<p>Which one is better generally? </p>
<p>Our school placement counselor suggested that the student write a hand-written TY note to the AO. She said email is fine for the student tour guide.</p>
<p>I just love hand-writing letters. :x </p>
<p>I always suggest handwritten. Boarding Schools are a traditional institution, right? So go with a traditional form of communication…</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I thought so too, but was hearing some conflicting advice elsewhere. </p>
<p>I think the short answer is “it depends”. We got an e-mailed thank you note from one school AO the same day we interviewed. From another school we got a hand written note both from the AO and the Alumnai office for our visit.</p>
<p>We dedided it was OK to send an e-mailed thank you note to the school that e-mailed us, and send hand written notes to everyone else. </p>
<p>A hand-written is better unless the student’s handwriting is terrible and hard to read.<br>
After all, they are all humans and would feel better with the hand-written note. </p>
<p>I will add my vote to hand written. Kiddo has horrible handwriting (so do I, really) and sometimes it’s more than one attempt before I’ll send the card out. I think she hates writing thank you notes more than any other part of this process, including studying for the SSAT instead of going out with her friends to the amusement park.</p>
<p>The Thank You note typically goes into the applicant’s file. Ask yourself: Would you rather have a lovely handwritten note or a printed electronic message in your file? </p>
<p>When we were applying to BS, we used very plain ecru notecards and envelopes. The fun part (for the kids) was going down to the Post Office to choose special stamps. Handwritten notes show care and are always (without question) well-received. An electronic message that took under a minute to write and send (regardless of the AO’s chosen method of communication) doesn’t show a great deal of care… not in my book anyway. </p>
<p>+100 to @SevenDad . </p>
<p>I totally agree about handwritten notes to the AO, no matter how they have communicated with you, and no matter how bad your child’s handwriting (as long as their signature is clear so they know who it’s from). My son hand wrote notes and THEN received a hand written note back, even if the AO had earlier emailed. However, my son emailed thank yous to tour guides, who then usually answered on emails. Now that my son has actually given tours to prospective applicants, he says it’s actually BETTER to email the tour guides-- because they then forward the emails to the Admissions Dept. If they get a hand written note, they just send a note to Admissions saying they got a note, but don’t forward it. So, at least in his experience, it’s better to email student tour guides, but hand write notes to your AO who interviewed you.</p>
<p>I don’t know about u, but when i pick up my snail mail, i always enthusiastically tear open the handwritten envelopes first. The printed envelopes = bills.</p>