Choate application form has this question “Are you applying to other schools in this admission cycle?” and a list of 18 similar or more selective schools to choose (up to 6). This is a required question. It is interesting that “Choate Only” is on the list.
Any suggestions on how to handle this? DD is also applying several more selective schools on the list. I think only Choate asks this question in a formal way vs during the interview from other schools.
Thanks!
Emma Willard, I think, had the same question only with space to type the answer in. I put in either 2 or 3 other school names.
Same question here. If applying to both PA and PEA (Andover and Exeter) and if asked - what is the best way to answer? Will they “dislike” you if you say “yes”?
Keep in mind, this is all about the school wanting to protect its yield. It is really not helpful to you to let them know where else you are applying… I can’t believe they “require” this question to be answered. It is really none of their business what other schools you’re considering.
Yes. Whether listed on the application or as an interview question, it will invariably be asked. My answer when I applied to colleges was:
“I’m applying to schools that offer X, Y, and Z, such as AA, AB, and AC,” where two of the schools are at the same level as the school asking the question, and the third is a step below. I would not list all the schools, and I would list them in random (or alphabetical) order. Since some schools ask this question to predict yield, you do not want to reveal to a school that it is your safety (if it is in fact a safety, which in the case of Choate, is a safety for nobody).
I don’t know that it’s solely about yield although I think schools are generally hoping that the students they accept will give them real consideration. I’ve always suspected this was another lens on whether you understood your own priorities as a student. If you’re visiting EWS and saying it’s really important that you are at an all girls school for xyz reasons yet all your other schools are coed, it may be clear that your commitment to a girls school is somewhat weak. I think this can be used to figure out how well you’ve thought through where you belong. Schools know who their peers are and are probably more worried if your list doesn’t include them than if it does.
I’m not so sure that’s true, either. I don’t think anyone will argue that PA, PEA, DA are all peers, as an example. There are really good reasons why a student would not apply to one of those (and the school/reason will differ depending upon the student).
Excellent point!
@skieurope , I think the schools define their peer groups more broadly than most folks on CC do. Perhaps less by prestige and more by what they offer, values, etc. i suspect that is sort of what they are looking for in their answer to this question . For an applicant who hopes to play D1 hockey and has said that program is a key consideration, for example, PEA might recognize Avon Farms as a peer although you and I might see a lot of differences between the two. Overall, though, I am guessing this factors little into the admissions decision in most cases.
Today at an interview (not PEA or PA) DD was asked this question, she said she is considering but gave no names. Her DF(ather) spilled the beans at the QA session with the AO. Will have his mouth duct-taped at the next (and last) interview.
My child has been asked this question in more than one interview, and while I understand the yield concern, my impression is that the question is directed more to understanding the applicant’s thought processes and motivations (e.g., is this a logical group that is consistent with what I’m hearing otherwise in the interview) than it is about just yield (though I certainly don’t dispute yield could be a factor). I can say that one HADES AO with whom we spoke (following what appeared to have been a good interview) suggested that it was a good idea for people applying to the most selective schools to apply to more than one.
I would add that my child has been asked this question by interviewers for schools that already have (and presumably can reasonably expect to continue having) very high yields.
That’s a given. I think that all experienced users here would advocate casting a wide net when applying, unless the LPS is a solid option.
Apparently NMH also asks the same question in their short answers, it seems to be required…
They also require a signature at the end of the application…
So if you don’t list all your schools, just some (like suggested above…) would you be lying by omission?
And I agree with @cameo43 It really shouldn’t be their business, yield protection or no…
It wouldn’t be dishonest if you said you were considering applying to schools A , B , and C right?
Not in my mind. In theory, one could apply to NMH with a list in mind, and then between the NMH submission and the deadline date, decide to apply to other schools.
During the Choate interview for both of my children (one sibling interview), our AO asked where else we were applying (in addition to having to answer this question on the app).
I respectfully disagree with post #7-- the TSAO schools, especially the eight in New England, are peer, Intra-type competitors–all vying for many of the same students and fiercely protecting their yields. Which is perhaps part of the reason why my DD was waitlisted at all TSAO schools (but Choate), but accepted to the two other non TSAO schools she applied to (one with an 80% aid/merit scholarship package).
My child was asked this by Choate and other schools and he honestly answered the question. One of the things we liked most about Choate was that they seemed genuinely interested in selling their school and were confident that they could convince any accepted student that this was the right place. They never spoke poorly about any other school, but were happy to share the fabulous things about Choate. So I wouldn’t worry about this and would believe that Choate believes they can compete with anyone.
I think this question is out of line. It is no one’s business where you are applying. It would serve these schools right if everyone told them they were the only school… 
Agreed, but they still ask it.
When I was first asked this question, the thought in my mind (which I did not say out loud) was, “While we’re on the subject of inappropriate questions, how much do you make?” 
Choate can definitely compete with the likes of any other top notch BS. Their matriculation data is comparable to the best. My guess is the question gets to what you are looking for. It’s like if they asked which ivy are you applying to an you answer all 8. This gives the impression you’re focused on prestige versus fit. It’s a factor to be considered, if a student and family are taking a shot gun approach versus wanting Choate because of fit.
I know a family whose student attended a private feeder school in PA’s catchment area for day students and whose sister was two years ahead at PA. The Dad told me the Choate interviewer looked at the kid’s info and said, “You’re not comin’ here,” and the interview went downhill from there. I think the Choate AOs use the info as a piece to help them understand who really wants to come to Choate.