During an interview, if the interviewer asks what other schools you're applying to...

<p>The only thing I can see doing is telling the truth. They must know that a lot of students don't just apply to one school.</p>

<p>My MIT interviewer asked the question, and I told him the rest of my list (Cornell, Boston University, UVA, UMD College Park-in state, Virginia Tech, and RPI). I told him that Boston and Maryland had been submitted early for scholarship consideration and that I had been nominated for the full-rides from UVA and Boston (for a science/engineering person, they seemed a little artsy). He seemed to be pleased and didn't do anything like bashing any of the schools. I certainly don't think that it hurt my interview at all--he was <em>very</em> approving.</p>

<p>One of my son's college choices asks on the application not only which other colleges he's applying to, but also to list them in preference. Pretty bold, and we're wondering whether they mean in relation to the college he's applying to, or just by rank of the other colleges.</p>

<p>I really think that is so unfair a question, and also that most students will regroup re order of preference AFTER admission/waitlists/rejections/financial aid is on the table in April.</p>

<p>I couldn't agree more, Faline2. I'm tempted to tell my son to list all the schools other than his obvious safety as tied for 1st, depending on circumstances.</p>

<p>There is no way to win with this question. As Dan, the Tufts admissions officer, said (sort of), naming names can suggest that either you really want somewhere better or else that you really aren't good enough. I strongly suggest a more descriptive answer, such as,' "I'm looking at urban or near-urban schools with 4,000-6,000 students and strong academics."</p>

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One of my son's college choices asks on the application not only which other colleges he's applying to, but also to list them in preference.

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<p>It's time to post my FAQ again. (Didn't I already post it in this thread?) </p>

<p>You could quote chapter and verse from the Statement of Principles of Good Practice of the National Association for College Admission Counseling:</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.nacacnet.org/NR/rdonlyres/9A4F9961-8991-455D-89B4-AE3B9AF2EFE8/0/SPGP.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nacacnet.org/NR/rdonlyres/9A4F9961-8991-455D-89B4-AE3B9AF2EFE8/0/SPGP.pdf&lt;/a> </p>

<p>and once you have done that, you could say, based on whatever is the truth, "Not wanting this to be construed as a statement of my order of preference, I am applying to"</p>

<p>a) "other colleges that appear to offer some of the same features as your college"</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>b) "a varied list of colleges to ensure that I carefully consider what is the best fit between me and each college"</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>c) "small liberal arts colleges with a focus on undergraduate teaching" (or whatever summary characteristic applies to all colleges on your list)</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>d) "a list of colleges developed according to policies of my high school counseling office"</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>e) "[actual list] but this list should not be taken to be in preference order"</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>f) "a list of colleges that I would rather not mention here, so that we take extra care to follow NACAC principles of good practice."</p>

<p>Your own creativity can probably come up with some more choices. I do NOT see this question on many of the college application forms I have downloaded from the Web this year.</p>

<p>The same NACAC rules would apply to spoken questions in interviews as to written questions on application forms. IF you are applying to a college with an early decision round (but does this issue still apply at this time of year?) it is very fair and expected for the college to ask what your order of preference is, but in any other case, you have the right as an application to say, "I shouldn't tell you, because NACAC says you shouldn't ask" about order of preference. </p>

<p>Again, I don't think it is risky to be honest. If it IS risky to be honest, you probably shouldn't attend that college if admitted. But you are welcome to give your answer in general terms, e.g., "other colleges about the size of your college, in various parts of the country," or do whatever else is responsive to the question and polite but well within the limits of the NACAC principle of discouraging colleges from asking for a preference list.</p>

<p>i would say dont give them a laundry list. because then you seem desperate to get into a big school. i would say lke 3 high/ivies a state school and then a parents alma-mater</p>

<p>Okay, this is all lovely, but now I am accepted somewhere EA (UChicago). And I have a couple more interviews. Should I mention that?</p>

<p>Why not mention an early round acceptance, if that comes up in conversation?</p>

<p>When asked about other schools, you can say something to the effect of: "I'm fortunate that I have an early-round acceptance from a fine school, which relieves some of the pressure."</p>

<p>If the interviewer specifically asks which school, you should answer.</p>

<p>I was just honest about where I was applying, and gave a reason why I was applying to each school. Of course, for most of them usually the reason was "a good math and physics program" so I guess as others have poitned out, the pattern helps.</p>

<p>The fact that every single school you're applying to is extrmeleye prestigious and selective may have led him to bleive that youre applying to MIT only for the prestige and not because its a good "match." Apparnelty, MIT cares about that, or so they say.</p>

<p>My interviewer commented that he and his son applied to almost exactly the same schools. I thought it was kind of funny. I mean what are the odds that both he and his son applied to 5 of my 7 schools</p>

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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.

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<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.

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<p>Well, it was done in a pretty humorous way, but it still gave me an impression of pretension.
Aside from that, I was amazed by my interviewer's passion for MIT.</p>

<p>p.s. INTERVIEWS DON'T MATTER..</p>

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Apparnelty, MIT cares about that, or so they say.

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<p>I don't think MIT says it cares about where else you are applying. Moreover, I don't think MIT does care, whether it says so or not. But I think we could find statements here on CC showing that MIT doesn't care.</p>

<p>One of my applications (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) asks which schools I am applying to on their common app suppllement. Do I ahve to mention everyhting cuz I think theyed reject be right away if I put down every top school which would look like this</p>

<p>Princeton
yale
Stanford
Pomona
Columbia
Brown
Cornell
Boston College
Duke
UVA</p>

<p>There's already a thread on your question- do a search.</p>

<p>Also, my MIT interviewer did note the colleges I mentioned I was applying to, though whether that actually mattered or not I don't know.</p>

<p>I'm curious how Pomona ends up on the same list as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute without Harvey Mudd being on that list.</p>

<p>Collegehopeful, you could put down, "In addition to QuestBridge partner schools, I'm applying to Brown, Cornell..." or "In addition ... to schools with strong programs in X and good financial aid" or one of the suggestions tokenadult made above.</p>

<p>I didn't apply to RPI engineering. I applied to the school of sciences and put biology down as the major soits not that weird.I just wanted a good match school in case I decide to stay in NY.Plus their facilties are top notch which suprised me.</p>