A few general questions about the common app.

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>Hello, just skimming through the application for about the fifth time, and I just have some questions that I assume some of the CCers around here have good answers to!
1) For questions that ask "How many schools are you applying to/What other schools are you applying to?", I have a bit of a dilemma in that I'm not sure if I'm going to apply to Carnegie Mellon or not yet. I'm sure it's not a big deal, but I don't want to take any chances, so would I not list Carnegie Mellon, or list it?
2) I'm interested in BS/MS programs, but whether or not I can do them basically depends on the financial aid package I get. So should I say I'm interested, or will that kind of lock me into them?
3) Would an acceptable topic for my essay be what I got out of Boys' State because I hated it so much? I really did despise the week, so I feel like I could get a lot of good stuff, and I would be taking kind of a positive spin of hating it so, so I think it would work, but it's always good to get an outside opinion. =P</p>

<p>Thanks for the help in advance!</p>

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<p>1) I doubt you’ll submit the Common App before deciding whether or not you’re going to Carnegie Mellon, so you can just list or not list it then.
2) Just say you’re interested. Being interested isn’t really an indication of commitment or anything, so you won’t be locked.
3) If you think you can make it work, go ahead.</p>

3

<p>Keep the list of other colleges reasonable. Don’t list too many, make them all seem like reasonable, well-considered choices. </p>

<p>The BS/MD programs I know have an additional supp. You don’t just check “interested.” You have to look at the specific colleges’ web sites to see if they will deny the BS/MD program, but still consider you for regular admissions. If the right aid doesn’t come through, you wouldn’t attend that college anyway, right?</p>

<p>And, no essay should point out anything adcoms will raise an eyebrow at. A big part of your review is to see your perspective, maturity, adaptability, etc. You’d have to be careful not to critque “what matters” about BState. Or, show yourself as a bit full of yourself.</p>