<p>For my interview, I'm supposed to fill out this student questionaire thing beforehand. One of the questions is "Where else have you applied?"</p>
<p>Do I got ahead and list all 6 of my schools? Or just like 3 or 4 "big" ones like Stanford and Yale, etc?</p>
<p>I mean, it probably won't make a difference at all...just wondering if one way would help me, or something.</p>
<p>hey firebird...</p>
<p>long time no see! feel free to pm me; i'd love to catch up on the last few months.</p>
<p>I get a little ticked with the "where else have you applied" question--I'm certain my harvard interview questionaire wasn't so nosey about it. If you're brave enough, write "none of your business" (which is entirely true, after all). I would list just the big ones, the ones to which they expect you to apply, and give them as little information about your application strategy as possible.</p>
<p>Just my two cents...</p>
<p>I just left mine blank (for Williams College)</p>
<p>Stay in the same tier when they ask you this question. It is a very common question for schools to ask you in both college and prep school because they want to know if they have schools they have to compete with and if you are putting all your eggs in their basket. Therefore, list only the "big dogs" or the schools within that equal group/tier. If you are applying to Harvard you may want to also say Yale and Princeton and then immediatly reiterate to why you love Harvard. Do not give a laundry list of all the colleges you are applying to. Remain in the tier and you are all set.</p>
<p>so wait, shouldn't you just say 1 safety(i.e. a state school) that way they think all your eggs are in their basket :P.</p>
<p>but like runaway said, then they won't know that they have to compete for you...</p>
<p>Trust me.Harvard doesn't care where you applied. Harvard even asks alum not to ask that question. The form that you filled out is some form designed by your local alumni schools committee. I am sure that they are nice, well meaning volunteers, but their form is not an official interview form -- because there isn't an official form like that that Harvard gives alumni interviewers to give students. The only "official" form is the report form that Harvard has alumni interviewers submit on each student. That form does not ask where else students have applied. It asks the interviewers to write a narrative about the students. It also asks the interviewer to list students' scores. I believe that's because Harvard asks interviewers to rate students on the students' academics. That rating is based on grades, scores, and evidence of original scholarship. Clearly, the interviewer would need to get from the student their grades and scores to be able to fairly rate the student on that characteristic.</p>
<p>The other ratings the interviewers have to do are: "extracurricular/athletic," "personal qualities" and "overall."</p>
<p>hmm. somehow my interviewer asked my about where else i applied. she probably wouldn't mention it on the form she sends to harvard, right?</p>
<p>Right. As northstarmom's previous post stated, they're reviewing your interview, not judging you on where you applied.</p>
<p>thanks, netshark.</p>
<p>I assume that I must have aced my interview because he said that from all I had told him that he thought I could get in. He did add that he gave up guessing long ago but that I must have been a top student for him to say that. He also emphasized my athletics, crew, because I am relatively nationally competitive and said that it would give me a definite edge. I am not sure what to think of him.</p>
<p>Larenemma,
It's great that you had a wonderful interview and that your interviewer was impressed. Please, however, do not set yourself up for potential disappointment by banking on a Harvard acceptance.</p>
<p>Harvard specifically asks interviewers not to estimate applicants' chances. That is because the competition is always extremely stiff, and interviewers are not in a position to tell who is likely to get in.</p>
<p>While it's possible you'll get in (and being a nationally ranked athlete does sound like a big plus), it's also possible that you will not get in. With about 2,000 more applicants this year applying for the same number of slots that existed last year, when 1 in 10 applicants were accepted, Harvard is a longshot for anyone.</p>
<p>I know that I am in no means a shoe-in. I was just writing how odd and off base some interviewers can be because they are not able to see your application in entirety. I appreciate your consideration of if/when I get rejected.</p>