<p>Please excuse the title. It seems dd and I have done what we know we should not- fallen in love with a particular boarding school. She needs FA and we are aware that admissions and liveable FA packages are never a sure thing. </p>
<p>I'm trying to keep an open mind, but this school (which shall remain unnamed) really appears to be a perfect fit for dd. </p>
<p>:( RL</p>
<p>We’ll keep our fingers crossed for your daughter, Rellielou, that this particular BS falls in love with her, too, and gives you the FA you need. I’ve always looked at these boarding schools as academic candy stores–what’s not to love? Keep us posted.</p>
<p>Thanks, CM. I really appreciate that. My son could have done well anywhere, but dd is more sensitive and I think of her as a hothouse orchid that will bloom gorgeously in the right environment. The wrong choice may not engage her fully and could kill her love for learning. </p>
<p>I’m tempted to send love letters to the admissions office. :0)</p>
<p>Sending love letters (plural) may not be the best idea (as I know you know), but 1.have your daughter send a thank you to her interviewer now (if she hasn’t already) and include how much she loved the school and 2. Send another letter AROUND the admission deadline (or just after) letting them know it’s her first choice. You don’t want to bug the admissions officer, but they do like to know if they’re your first choice.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with letting the school know how much you love them. I’d say it can only help, especially if you articulate why it’s such a good fit. Let them know that both you and d agree. In other words, convince them that she is a high yield prospect. And sense you are sincere, it will show in your writing.</p>
<p>I agree with neatoburrito. If your daughter loves this school, I would say DO have her send a love letter to the admissions office. It would at least keep her fresh in the minds of the admissions officers!</p>
<p>We’re in a similar boat, with a twist (to mix my metaphors). Our anti-boarding school daughter fell in love with a school her twin brother was visiting and wants to go there. Now she is considering other schools that her brother is interested in, but she really wants to go to the school she loves, and I would love her to go there. Twin brother, on the other hand, is also less of a hothouse flower 
and could probably thrive at any academically rigorous school, whether small and relatively nurturing or large high-pressure academic powerhouse. Husband wants kids to go to same school if at all possible and wants daughter to apply to schools son is considering, including high-pressure academic powerhouses far from home. He says daughter will adapt. Daughter says she doesn’t want to be so far from home. </p>
<p>Son and daughter would love to be at the same school, but I think it is more important for them to each be at the right school. Opinions are welcomed. :-)</p>
<p>I agree with you, twinsmama, that it’s important for the kids to be at the right school, and that the right school for one may not be the right school for the other. Having said that, if your daughter does not want to be far away from home, that idea may change if she loves the school she’s at. When I was at BS I was from Colorado but went to school in New England. I loved being far from home and it made the few times I got home that much more special. Also, the kids who lived near the school didn’t often go home on the weekends anyway, because there were so many activities on the weekend that they didn’t want to miss. Your d may find out that she doesn’t want to go home that often for this very reason!</p>
<p>TwinsMama, it would certainly be easier for you as parents to deal with just one BS, but I think you are on the right track to focus on individual fit for each child. </p>
<p>DD did send a handwritten Thank you note, and I emailed the AO my own thank you as well. I think we need to sit on our hands for a bit and think about how to convey interest without appearing bothersome.</p>
<p>My old friend Neato, thank you for encouraging us to share our enthusiasm! I think we were pretty clear about why school X is a terrific fit for dd. We’ll hold off on sending homemade cookies for now, but we may be sending an update or two if dd has new accomplishments to share. :)</p>
<p>IF it’s your child’s, and your family’s, first choice, send the letter(s). If you think of it, the standard question, “why our school?” effectively asks for the same information. Concrete details probably help convince the reader of your love.</p>
<p>I would wait until you’re done visiting schools, just in case. After that, though, if there’s one school you all love more than the rest, why not send the letter?</p>
<p>I actually told the AD very clearly in the parent interview that I want daughter to go there. I wasn’t sure whether that was appropriate, but what the heck. AD clearly “got” my daughter and understood why I felt that way. Unfortunately, serious FA is needed…</p>
<p>Homemade cookies may be next; thanks for the idea, Rellielou. :-)</p>
<p>It will certainly be interesting to see how this all turns out.</p>
<p>Rellielou & Twinsmama, I’m so glad you have found what seems the perfect match for your girls. Fingers crossed that acceptances and great FA offers will come your way!
I fell in love with a school last year, and it was a bit of a shock to me that my daughter didn’t feel the same way at all! In the end, she found one she really loved and I have to say I think it’s a perfect match for her. I miss the excitement of the school visits – thanks for letting me enjoy it again through your reports. Best of luck to you both! :)</p>
<p>Cameo, I am still intrigued by the very close community at your d’s school. I am trying to look ahead a bit though, and consider carefully what dd will want as a 17 or 18 yo. </p>
<p>Thank you for the warm wishes and good luck to your dc this year!</p>
<p>Thanks for the good wishes, Cameo!!</p>
<p>The school loves the student who loves the school, too.</p>
<p>My son sent the thank-you note to the schools that he applied and added the love letter to the school that he really loved. Later, it turned out that the AO was deeply impressed by his truthful and sincere letter. So, make sure the love letter does not look like a nice formality, have your child send one to the school. And all the best!</p>
<p>Thanks, PatronYork. :)</p>
<p>I agree that an authentic letter sent by the child can be a good thing. Mine did this via an email to the interviewer, and also wrote it on the application in the short essay section. It was authentic, conversational, obviously written by with sincerity by an 8th grader. I think that’s better than a letter from parents, although we parents did let interviewer know that we thought that school was a great match for our kid. </p>
<p>And my C does attend that 1st choice school (and loves it)</p>
<p>GG’s school was the last one we visited, and we were not really all that eager before we did so (it was the 14th school, I think… and the 8th and final on the app list). We visited, toured and were “home” — and since GG was applying to a range of selective schools, we and GG each let the school know that we had absolutely fallen in love.</p>
<p>I hate to be a Debby Downer, but I don’t think a love letter matters. It’s more important what you can do for that school. When DS’s coach (DS was a top sprinter in the State) called Andover, the conversation was brief. <<we already="" have="" 3="" sprinters,="" what="" else="" you="" got?="">> Love letter did not make a difference.</we></p>