<p>During my Exeter interview I may have come of as unusually negative about the school despite the fact that I am absolutely in love with Exeter. When waiting for my interview in the admission office, I read a few articles on the Exonian discussing the recent budget cuts due to the financial crisis. I asked a few questions about this and the Interviewer responded rather negatively. </p>
<p>Exeter remains my first choice. How can I communicate this to the admission office? Would they accept some sort of legally binding document? A signature? A oath of fealty? My pinky?</p>
<p>You can send a letter. Its viewed basically the same as and ED contract for college. It can be helpful in getting in. But remember that if you send it, it is relatively binding (though not as much as an ED contract). If you have someone helping you with the process at your school consult them.</p>
<p>IMO: Now that it has come up, I will say that a “first choice letter” is not only a good idea but recommended. Nothing to do with ED, but remember it is a small world. As they say " there’s 20% we know we do want, there’s 20% we know we don’t want, it’s the remaining 60% we just don’t know". This is where letters of recommendation and who you know comes to play along with letting the school know it’s your first choice by writing that letter. For those that don’t have any strings to pull / real hooks other than the "first choice letter’ don’t fear as most if not all good BS make a concerted effort to have the door wide open for those applicants. They want those first time families to have the BS opportunity and if the kid is who they want then they could care less if the other applicant was the Princess of Siam. Write the letter but spell first right.</p>
<p>I think it’s a New York thing, fed by the insanely competitive private school admissions race in that city. I would hate to see it become widespread outside of NYC.</p>
<p>Last year, we wouldn’t have signed a “first choice letter,” because we didn’t know enough about the schools to make an informed decision. Schools which would give weight to such letters are practicing yield management, which throws the entire concept of “selectivity” (such as it is) into disarray.</p>
<p>You may think that you love Exeter today, but in two weeks, you may prefer Andover. Who knows how you’ll feel in April? Not to mention, if you’re accepted by several schools, one of them may make a financial aid offer which it would be foolish to turn down. It’s not a good idea to limit your freedom of choice, should you need FA. This is, by the way, why many critics dislike the colleges’ system of early admissions.</p>
<p>Maybe I misunderstood but should at least clarify my last. My understanding of a first choice letter is one written solely by the applicant in just letting the school know that they are the first choice. I’ve never heard of a BS suggesting or recommending an applicant write such a letter much less have or ask a student to sign some kind of first choice form. It is another piece of paper in the prospective student’s file but it hopefully raises an eyebrow during the decision process and garnishes enough weight so to place the folder in the yes pile. IMO it does not hurt and lets the school know how you feel. Having said that, I reiterate it’s a small admission’s world and certainly not recommended to send to all the schools to which your applying. And, if you are unsure which BS is your first choice, then don’t send the letter.</p>
<p>I think it’s a New York thing, fed by the insanely competitive private school admissions race in that city. I would hate to see it become widespread outside of NYC.</p>
<p>Hold on a second! A week or so ago we had our meeting with the placement counselor at our son’s N-8 school. She didn’t even suggest sending a “first choice letter”. In fact, she strongly discourages it (except for one specific middle tier school that is known to rarely accept students without one). She did suggest “letters of interest” to as many schools as we legitimately had interest in. Our son sent two such letters. Our understanding is that this is the standard approach with students at our school. A first choice letter is only rarely sent and then it’s more akin to a “hail Mary pass”.</p>
<p>But my understanding is that if one does write a “first choice letter”, you should be prepared to attend that school. And at least in NYC, one should only write one such letter. It’s an even smaller world here than out there. Writing two such letters most likely means one won’t get into either school.</p>
<p>I’m referring to a letter written after the application has been submitted in letting the school know that they’re first choice if accepted. If you feel uncomfortable about it, then don’t do it. The decision process becomes extremely difficult with A/O debating for and against particular students. IMO a letter can help and don’t see how it can be detrimental.</p>
<p>*She did suggest “letters of interest” to as many schools as we legitimately had interest in. </p>
<p>Lvillegrad - </p>
<p>Why bother applying to a school you’re not interested in? Doesn’t your application imply your interest? *</p>
<p>“Interest” here means strong interest. Something along the lines of “Now that I’ve had the opportunity to visit 5,000 schools, I still am very interested in your school.” The implication is that you are only writing such a letter to a few schools.</p>
<p>My daughter has wanted to attend the school she attends for years. She wrote them a first choice letter and got in. I think do it if you absolutely have a 1st choice and don’t if you are still deciding.</p>
<p>I don’t personally think it’s THAT important. A school will look for whether or not the applicant is a good fit. If the choice is between an applicant that is not a good fit but wants to come desperately and an applicant that is a good fit, but did not submit a letter, they would probably choose the latter. Also, you’d want to keep you options open. Imagine how much it would suck if after revisits, you decided that this other school is actually the place for you, but you sent your first choice letter to a different school. However, if you’re absolutely sure, it can’t hurt. What do you think?</p>
<p>Oh, a good alternative is a nice thank you letter to your interviewer. In your letter, mention how much you loved the school and how much you would enjoy going to school there.</p>
<p>I’ve decided to send a first choice letter to exeter-albeit without the pinky. I’ll keep everybody posted on the reply- if there is one- and my admission result at the end. </p>