<p>From what I gather, colleges want to be wanted, and genuine interest goes a long way. So if you tactfully let a school know that they are among your top choices, or even slip that they are your "dream school," you would be more attractive to them than some guy who doesn't <em>really</em> want to go and is only applying because he feels a need to do so for whatever reason. I'm not saying it's a panacea, but it helps marginally, right?</p>
<p>What happens if you tell all your schools that they are your first choice? Assuming of course that you actually genuinely love each place and can give solid reasons for your flirty statements.</p>
<p>And I'm talking about regular decision, btw.</p>
<p>It’s better to explain why it’s your dream school than just stating that it is. </p>
<p>Also, if you say a school is your top choice but are applying regular decision when an ED or EA option is available, that might look kind of strange.</p>
<p>Hm… you’re right, it does look weird. The very honest truth is that I didn’t have my scores ready to apply ED anywhere, but that’s not something I should say either, lmao.</p>
<p>If you don’t want to go ED to each and every one of your “dream” schools you need to explain to each admissions rep why not. The way to get around this awkward situation is to explain that a grandparent who will be contribituting a large sum to your college education would just like to see you apply RD to “X University” a prestigious high reach school for you to just see what happens or they may refuse to help pay your way through college. This explains why you can’t apply ED to their college even though it is your “Dream School.” It works and takes the pressure off of you trying to explain why if the school is your #1 choice that your are not applying ED.</p>
<p>^ Wow, I do not recommend this if this is a serious post. Basically, you are suggesting to make something completely up just so you can say a school is your top choice. Not worth it at all.</p>
<p>I disagree with WaitingDad. the fact is that the vast majority of kids applying to selective colleges can not apply ED. Those colleges know that so to “explain away” the fact that a school isn’t an ED, I feel, isn’t necessary.</p>
<p>Certainly some colleges may confer a slight advantage to EA/ED applicants (because their yield isn’t as high as the tip top colleges (HYPS)) but I think excusing away non-ED isn’t needed.</p>