<p>I think that the misconception comes from outside sources. At my s school there was an admissions officer speaking about college admissions to Princeton and he said that there is a "desire" for colleges to know where students are applying because they want to know about yield numbers. He said that this is how colleges know if they are a reach, match or safety. I have read all of Tokens info and he is correct. But, lot's of contradicting info is being given to students and parents. In my prev. posts I listed that I called CB 2 different times and received 2 completely different answers to the exact same question. It's important to check and double check info.</p>
<p>there's a basic reasoning fault in sta800's post. even if the schools receive word of your incomplete application, it still doesn't mean the schools know where else you're applying. it's just like perhaps Harvard, Yale and Princeton are each notified by CA "Hey, there's a student applying at your college" when you add them to "My Colleges", but they don't know about the other two.</p>
<p>I understand what you're saying Guitars101 (I would think that Princeton could be pretty confident that they weren't anyone's safety school though! Maybe he was suggesting other schools do this?) I don't doubt that colleges want high yield numbers (though I believe US News no longer reports them.) But I'm a pragmatist at heart. IMO applicants ought to find the most reliable information they can (as you suggest) and then focus on the part of the process they have the most control over--putting together a great applicaton and expressing true interest in the school (even if it's a safety). Maybe I'm naive but I think that this can make a difference to an admissions committee. I think a slipshod application with a generic essay can give the impression that a school isn't an applicants top choice. I wonder how often that's a factor in rejections from schools that an applicant "should have gotten into."</p>
<p>MD_Mom, often the best essays about personal experiences and perspectives can be construed as "generic" - how would you want to aim a personal experience at a specific school?</p>
<p>I think you're saying that you can write a great personal essay about your own experience/perspective without tying it in with the specific school you're applying to, right? If so, I agree. (I don't think you need to include a big "And that's why I want to go to X University!" at the end of each essay.) But writing an excellent essay sends a message that you cared enough to spend the time and energy. (I don't think there's any problem with using the same essay on more than one application but it ought to be a good, thoughtful essay.)</p>
<p>Applications vary but many of them offer an opportunity to answer "Why this school?" in addition to the main essay. I think applicants can help themselves a lot by really thinking this through and writing something that shows they know about the school and demonstrating that they'd be a good fit. If a student is able to visit or interview at a school that's another way to demonstrate interest. Basically, my point is that if a student wants to avoid a school thinking it's "just a safety" there are things he can do to avoid that perception.</p>
<p>accepted by Harvard and some other colleges, and actually programmed by the group of programmers who programmed the Common Application until last year. </p>
<p>From the home page, following the help link leads to a FAQ page, including a FAQ about security and privacy. </p>
<p>
<pre><code>No. When you use the Universal College Application to apply to multiple colleges, each individual college knows only that you applied to their specific institution. They do not know if, or where, you also applied. Also, only the college to which you apply ED or EA will know that. No other college will know if, or where, you applied ED or EA.
</code></pre>
<p>So if you use the Universal College Application to apply to your favorite colleges, then, just as with the Common Application, each college will not know what other colleges you are applying to.</p>
<p>"there's a basic reasoning fault in sta800's post. even if the schools receive word of your incomplete application, it still doesn't mean the schools know where else you're applying. it's just like perhaps Harvard, Yale and Princeton are each notified by CA "Hey, there's a student applying at your college" when you add them to "My Colleges", but they don't know about the other two.</p>
<p>screwitlah -</p>
<p>I understand what you're saying; but I didn't mean to imply that because I received the email about my incomplete application that I believe the CA is releasing information about other schools I'm applying to. </p>
<p>What I question is why the CA organization needs to inform a college (any college) that I STARTED to fill out a common application, when in fact they do not know where I will actually be applying until I decide to submit.</p>
<p>In my particular case the school that sent me the email was one of several of a very preliminary list, which is now outdated. As it turns out I'm no longer planning to apply to the school that contacted me - but now they have my email address (courtesy of the CA - because I never exchanged any information with this college personally). Maybe no biggie, but it is a waste of time for the college as well as for me.</p>
<p>I just don't feel comfortable with any of my information being released to any college before I actually submit the application officially. Once I submit the application I honestly don't have a problem with them sharing the info, because I've chosen to disclose it.</p>
<p>I really don't remember reading anything on the CA instructions that said that just by filling out general info I was agreeing to make it public. Maybe I'm wrong, so I'll go back and see if I just missed it.</p>