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Telling a School that they are your #1?

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Mark4124
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Telling a School that they are your #1? [#permalink] New post   07 Dec 2006, 15:09
I am applying to UNC... They ask where else you are applying. It is kinda a big list in my case but I actually like them the best for their inv managment program. How does everyone feel about telling a in an essay that they are your top choice?
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necromonger
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[#permalink] New post   07 Dec 2006, 15:59
I told the school I was applying to that they were my number 1 choice - and that is true. If I were very clear that a school was my first choice, I would say it, because then I know why I'm saying it and I can substantiate it strongly.
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Re: Telling a School that they are your #1? [#permalink] New post   07 Dec 2006, 16:58
Mark4124 wrote:
I am applying to UNC... They ask where else you are applying. It is kinda a big list in my case but I actually like them the best for their inv managment program. How does everyone feel about telling a in an essay that they are your top choice?


I say it, I just say it differently. I don't say their are my top choice, i say they are the "right school for me". No need to remind them I'm looking elsewhere too.
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Re: Telling a School that they are your #1? [#permalink] New post   07 Dec 2006, 18:40
Mark4124 wrote:
I am applying to UNC... They ask where else you are applying. It is kinda a big list in my case but I actually like them the best for their inv managment program. How does everyone feel about telling a in an essay that they are your top choice?


I would tell them that they are your top choice.
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Re: Telling a School that they are your #1? [#permalink] New post   07 Dec 2006, 18:44
I wouldn't directly state that XYZ is my top choice. You can make a compelling argument based on the school's uniqueness to emphasize that XYZ is indeed the best choice for you.

Mark4124 wrote:
I am applying to UNC... They ask where else you are applying. It is kinda a big list in my case but I actually like them the best for their inv managment program. How does everyone feel about telling a in an essay that they are your top choice?
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Re: Telling a School that they are your #1? [#permalink] New post   07 Dec 2006, 20:47
lhotseface wrote:
I wouldn't directly state that XYZ is my top choice. You can make a compelling argument based on the school's uniqueness to emphasize that XYZ is indeed the best choice for you.

Mark4124 wrote:
I am applying to UNC... They ask where else you are applying. It is kinda a big list in my case but I actually like them the best for their inv managment program. How does everyone feel about telling a in an essay that they are your top choice?


I concurr.

I do the same thing stressing on why I am choosing this school.

Regarding UNC, I made the mistake of telling them in the interview that they are my number 1 choice but fortunately realized my mistake and twisted it to show why I love that school.
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[#permalink] New post   08 Dec 2006, 00:59
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I don't think there is much point in just saying a school is #1. The problem is that schools probably hear that all the time, and they are well aware that unless they are named Harvard or maybe Stanford, there's probably some reason why you'd say that to them.

We only go through the admissions process once (or twice) but Adcoms go through it every year. They know better than anyone where their school fits into the big picture. Berkeley knows that they are second fiddle to Stanford, Chicago knows that Wharton will skim off many of their best applicatns, Duke & UNC, Columbia & NYU, etc. Adcoms probably encounter the same people every year; they just have different names.

So if I'm an Adcom at Berkeley, and someone tells me Berkeley is their #1 choice, my knee-jerk reaction is that they have probably concluded for themselves that they can't get into Stanford. Sure, certain people could have other reasons, but those would be the exceptions to the rule.

I think it's better to just demonstrate in your essays that you like their program and their location and that you believe you will do well there. That way, at least the Adcom won't be thinking "this guy is full of it" in the back of their mind.
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[#permalink] New post   08 Dec 2006, 05:45
Thanks pelihu! I feel I gotta fix my Berkeley essay a lil bit... :lol:
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[#permalink] New post   11 Dec 2006, 09:27
I tell every school that they are the ideal school for me :wink: don't you?

applying to bschool is like woo-ing a lady. You can't just tell them they are #1 but u gotta make them believe u.
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[#permalink] New post   11 Dec 2006, 09:50
I'm more of a direct man.

No foreplay. No horseplay.

Tell 'em like it is.
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Re: Telling a School that they are your #1? [#permalink] New post   06 Oct 2014, 04:49
pelihu wrote:
I don't think there is much point in just saying a school is #1. The problem is that schools probably hear that all the time, and they are well aware that unless they are named Harvard or maybe Stanford, there's probably some reason why you'd say that to them.

We only go through the admissions process once (or twice) but Adcoms go through it every year. They know better than anyone where their school fits into the big picture. Berkeley knows that they are second fiddle to Stanford, Chicago knows that Wharton will skim off many of their best applicatns, Duke & UNC, Columbia & NYU, etc. Adcoms probably encounter the same people every year; they just have different names.

So if I'm an Adcom at Berkeley, and someone tells me Berkeley is their #1 choice, my knee-jerk reaction is that they have probably concluded for themselves that they can't get into Stanford. Sure, certain people could have other reasons, but those would be the exceptions to the rule.

I think it's better to just demonstrate in your essays that you like their program and their location and that you believe you will do well there. That way, at least the Adcom won't be thinking "this guy is full of it" in the back of their mind.

Second you on that... That's what essays are for, making a convincing pitch of one's candidacy...
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Re: Telling a School that they are your #1? [#permalink]
06 Oct 2014, 04:49

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