<p>What do you say?</p>
<p>I was in an MIT interview and I felt like my chances went down the toilet after I told the interviewer I was also applying to Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Upenn, Duke, etc....</p>
<p>Say the truth. No college expects you to just apply for theirs.</p>
<p>Yea, It's all good. The higher the colleges you apply the higher he might possible look a you? Especially if you supposedly have chances at these other schools.</p>
<p>^ That's an interesting way of looking at it...</p>
<p>List others, but not too many. Include an instate safety and a couple competitors. The advice I got from CMC people said that they expect you to apply elsewhere, but they would like to see a pattern. If they think you are just applying because someone told you to, and that it doesn't belong on your list, or you don't know where you want to go(long list), it can be viewed as a negative.</p>
<p>So my list whenever I get asked that question is: Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, and another school from the region of the school I'm interviewing/applying.</p>
<p>It isn't kosher to ask, but alum do it all the time. My son was painfully honest. On his applications, the schools went down in alphabetical order.</p>
<p>The key to this issue is to truly truly mean it when you apply to each college on your list, and to visualize yourself happy at each place, match or reach. This makes everything you say or do register as sincere. There is no one right way to respond but sincerity and demonstrating "realistic attitudes about yourself" and "high regard for others" are your two Guides in all things as you finish your college apps. Everyone loves a realistic person who has perspective, and everyone loves to be around people who have high regard for others. This year..demonstrate high regard for the wonderful college institutions across the USA.</p>
<p>In our son's case, he had the usual 25% chance at being admitted to his reach schools, and even if admitted to one, he would have gone to the match schools on his list with pride, particularly if there was any kind of merit money or good financial aid offered. It is OK to say this, and to say you will be seriously considering admission IF OFFERED at all your schools but that College X is unique and special in "this regard...."</p>
<p>Nothing is more annoying to a fifty year old than a student only applying to reach schools who appears to have no idea they may not get in to any of them, and will have to "settle" for match schools. Show respect for all your colleges in a college interview. That is a demonstration of your acumen and attitude that will register as positive.</p>
<p>Name a couple of your true schools in each category...NEVER say anything stupidly disparaging about any school (my pet peeve is students who compare say...gymnasiums or sports teams or weather of schools in front of representatives of a college), and state how you see yourself participating in College X's community with enthusiasm, should you have the honor of admission.</p>
<p>tell the truth</p>
<p>yea just tell the truth</p>
<p>Admissions and alumni interviewers know already that 1.) 90% of students are going apply to and like other colleges, and 2.) that it's possible that other colleges can fulfill their prospective students' needs and concerns just as well as they can. </p>
<p>In fact, for some interviews, convincing the applicant of the benefits of the school so that he or she is more likely to matriculate upon acceptance is a major component, so there's persuasion as well as evaluation.</p>
<p>Therefore, its not really a problem for you to disclose the other colleges on your list. In fact, for some colleges, hearing the other colleges on your list might be very valuable to them (in terms of whom their competitors are). </p>
<p>Just for brevity's sake, I wouldn't read a laundry list of colleges, because as other posts have implied, interviewers are looking for a consistent pattern and that you have done your research (i.e. you are looking at their college for the right reasons).</p>
<p>"List others, but not too many. Include an instate safety and a couple competitors. The advice I got from CMC people said that they expect you to apply elsewhere, but they would like to see a pattern. If they think you are just applying because someone told you to, and that it doesn't belong on your list, or you don't know where you want to go(long list), it can be viewed as a negative. So my list whenever I get asked that question is: Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, and another school from the region of the school I'm interviewing/applying."</p>
<p>DSC, what advice would you give to somebody whose in-state safety [a.k.a. Big Flagship Public U] is drastically anomalous in comparison to the rest of their list?
Ex.- [Big State U], Mount Holyoke, Vassar, Amherst...</p>
<p>Obviously, Big In-State Flagship U is on that list for the sake of having an in-state safety. But it clashes with the others so much that it might make it look like I lack a "pattern" or sense to my picks. I certainly plan to apply to somewhere in-state, since it makes financial sense, but my state U system (like many others) doesn't have any small public liberal arts colleges that would blend in more on a list with some of my other choices.</p>
<p>In my MIT interview, I mentioned I was applying to UMich. However, I definitely clarified that I needed a safety, and many smart kids in Michigan use UMich as a safety, and my interviewer knew that. I would just say something along the lines of "Well, Big In-State School is my safety, but I'm also applying to ______." Make it so it's very obvious that you're applying to that school primarily just because you need a safety. Just don't be critical of the school.</p>
<p>I do alum interviews and I ask just as a conversation topic; of course applicants apply to a whole bunch of places. It might bring out something interesting about the applicant I wouldn't have found out otherwise. I think an interviewer would only be freaked out if you weren't applying anywhere else.</p>
<p>My MIT interviewer asked me what other schools I was applying to. I gave him a few.
He then proceeded to point out shortcomings of each of the schools I named.</p>
<p>
[quote]
DSC, what advice would you give to somebody whose in-state safety [a.k.a. Big Flagship Public U] is drastically anomalous in comparison to the rest of their list?
Ex.- [Big State U], Mount Holyoke, Vassar, Amherst...</p>
<p>Obviously, Big In-State Flagship U is on that list for the sake of having an in-state safety. But it clashes with the others so much that it might make it look like I lack a "pattern" or sense to my picks. I certainly plan to apply to somewhere in-state, since it makes financial sense, but my state U system (like many others) doesn't have any small public liberal arts colleges that would blend in more on a list with some of my other choices.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What is your safety? Does it blend in? Use that. Or you could mention the honors program of your state school(+ residential college, which would make it even better). For instance, I could say that I was applying to Michigan State's Honors College and the James Madison Residential College. And add that it is the best combination of caliber of students and the positives of a small school, even though as a whole, it is not.</p>
<p>And I understand that not everyone has that. Perhaps my situation is unusually good in that regard, as I am econ/business and from Michigan, Ross and Broad(UM and MSU's business schools) are both top 30, and the merits of Ross and the Honors College of MSU make them logical choices on my list.</p>
<p>But use your safety as the safety, this will normally be a large state university. Schools expect that. If it is exceptionally extraneous, than you are in a bad situation overall, unfortunately, because a safety that would be enjoyable is an important part of any college list.</p>
<p>*Plus I would assume that Mount Holyoke would at least be some level of a safety for you.</p>
<p>Its an inane and fairly disingenuous question, but if it is asked, you must give an answer. Sometimes they are just looking to see how you react and how mature you are and if you can converse well and have a clear plan of action. Sometimes they are being weasels and looking to see what you will do if they admit you. Sometimes they are hinting that you are not going to be admitted and suggesting you look elsewhere.</p>
<p>Be truthful and mature. Something along the lines of "some schools in your peer group" (whomever that is) and then name two or three, and then also a school that is in the safety/match arena. Don't explain why you are applying anywhere else or articulate your level of interest there. You may suggest, if you are genuine, your interest in their school and a particular program or other reason. Its not a question that needs a lot of extrapolation. Be clear and succinct, genuine and mature. Dont be obsequious and disingenuous, "but I just LOOOOVE your school so much, I can't just see myself anywhere else!" They will puke if you say that.</p>
<p>Be self confident but not cocky or arrogant. Tone is as important as content.</p>
<p>just a warning..my son's alum interviewer asked for his list "in order of his preference!" Pretty cheeky, huh. I don't think interviewers at colleges would actually do this. People are curious..they can't help it, and they don't inhibit.</p>
<p>this is a chance to be mature...make a decision and have an answer ready..you can answer however you choose. My son acknowledged his Reaches as Just That...reaches..and stated he respected all of his colleges, and was going to go to the Non Reach school with good grace if he was waitlisted elsewhere and son sort of punted..did not give the guy a list in order...instead he focused on what he would DO at the alum's college if admitted and how he would contribute</p>
<p>the interviewer told him he was going to get his "highest recommendation" and son was admitted. lets face it..admissions offices can't control what all alum will do or say..I have heard some humdinger stories over the years...
think of it as a chance to ask about the alum's personal experiences and get their insights into what connection to the school has meant to them over the years.</p>
<p>I think it is obnoxious for an alum to ask someone for a list in order of preference...I think that just upsets the interviewee and it is entirely reasonable for an applicant to not be sure. I am actually very impressed when an applicant can discuss my college intelligently but also tell me why he would also like to go to X.</p>
<p>with what Faline2 said, if the school's really not your number 1 choice, put them down as number 2 :p</p>
<p>i agree with what sheed30 said; i didn't read the others.</p>
<p>I wouldn't be so quick to bash Flagship U in an interview with another school by calling the flagship a safety. Interviewers aren't stupid. Said interviewer might have a kid at said state U. </p>
<p>Mention what the flagship has to offer -- "I'm applying to XX, YY and State Flagship -- State U offers some very generous merit scholarships and a research program I'm interested in. Can you tell me about the ZZZ research program at [Interviewer's school]?" You haven't dissed anyone and you've demonstrated that a) your list has coherence, b) you've done HW on the interviewer's school and c) your safety offers something you woudl seriously consider.</p>
<p>I would also give only two-three other schools, not the entire laundry list. If applying way out of your geographic turf, I'd include another school in the same geographic region as the one you're interviewing with (or other characteristics that the school you're interviewing shares with other schools on your list).</p>
<p>Unless, like the OP, you have thrown apps at every prestige school on the list in the hopes that something sticks...</p>
<p>I often ask this question. Partly out of curiosity (where are students who are applying here also planning to apply . . . ie. who really is our competition) and partly to see if the interviewee has really thought about where he or she would like to go/has thought about what schools will best serve his/her needs.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My MIT interviewer asked me what other schools I was applying to. I gave him a few. He then proceeded to point out shortcomings of each of the schools I named.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm shocked by this. I would never badmouth another school (no matter what I personally think.) I will, however, point out how my institution would match the needs of the student.</p>
<p>Most often, I hear the same list of schools. I tell the student that he/she will get a great education at all of these schools. (True) And that he/she needs to determine where he/she will be most comfortable/happy. (True) I tell them I hope it will be my school (most often, true!) and I wish them the best no matter where they end up. (True)</p>