<p>Submitting a first choice letter is an option for those who know for sure their first choice school. It is not a requirement and the schools do not expect to receive letters from all the applicants much less from those whom they accept. It is another piece of paper in ones folder in hopes of raising an eyebrow of the admissions team. It is short, maybe additional information included that was not initially provided or some updated event or issue that could benefit ones application. Similar in respect to having certain people write letters of recommendations, if you are accepted, you are expected to attend. Otherwise, refrain from a first choice letter or having that so called connection write a letter on your behalf. Again, for those who may feel they just need something more to get it known to the school that you strongly desire to attend their school above all others if accepted.</p>
<p>Who would I send the letter to? The head of admissions?</p>
<p>My preference would be to the admission officer who gave the interview.</p>
<p>Tell them at the interview if you feel so inclined. For boarding school applications, this will only make one seem “programmed” and not genuine…imo</p>
<p>college is another story. it’s far more common and socially acceptable</p>
<p>I do not think that letter helps, no matter boarding schools, colleges or job providers.</p>
<p>It only works if you have stellar stats and the letter is addressed to a hidden gem.</p>
<p>Wish I had gotten this advice earlier 
Alas!</p>
<p>No, actually an AO of a HADES school came out and told us that a “first choice letter” would be helpful if it is indeed the case. Straight out and said it.</p>
<p>…Do you think it’s too late to send off a first-choice letter? ;-)</p>
<p>I personally doubt if it will help at most schools. However, admissions offices are currently sorting through huge piles of envelopes and printouts. If you send a letter now it will likely get into your folder before they start evaluating it.</p>
<p>We simply told our first choice that if my daughter were accepted she would definitely attend. That we loved the school and felt it a good fit. This was not a “tier 1” school and they were very pleasant about it. I doubt I would send a letter at this late stage as I wouldn’t want them to have even one more piece of paper to process! I imagine it is an amazing sight – all those files.</p>
<p>Haha, imagining it now. A Mount Everest of paper scrawled on, teetering precariously as an AO struggles to lift free a single file…</p>
<p>I spoke with a family friend last spring who had previously worked in admissions at one of the HADES schools. One of the strong recommendations this person had for us was that if my DS found that a school was his clear cut first choice, that he should definately let the school know that. This person meant in the interview to the AO, but my son did not have a clear cut first choice during the interview process. At this point, he has a strong feeling what his first choice is, but since he cannot say with 100% certainty, He is not sending a first choice letter. I’m a little sick about it, because I do think it would be helpful. But to those of you who are 100% certain- I do think it is a very good idea, to send the letter… and do it NOW! I think it could make a difference for anyone being strongly considered for a slot. But know that if you send it and you are accepted, you have an obligation to attend that school. Also know that schools do talk- if you are considering sending out mulitple first choice letters, there is a good chance you will be found out.</p>
<p>^ I’ll keep that in mind. Like your son, I have a first choice with a ~75% certainty of acceptance. However, sometimes my second choice does make a comeback.</p>
<p>I agree with just sending it to one. It would definitely degrade the perception others have to you if you started dirty tricks like sending out first-choice letters to all the schools you applied to…especially if they found out!</p>
<p>And while they might not in that person’s case, the middle school from whence you came would hear about it after the person chose not to matriculate and that would leave a bad taste in the BS’s mouth–and I would guess that the middle school might say something.</p>
<p>However, as I write, it wouldn’t surprise me if the AO called the middle school placement coordinator to ensure that the letter reflected the reality of the student-- and if it didn’t (say applicant sent letter to BSa but told placement that BSb was top choice–I think there might be trouble-- I would hazard a guess that the placement coordinator would contact the applicant and ask if she/he had changed her/his mind) there would be trouble…</p>
<p>First choice letters to your AO can be very helpful </p>
<p>1) if you are waitlisted. That means they found you interesting, and wonder if you are still interested. Very appropriate there, almost necessary.</p>
<p>2) if it is true</p>
<p>For the average applicant, I’m not sure it helps. We did not do it. It was not until revisit days that D made the choice between Andover and Exeter.</p>
<p>I’ll keep that in mind - it’ll definitely come in handy in case of the waitlist! ;)</p>
<p>If wait listed, if you DON’T send the letter at that point you are done.</p>
<p>^ That’s true if you don’t have any hook afterwards. I had a friend who got off a HADES waitlist because s/he qualified for a prestigious contest, not because of a first-choice letter option. They had to pay the tuition in full, though. So that’s probably not going to be happening with me-I need the FA ;)</p>