I agree that none of this would be necessary if there is no such thing as admissions officers paying attention to you as rates or having a"Tuft’s effect" policy. If this system truly accepted students without any consideration to yield or likelihood of attending the school then a first choice letter or phone call would not be needed. Outside of the reduction in self-respect, I can’t see how the first choice letter is harmful in any way. If a student decides to write multiple letters and this is somehow discovered then I can see how the strategy could backfire.