. When a school examines its admission decisions, and then sends those decisions to the financial aid committee, they will see that you're not applying for aid. You could send the admission director a one-line note that says, "I want you to be aware that due to a change in our family circumstances, we have decided not to apply for financial aid" — but I don't think it's likely to make a whole lot of difference.

Obviously I know nothing about your particular situation, but I'd encourage you to be sure you don't want to apply for aid. There are countless stories of families who said, "We'd never qualify" but who do receive at least small reductions in tuition.

Good luck!
Peter

pbraverman wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suppose families needing financial aid to determine where they can go, are not in a position to write a first choice letter? Or are they?

It's still fine to do so. I would just amend the note to say something like, "If Mildred is offered a spot, we intend to accept it, assuming the financial aid situation permits us to do so."

Peter
_____________________

Disclaimer: The anonymity here makes me uncomfortable; it's easy to be uninformed, personal, or simply mean-spirited if people don't identify themselves. For that reason, I have an account so you know whose words you're reading. I have more than 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools, and I have counseled hundreds of students in finding their next schools. I hope I can be helpful to some folks. If you don't like something I've said, you're in good company — there's a long line of past students and parents ahead of you. If you want to chat further, please feel free to contact me offline: peter <at> arcpd <dot> com

What if you checked the box saying you would apply for FA, but then after crunching the numbers/seeing the annual bonus/unexpected change in financial circumstances decide you won't apply for FA? Tell them or just don't apply for it and they'll figure it out?

Anonymous wrote:Why not a thoughtful email? I think with all the mail coming in these schools an email would be okay? No? What says everyone??

Don't overthink it. A thoughtful email is fine. Keep it SHORT.

Peter
_____________________

Disclaimer: The anonymity here makes me uncomfortable; it's easy to be uninformed, personal, or simply mean-spirited if people don't identify themselves. For that reason, I have an account so you know whose words you're reading. I have more than 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools, and I have counseled hundreds of students in finding their next schools. I hope I can be helpful to some folks. If you don't like something I've said, you're in good company — there's a long line of past students and parents ahead of you. If you want to chat further, please feel free to contact me offline: peter <at> arcpd <dot> com

Anonymous wrote:I suppose families needing financial aid to determine where they can go, are not in a position to write a first choice letter? Or are they?

It's still fine to do so. I would just amend the note to say something like, "If Mildred is offered a spot, we intend to accept it, assuming the financial aid situation permits us to do so."

Peter
_____________________

Disclaimer: The anonymity here makes me uncomfortable; it's easy to be uninformed, personal, or simply mean-spirited if people don't identify themselves. For that reason, I have an account so you know whose words you're reading. I have more than 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools, and I have counseled hundreds of students in finding their next schools. I hope I can be helpful to some folks. If you don't like something I've said, you're in good company — there's a long line of past students and parents ahead of you. If you want to chat further, please feel free to contact me offline: peter <at> arcpd <dot> com

I suppose families needing financial aid to determine where they can go, are not in a position to write a first choice letter? Or are they?

We sent a nice email and followed up by mentioning it in person to the admissions director. The only thing I have noticed is that you may not get more than a cagey response and I think that’s because they don’t like to be too upfront about the fact that yield matters.

Why not a thoughtful email? I think with all the mail coming in these schools an email would be okay? No? What says everyone??