<p>One of my d's college applications ask her to indicate if the school is her first choice--only options are Y and N, and to list other schools she's applying to. I don't know if she can leave it blank. How should we handle this?</p>
<p>Colleges will give a sizable advantage to students who claim that their school is their top choice because those students are more likely to attend if accepted. that helps to keep the school’s admission rate down as they need to give fewer acceptances to get the same size student body. </p>
<p>i dont know if it is her first choice or not, but a yes answer will help her chances.</p>
<p>I think the college wants to know if they admit this student, how likely will this student attend their school? They probably would rather not over enrolled or would rather give the spot to someone who really wants to go there. That’s my guess.</p>
<p>Well, yes, College A was my first choice while I was filling out their application. Then I filled out the application for College B and decided they were my first choice. And then …</p>
<p>I guess the question is, if the school is not in fact your first choice you should admit it, and if you are bound to admit something that is not to your advantage: given that such questions may not be quite fair (they don’t have a category for, “I’m not sure yet; or, certainly, it’s my first choice, assuming I don’t get into the college I’m applying to that I don’t have more than a 10% chance of getting into so I’m not really counting it; or, no, it’s not my first choice, but it will probably be a better bet financially than the other schools that, in an ideal world, I’d rather attend”), should you answer honestly, and possibly affect your chances negatively, or lie, and accept the moral debit, or skip it, which pretty much answers the question in the negative, and thus affects your chances negatively. </p>
<p>I vote for leaving it blank, if possible; it ought to be.</p>
<p>So is it not a good idea to list other colleges that you are applying to?</p>
<p>It is such an unfair question, IMO, this is one time I think it is morally justifiable to try to game the system (IOW, lie if need be). The college should be evaluating you on your qualifications and fit, not for where else you’re applying. </p>
<p>If I were answering the question, I’d list several less-selective schools and perhaps one peer. If I was applying somewhere as a safety, I don’t think I’d list the more selective school(s) where I was applying.</p>
<p>I agree that this is an unfair question. Unless you unequivocally love this school above all others, I would not recommend checking yes or no, or listing other colleges specifically. This is a powerful bit of information for the asking school that tends to benefit its bargaining position (admit or waitlist, and/or level of financial aid offer), not yours. I think it is fair to check neither yes nor no, and give no specific school names, but offer an honest but vague reply, something like “your school is one of my top two, but it could become my definite “number one” if your merit aid offer is sufficient and my overnight visit goes well.”</p>
<p>I agree with you annasdad, it is unfair. As we have REALLY embarked on the whole college search for the past 6-8 months, and my son’s understanding of college, schools, and finances has matured, his first choice school has changed a number of times. </p>
<p>I also agree with your approach to list a peer and less-selective schools. But wonder if the students stats are at a different level than the school, if they can anticipate your insincerity? </p>
<p>All in all, terrible thing to ask. It would be better to ask…on a scale of 1-10, how interested are you in attending our school? And how many schools to you plan to apply to?</p>
<p>Agree with Auspicious, it could be my first choice if I am given a free ride or large scholarship. Sadly, the whole process often becomes a game of strategy. I also agree that a student has the right to change their first choice many times.</p>
<p>I vote with annasdad, too. This is an institution that, quite frankly, deserves to be lied to.</p>
<p>Will you name names? Which college or university has such chutzpah?</p>
<p>Becker College in MA. And honestly depending on aid and other factors she could absolutely end up choosing it–or not. No idea yet!</p>
<p>I hope she’ll be happy and successful if she does go there. But I think Becker College has a hell of a lot of nerve.</p>
<p>Sounds like a school that does not like to be used as a safety, because that would hurt their yield numbers. Some schools reject highly qualified applicants under the assumption that they won’t attend because they are using the school as a safety.</p>
<p>It’s a funny one for her–she is massively overqualified for the school as a whole using GPA/scores, but the major she is applying for is top 10 in the country in that field.</p>
<p>Just make sure you don’t give inconsistent answers.</p>
<p>For example – If your d was applying to Yale, and Podunk U (mascot =Podunk Sewer Rat), it might not be credible to list Yale as one of the other schools she was applying to AND say Podunk is the first choice. Plus, you have to deal with the implicit question of why you’re not applying to Podunk ED.</p>
<p>Other than consistency I certainly don’t think that there’s a moral issue here. Check the yes box if you can credibly do so.</p>