A letter of interest telling a school that they're my "top choice"?

[majestic red]

At the moment, I'm waitlisted at a school that I'm extremely interested in attending. According to my interviewer, the admissions committee at this school responds very favorably to letters of interest, particularly ones stating that this school is your top choice. Would writing this imply that I would go to this school no matter what if accepted? While this school is my dream school, I can't say that I'd go there no matter what. My boyfriend, who I live with, is looking for jobs at the moment and where he manages to find a job will be a significant factor in my descision-making. Financial considerations will also be important. Despite these factors, however, this school IS my top choice, and I wouldn't be lying if I were to say so.

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[quirks]

At the moment, I'm waitlisted at a school that I'm extremely interested in attending. According to my interviewer, the admissions committee at this school responds very favorably to letters of interest, particularly ones stating that this school is your top choice. Would writing this imply that I would go to this school no matter what if accepted? While this school is my dream school, I can't say that I'd go there no matter what. My boyfriend, who I live with, is looking for jobs at the moment and where he manages to find a job will be a significant factor in my descision-making. Financial considerations will also be important. Despite these factors, however, this school IS my top choice, and I wouldn't be lying if I were to say so.

I would do it but a lot of people here have stronger morals than I do. I don't see anything wrong with saying that they're your top choice so long as you never say you will definitely attend.

 

[student1799]

this school IS my top choice, and I wouldn't be lying if I were to say so.

Therefore, there's nothing wrong with saying so in an LOI. You don't have to feel guilty about telling the truth--at least about something like this 🙂.

I'm with quirks: if you don't explicitly say that you're committing yourself to attend the school, you're not "leading them on." LOI away, and good luck.

 

[vin5cent0]

Personally, I wouldn't make a life decision around my gf's ability to find a job in a certain location...
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[majestic red]

Personally, I wouldn't make a life decision around my gf's ability to find a job in a certain location...
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I usually wouldn't either, but this is a guy that's basically been living with for past 3 years. We've also talked about marriage extensively and will most likely get married as soon as the logistics make sense. I'm not basing the decision solely on where he can find a job, but it is a factor.

Additionally, I didn't ask for advice about what factors I should consider in making my decision. I already know what's important to me and I didn't ask to be judged about it. The question was about whether telling a school that they're my top choice would be binding.

By the way, thanks to everyone else for the advice and encouragement.

 

[NickNaylor]

Personally, I wouldn't make a life decision around my gf's ability to find a job in a certain location...
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I would second this. I think your significant other can find a job wherever you find yourself (at your dream school or otherwise). If a school is your top choice, you should pursue it as strongly as possible.

 

[metalgearHMN]

Isn't your top choice and the school you willattend if accepted, one and the same thing? Are you sure you're not just trying to justify an action you don't think is completely ethical? You should define "top choice" because to me it means the school you most want to attend and absolutely will do so if accepted. What's your definition of "top choice"?

Just playing devil's advocate.

 

[kingofthehill]

Isn't your top choice and the school you willattend if accepted, one and the same thing?

Agree 100%. Top choice = WILL attend if offered a spot within a reasonable time frame (i.e. before July). If not, then it's not your "top choice" but simply another school you're considering.

 

[Druzie]

I usually wouldn't either, but this is a guy that's basically been living with for past 3 years. We've also talked about marriage extensively and will most likely get married as soon as the logistics make sense. I'm not basing the decision solely on where he can find a job, but it is a factor.

I know where you're coming from. Best of luck.

And I don't think top choice and will attend are the same thing. I'm sure adcoms know that finaid and other things will factor in at the end. Just don't make any promises you can't definitely keep.

 

[student1799]

Agree 100%. Top choice = WILL attend if offered a spot within a reasonable time frame (i.e. before July). If not, then it's not your "top choice" but simply another school you're considering.

The words "top choice" (synonymous with "first choice" simply mean that the school is your favorite, the one you prefer above all others. That implies absolutely nothing about whether you will ultimately be able to attend the school.

Usage example: "I didn't get into my first-choice school ..." If its possible to use "first choice" and "didn't get in" in the same sentence (which it is), the phrase "first choice" cannot possibly imply attending the school.

 

[Conky]

Isn't your top choice and the school you willattend if accepted, one and the same thing? Are you sure you're not just trying to justify an action you don't think is completely ethical? You should define "top choice" because to me it means the school you most want to attend and absolutely will do so if accepted. What's your definition of "top choice"?

Just playing devil's advocate.

just say that it's your top choice AND you will attend and you can avoid misleading people, unless that's what you want to do.

 

[HrryUpNwait]

This is obviously a debate that has lurked in these forums for some time... I am waitlisted at my #1 school and I sent a letter saying your my top choice and I will attend no matter what- I took the guessing game out of it. I think in the end it is a personal decision. Schools want to have a high yield % and therefore like to accept students they believe will attend. If you want to walk a thin line with the wording of your letter then that is up to you, but if I were you I would say...

"I hope to assure you that if financially reasonable I will undoubtedly attend your school next fall upon acceptance." This gives you that margin to make a decision even if accepted. Good luck.

 

[quirks]

Agree 100%. Top choice = WILL attend if offered a spot within a reasonable time frame (i.e. before July). If not, then it's not your "top choice" but simply another school you're considering.

Wow you guys. I think top choice is soft enough. If it makes you feel better she could say "You're my favorite school" or something like that. I wouldn't add the line about it being financially reasonable. If she gets in and can't go, then yeah, she should say that "I loved you guys and wanted to go but I can't afford it" but first she needs to get in.

 

[kingofthehill]

And I don't think top choice and will attend are the same thing. I'm sure adcoms know that finaid and other things will factor in at the end.

Okay, the finaid is also a big thing besides date that I forgot, so I'll say first choice = will attend if offered a spot before a certain time (July 1 is a reasonable cutoff if you're already holding an acceptance) AND you're offered financial aid that allows you to attend.

OP, if your bf were to get another job in a distant city, and so you decided to not attend your "first choice" school, then that school is not your first choice. Your "first choice" school would THEN be whatever school you're in at that's closest to him. That's what seems to be the situation for you...

Now, I'm sure schools get "let me in you're my first choice" letters all the time and the students afterward change their minds, which is fine, so you won't be penalized for changing your mind; the letters aren't contracts. At the end of the day, I don't think it would be wrong as long as you didn't say "I will certainly attend if accepted" because that would be, in your case, a lie. You aren't certain at this point whether you would attend.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Agree 100%. Top choice = WILL attend if offered a spot within a reasonable time frame (i.e. before July). If not, then it's not your "top choice" but simply another school you're considering.

I am a real stickler on the ethics of LOIs, because I think a lot of people play fast and loose with statements of "intent" and ruin it for everyone else.

But saying someplace is your top choice is NOT the same as saying "and I will matriculate if offered admission."

The former is just your thoughts now on the subject, the latter is a commitment.

Perfectly fine. If circumstances change, your top choice might change.