So, today I got a very exciting e-mail from a school in which my interviewer said she was ecstatic that we had kept in touch and she was excited to hear about my updates every now and then. It was cordial and pleasant, nothing out of the ordinary. But then it went from 0-100 really quickly: she said “And, if X-School is falling high on your list, please let me know!”
Huh.
It IS, for one thing. And I had an EXCELLENT interview with her, so much that she and the theatre director were gushing over me for around 45 minutes.
Maybe I’m reading into it too much. Should I let her know it’s one of my top choices? Ideas? Opinions on what she meant? Was she just being friendly?
Of COURSE let them know–as long as you mean it. Schools like to know many of the people they accept will attend-- it increases their yield numbers. If it’s NOT your first choice, but is ONE of your top choices, write back and tell her it absolutely IS one of your top choices, because of x, y, and z (things you love about the school). Either way, just say positive things-- just don’t say it’s absolutely your first choice if it’s not ( in other words, unless you know you’ll go there no matter where else you get in). I would say if you DON’T answer her now, she’ll take it as a bad sign, and it may hurt your chances of admission.
I just saw the movie “Admissions” with Tina Fey, so take this with a grain of salt: Perhaps she is putting together a case for presenting your file, and she feels that a strong statement of commitment will be a helpful addition. She is asking you for that statement that she can present in committee (if it comes up). Maybe? Can’t hurt, in any case. And one always hears that tenth grade is a smaller and more selective cohort than ninth. Why hesitate?
yes, agreed write back immediately. You don’t need to say first choice, just say that you too are ecstatic, love the schools, are really hoping for an acceptance, so hard to wait for 3/10. Be specific about why you love it there, she isn’t using the words “first choice” I don’t think you should
Sounds like the admissions committee recently met. They are looking to find students to admit who will accept (protect yield). So it appears this person is fishing to see how high on the list you have ranked them.
Yes, definitely. Be honest and say that the school is one of your top choices! It looks like they are asking you this question to possibly protect their yield. Be positive!
There is no monolithic “they”. I think someone is advocating from the inside: maybe because she needs to , or maybe just to be thoroughly prepared. There is simply no solid message that the OP can take from this.
I’m sure this has been beaten to death on here, but I am against this type of interaction. I know schools are just trying to gauge interest level and have a business to run, etc… But it sets up a false back and forth that is disingenuous and contributes to the overall view that you can game this system. Should I say it is my first choice in case I don’t get into my first choice? Are they asking because they will accept me? What if I change my mind, did I do the wrong thing? How do I win and get what’s best for me and right? Can that be done? These are not car buyers, they are children. We teach our kids to be straightforward and candid and not to lead others astray. I’m looking for a school and teachers who feel the same way.
I think that letting a school know about first choice status is really only applicable to full pay candidates. Anyone applying for financial aid would be unable to commit to a school until all costs and expenses are accounted for. This is just one more way that a full pay candidate has an advantage because declaring a first choice apparently matters to many schools.
The fact that an admissions officer is trying to gauge interest clearly means that this school is considering yield in their admissions decisions. I think that an early decision option should be available to students if this is in fact the case so that there is less gaming of the system. To think that one student who wants to make a choice after March 10 would be waitlisted to make room for another student who claims to be committed to a school is rather disheartening.
I don’t think that it is appropriate for the AO to end the email with the solicitation. It implies that the school will consider this when deciding between waitlist and acceptance. There is only one answer to that question whether or not it is in fact true. “Yes, School X is a top choice of mine, I would love to matriculate in the fall and be part of a great experience. I hope to see you on a revisit day next month.”
