I’m wondering if there would be any utility to having my son’s guidance counselor contact the admissions office of his top choice school to let them know they are his top choice. With all the regular decision applicants, how can the schools possible know? While this would not be binding like ED, at least it could increase the school’s yield.
Is this just parental wishful thinking?
I think this is a reasonable request to the guidance counselor. Your son has a top ACT score (other thread). I would think pretty much any school would want to know that it is your S’s top choice.
@MidwestDad3 thanks for your thoughts.
As the rejections and acceptances have started rolling in, I couldn’t help but wonder if this could make any difference. Don’t the schools want to accept qualified students who really want to attend their institution above all others?
I’d be curious how his guidance counselor feels about this request if he ever asks her.
Some guidance counselors will do this, others might not but it is worth asking. You S can also write an email to the regional admissions officer saying that it is his top choice school and if accepted he will attend or if accepted and the school is affordable he will attend (if either statement is true).
In fact, I encourage every student who applies regular decision to let a school know if they are the top choice. Why not give admissions a valuable piece of information - i.e., if I can afford it, I will come - since yield matters to most schools. (Of course, if you top choice is HPYMS, then don’t bother - they aren’t worried about their yield.)
Thanks for the insight. @N’s mom, what do you think is the best method to communicate this message? Should the student email the admissions officer who did his interview or should he write a letter and hope it gets added to his file?
@mnm111, my son’s school routinely sends letters to schools on behalf of students who have been deferred. My son was deferred from Brown, and his GC sent a letter (no idea what she wrote) and my son also sent a letter saying that it was still his first choice, and outlined a few new accomplishments. It may not help him get in, but it can’t hurt.
Don’t the schools want to accept qualified students who really want to attend their institution above all others? That’s one reason they allow early applications.
Most kids try to position themselves as wanting this school over all others. Lots of kids who say so may really have another #1… The proof comes later. Even if it is the dream school, getting an admit depends on much more. And just imagine every kid’s GC barraging a college. They wrote their LoRs and hopefully made their case. Sometimes, if the GC has a relationship with an adcom, they can call. It’s up to the GC; they try to keep these college relationships authentic.
Deferred is a little different. He did apply early, the college already saw his app and liked it enough to continue it. Massmom’s son and school took a good approach. Best wishes.
@massmom did your son send his notification by email?
My son has been teaching a computer coding class at our local library for underprivileged children which has started to really take off with more classes and attendance. He could certainly send a note updating his progress and the let the adcom know the school is his #1 choice.
I’m not sure if he would ask his guidance counselor or if she would be receptive. @lookingforward does make a point of the schools getting inundated with these calls. It might be annoying.
I agree with @happy1. Some GCs will do this. My Ds high school guidance department makes this a part of the application process for the student. It’s great if resources in the department are available.
I wouldn’t worry about inundating the adcom. A short update is with a strongly expressed preference for the school wouldn’t be viewed as unusual. And yes, kids can game the system by sending the same ‘you’re my number one’ letter to all the schools, but most are ethical. And that’s why having it come from GC is especially good: Presumably a GC isn’t going to be willing to game the system. However, if the GC is too busy or otherwise unwilling, there’s nothing wrong with S taking the initiative.
@mnm111, I think he clicked on a link on the common app or the Brown supplement asking for additional info and posted his letter there.