In replying to an email from AO, is it okay to say that the school is my first choice?
Yes, but only if it indeed IS your first choice – meaning that it is not contingent upon anything else, including financial aid and other admissions. For example, if that school admits you as FP and another one offers you full FA, you will forego the full FA and enroll in your first choice, even as FP. (Obviously this is just an example, but you get the point.) Look for a previous post by @PhotographerMom on that topic. (Someone please nominate PhotoMom for the Pulitzer.)
I was young and life was so simple back then 
… Maybe this one @GoatMama ?
A post from 2015 :
As parents, we watch our kids during this process to see which school(s) capture their imagination and usually have a sense for what school is in top spot leading up app deadlines. Some of us know before reaching the car in the parking lot after an interview/ tour- especially if everything went as beautifully as described above. However…
I’d just like to remind everyone that this ( tour/interview ) is a two hour snapshot for a 200K + investment. I don’t know about you but I’d like to see how M10 plays out before I’d allow my teenager to declare his/her undying love for only one school. What happens if FC dream school sends a waitlist or rejection letter M10? Do you think a mature teen ( who sent the FC letter ) can handle that? I’ll give you a solid MAYBE- depending on whether a viable #2 and #3 came through to soften the blow. But even then…
Why not settle ( for now ) that your FC dream school feels exactly the same way about you - and even more so after they read your application?
Reminder: A glowing report after an interview is fantastic and truly well-deserved but the AO hasn’t even seen the application yet… What they’re doing is encouraging you to apply- which is awesome but try to keep things in perspective: They haven’t had the opportunity to REALLY meet your child yet- through his/her application .
Regardless: If you get accepted to two or three wonderful schools (including your FC) chances are your child ( even though they’ve said they wouldn’t want to… ) will want to go to two ( maybe three ) Revisit Days. You can run but you can’t hide from the excitement of multiple acceptances … and why should you! ( Assuming you actually liked all the schools you applied to ) Why lock yourself in with a FC letter now and miss out on all the wooing and festivities later?
Not to mention another opportunity to see the schools with a fresh set of eyes…especially now that you’re back in the driver’s seat again.
And- let’s not forget: If you’ve sent a FC letter and were accepted to that school you’ve forfeited your right to attend Revisit Day at other schools- right? Right- because the FC letter is your word. Just so we’re all clear…
Parents/applicants thinking about FC letters today aren’t necessarily thinking about Revisit Days tomorrow. It’s interesting how schools can feel one way ( to a family ) in Fall and then completely different in Spring- Not always but definitely more often than you think. If you choose two schools to revisit you’ll see what I mean. If I had a dime for every time second ( or third ) choice became first choice…
I’ve seen it happen in my own life ( My siblings - no Revisit Days back then but a lot of back and forth! My kids and many nieces and nephews- who attended Revisit Days ) and on threads here M10-A10. Checkout threads from last March/April- and you’ll see it, too. It’s like herding cats ( and I mean that in the best possible way ).
I really don’t want to sound like a killjoy… As a 3G BS Alum, I’m truly excited for every family beginning this journey. I just want to caution applicants/parents to think (a little bit) further down the road. It’s easy to get swept up when you see all these beautiful boarding schools and everything they have to offer. And- there’s certainly no denying a connection when you feel it. All I’m saying is: Let it play out and see how everything unfolds M10- A10… be enthusiastic but maybe just a little bit guarded , too.
When you write the deposit check ( which is non refundable- by the way ) and mail it before the A10 deadline- chances are (by that time) your child will be certain ( of their choice ) and psyched. And, as the parent writing the check ( after you’ve kicked the tires one last time )- so will you! I don’t know about you but ( as a parent ) I’ve always found comfort in knowing that we followed everything through to the end… whether it was exploring other schools despite an obvious Legacy BS (staring us in the face ) or allowing time to choose between two ( sometimes three ) schools - even if that route ended with a frantic ( A9 ) call to an AO and a check sent via FedEx.
What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger… or something.
So… stock up on the Purple Pill ( for M10 and Revisit Days ) and pass the Beta Blockers ( for the deposit check ) … You’re in for a (wonderful ) ride. Just my extremely long- winded two cents…
@Summer1974 - The entire thread is worth reading :
Yep. Thank you! On a cold Sunday night, just snuggle up by the fire with some PhotoMom prose in hand. ~O)
I have a girl crush on @PhotographerMom … :)) there…I said it!
I don’t know how people plow through my posts… I really don’t but thank you. I’m trying to keep them super short in 2018 because every time I hit submit… I think, Wow. That’s long and really, really painful.
@buuzn03 - If it doesn’t violate TOS, I think we should turn our computers over to our husbands for an evening and let them "contribute " to the forum. That would be a lot of fun but I know ( in my case anyway ) that I’ll wake up the next morning and find my turtle behind bars… so maybe not. Yeah… definitely scratch that idea. 
I would just add to the OP that there are good arguments for sending a FC letter- if that’s what you really want to do. I just outlined why people may not want to… so obviously you should do what’s right for you. 
All the best and good luck!
@PhotographerMom although I do feel your idea would definitely add entertainment value, I also think @skieurope would have to incarcerate Freddie and the turtle without bail in less that 24 hrs should it happen! Of course, that may start such protests as Free Freddie & Turtles are Tame!
All jesting aside…your post held great insight and I’m sure was very helpful to many…so glad our time in the phase has passed! Not looking forward to kid2!
Unfortunately, @ChoatieDad has his own account. I’ll never understand how he resists the urge.
=))
He’s probably spending his time on another site I’m on where we do a different type of “Chance Me” thread:
• What are the chances that Matt Patricia will choose the Lions over the Giants?
• What are the chances that the Browns will not draft Sam Darnold?
Bingo, @skieurope! Only the board he’s on is constantly discussing, “When will Harbaugh get his act together?”
And back to OP, yes, you can tell one school it is your first choice, and it may help.
Thank you all. I think we will not send any FC. We are applying for financial aid. We are keeping in touch with AOs and thats about all we can do at this point. Even though test scores are low, he’s a great kid and a lot of other stuff goingfor him. We did apply to a few others (6 in total) so fingers crossed we will have some good news M10. 1 school is all we need!