Did listing all the colleges I applied to hurt me?

Applying to College
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<p>For some of the Common App supplements (Wustl and Rice), there was a space to list all the other colleges I was applying to. I applied to 12 schools. I got waitlisted by both Rice and Wustl. Did the large amount of schools I listed in these sections hurt me because they didn't think I was actually going to attend their school if I was accepted? Were they just trying to maintain a steady yield? </p>

<p>Anyway, the rest of my Common App schools didn't have a place to list my other schools, so I'm hoping that this will increase my apparent "interest" in these schools.</p>

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<p>

Why the hell else would they think you were applying?</p>

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<p>Because if they knew i applied to 12 other schools, the chances of me choosing to go to their school is not that great, and they may want to protect their yield percentage.</p>

4

<p>Yeah… in hindsight probably not the best thing to do, but no sense in worrying about it now. Hope the other schools come through! and maybe write a letter of interest to rice and wustl if you actually are interested.</p>

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<p>I highly doubt that that made a difference. I got into the one school where I had to list the other ones I applied to. I don’t think they would ever penalize students for the amount of schools they decide to apply to.</p>

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<p>JBM… that’s very interesting… I applied to about 20 schools…
and I’m waitlisted for Wash U
rejected by Rice
I don’t know if it has anything to do with all the other colleges I listed
most of those colleges are really good…
because I applied for most of them through Questbridge…</p>

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<p>Yeah that’s what I think too bdaklute…to a certain degree. I don’t see why they would want applicants to list their other colleges if they weren’t going to use them somehow though…</p>

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<p>well, by listing other schools you applied to, there’s a chance that you could get some generous merit aid, especially if you listed any ivies/top 25 universities, since colleges want to lure you with lots of money.</p>

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<p>Rumor is that Wash U waitlists everyone they suspect is using them as a safety. So uh, yeah, I’d say that by listing the other schools you may have hurt your chances.</p>

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<p>Take WashU off the plate for any discussions about what means anything. For years, I’ve never known a rejected candidate, they appear to wait list everyone they don’t accept. IMO, it’s because of their mass marketing in which they convince everyone they have a chance.</p>

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<p>if you put a bunch of ivies on there it is likely a contributing factor</p>

<p>in addition, you may have been “tufted” for the same reason.</p>

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<p>Rice doesn’t waitlist for that reason. My son was offered significant merit money from Rice after putting a range of schools he was applying to that included Stanford, Princeton, Cornell, Hopkins, etc. They want to know who their competition is and if they really want someone they realize they might need to lure them with merit $. I don’t know if it makes you feel better or worse knowing this, but don’t regret listing all these schools on Rice’s app. That’s not why they waitlisted you. Good luck with your other applications.</p>