<p>Well, a top student might do himself a favor by analyzing whether Tufts, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton really have all that much in common before applying to any of them. That is one reason why I think it is a GOOD idea to be wholly honest in answering the "What other colleges are you applying to?" question: if one doesn't have a straight answer for that question that sounds plausible to each college on the application list, maybe some of those colleges shouldn't be on the list. </p>
<p>I don't have to imagine reasons why that question is asked, in practice, because I have already been told by one Ivy interviewer why he asks the question. He is not required to ask that question by his alma mater, but he asks the question because if the applicant doesn't indicate interest in any other Ivy-echelon schools, he reasons that the applicant doesn't really feel qualified to get into his alma mater school, and is likely correct in feeling that way. That may or may not be correct reasoning on the Ivy interviewer's part, but this itty-bitty anecdote illustrates that it is hard to be sure what "strategic" answer is strategic in a particular case. By contrast, an honest answer means you can go into every interview with a consistent story, and impress each interviewer that at least you have thought ahead and shown some capacity for mature, reasoned thought in building your college list. Then if Tufts still rejects you, there's nothing lost, especially if Harvard has accepted you meanwhile.</p>