<p>So on a supplement for one of the schools I'm applying to it asks which other schools I'm applying to (and it doesn't say the question is optional.) I'd prefer not to disclose this info because I'm applying to several other schools and I think it'd look kind of bad to list all 9 of them.
Should I leave it blank? List some but not all of the other colleges? Or just list all the other colleges I'm applying to?
Thanks</p>
<p>It's none of their business. Their job is to evaluate your app and admit/reject you based on your qualifications, not on what they guess might be your intentions. So here's my answer -- it is completely moral and ethical to put down anything you want. I suggest putting down schools they see as competitors but not ones they hate/fear; eg if the school you're applying to is WUSTL put down some competitors but avoid schools like the Ivy League because they have a big inferiority complex to them.</p>
<p>That's the honest answer. However ethics being what they are, it's easy to justify the action I suggest above. What does "apply" mean, really? Just because you're busy writing essays for other schools have you "applied" to them? No. Even if you've sent in an app, maybe you never get around to sending them the recs or SAT scores or whatever else it takes to complete the app. So you can honestly say that you haven't applied to a given school unless every single step required for admission has been irrevocably finished. So all they can really be asking is what schools you intend to apply to, and your intentions the moment you answer their question might not be the same as your intentions the minute before or after you write your response.</p>
<p>It really boils down to this; they want to use your answer for their benefit. You can let them ... Or you can not let them. Totally up to you.</p>
<p>I advised my son to answer in vague terms: "several other competitive liberal arts colleges" for example. It seems more polite than ignoring the question, but isn't specific enough to do any real harm.</p>
<p>I advised my son to answer in vague terms: "several other competitive liberal arts colleges" for example. It seems more polite than ignoring the question, but isn't specific enough to do any real harm.</p>
<p>how would it be harmful? </p>
<p>i specifically answered various schools i was applying to? is this going to hurt me ?</p>
<p>they might see you're applying to other higher school you'll probably get in to, and they dont want to waste a spot on you...</p>
<p>follow Rellie's advice!</p>
<p>Fortunately, this didn't come up on the apps of the schools that D ended up applying to, but when she asked her GC this same question, the GC's advice was similar to mikemac's. (Although I also like Rellielou's idea.) I agree that it really is none of their business.</p>
<p>Just put a few state schools on.</p>
<p>ya thats wat i did
i dont think i put my ED decison school
ahh freak out lol</p>
<p>I listed peer schools when I was applying.</p>
<p>
[quote]
coffeecrazy writes: how would it be harmful?
[/quote]
Great user-name! But to answer your question, it can be harmful to YOU if the school goes on to use this info for their own benefit. The innocent interpretation is that they just want to see who their competitors are. But show me an adcom at any school who doesn't know who their competitors are ...</p>
<p>It can be used against you if the school suspects you are using them for a safety. Apply to 4 ivies and Tufts or WUSTL, I guarantee Tufts/WUSTL will reject you if they know about it. It can hurt you in financial aid; if a school concludes they are your reach then you might be willing to pony up more if you get in, so their offer will be tilted more towards loans. They can look at your other schools, realize they are not known for being generous financially, and decide to conserve their scarce financial aid dollars too. </p>
<p>You can see how this info could hurt you even if they're wrong about their interpretation. Suppose you're leaning towards larger U's but there is one LAC that intrigues you; or towards midwest schools closer to home but there is one east-coast school you'd love to attend. If they see your list they might decide you're not serious about them since it doesn't fit your pattern. </p>
<p>There is no good reason for schools to ask you when you're applying who else you are considering. If they want that info for some legitimate reason they can always do a survey after decisions are mailed.</p>
<p>If I was in that situation I would put schools that looked liked safeties compared to whichever school was asking for this information. Then they might think that you regard them as the superior school.</p>
<p>I would just honestly list all the schools that I'm applying to. I think we need to stop acting like college admissions officers are stupid. They know that you aren't just applying to their school, and they know that there are other, better schools out there.</p>
<p>no, but if you have a 3.9 and 1500 SAT and are applying to a small, easy state school and then a top 40 college (say UCB, Princton, and Tufts) and another state school that is slightly more competative, the small state school will think that you have an easy chance at the other schools, reject you in order to save room for those who really will go to the school, and you could end up getting rejected from all of your other reaches/matches by pure dumb luck...
then you're screwed
and this happens all the time, i know someone who had a 3.6, 1300 SAT got rejected from Radford, VA and GMU, both of which are considered safeties for our area...she called them up, asking why, and they said that her credentials were above their stats, and they knew she wouldn't attend, but she could appeal the decision easily with a letter stating she really did intend to attend if accepted</p>
<p>again, just say you're applying to several other competative liberal arts/engineering/whatever colleges...its the easiest way to answer the question sufficiently without screwin yourself</p>
<p>if it's a competitive school, you had better shoot straight with them. "We have too many kids who want to come to our school already, so we can afford to ignore someone who ignores our questions....those aren't the kinds of kids we want"
from the admissions guy at one of my schools who DOES ask on their app</p>