<p>Not so much the management issue as the sense that the schools may have that they are just one in a crowd. But it sounds like nadk1 is handling that well. I do think that many schools also ask where you are actually applying on the application. If you’ve really done your homework on each school and that comes out in child’s application, it’s possibly not that much of an issue. It certainly seems to work for many people. </p>
<p>My hunch is that the more aid you need, the more the Tufts Effect may come in to play…but others who used a different approach may well chime in here and prove me wrong. The bottom line is, of course, that none of us really know how wide to make that net. I don’t think we would have found nine schools that really fit my kid , but that may just be my kid.</p>
<p>IIRC, when asked where else daughter was applying, we mentioned a few schools on the short list but also said “Nothing’s definite…” Knowing my tendency to overshare, I’m sure I said something like “Oh, but definitely not FAMOUSSCHOOLX…we visited and HATED it.” at one point or another.</p>
<p>My child was asked where he was looking in nearly every interview and in just about every application. I know I shouldn’t say I “hated” that question, but I hated that question. I know why AOs ask, but I felt it was none of their business and I didn’t like being put on the spot that way: either answer or deal with the awkwardness of countering gracefully in our role as applicants (supplicants). It felt slightly exploitative. See, there’s my dander rising again. Two, I didn’t want AOs using that info to guess where they think their school <em>may</em> stack up on our list/chances and score the application accordingly.</p>
<p>But rather than letting my temper lead the way (see, I’m learning), I asked our middle school placement counselor whom we loved and who has long experience with high school AOs for her advice. </p>
<p>She said that it was perfectly acceptable to say something like, “I/We are looking at a range of (day/boarding) schools, but (sincere smile) I’d love to keep the focus on St. Wonderful…” and then just move on. When my son remembered to use this (he’s an open, sweet sort and often forgot), he said it was received just fine.</p>
<p>In written apps, we just said something like “a range of day/boarding schools nationally” and left it at that.</p>
<p>Question: is it advantageous or detrimental for my son to tell AO that the school is the only one he’s applying to/interested in? </p>
<p>He’s pretty much made up his mind at this point that if he is not admitted, he’ll do LPS next year and try again at same school, so saying “you’re my one and only” is the truth. But is letting them know a good approach?</p>
<p>I believe that when the schools get the SSS-NAIS form, they can see the list of schools to which the FA repost is being sent. So for families asking for FA, my understanding is that schools know where else you are applying.</p>
<p>None of us, of course, can say exactly what happens, but even if it’s only the FA office seeing the forms, at some point the FA office is deciding which FA candidates to offer admission to.</p>
<p>booklady: If it’s truly the only school he’s applying to, and he can articulate why in his essays and interview, than I think it would definitely be to his advantage to say so. Not sure how much, but it wouldn’t hurt him.</p>
<p>Thanks classicalmama, I think we will address it briefly in our parent statement. The student essays are topical and not really anywhere to work it in. </p>