How do colleges know where else you are applying?

<p>I have researched my schools carefully, but I will still end up applying to 10+ schools. I know colleges care about interest, so is there any way they would know where else you are applying?</p>

<p>no, they won’t know. But most schools know the caliber of students that apply and other natural draws to them. For instance, let’s say you live in Michigan or Virginia but are also applying to some tippy top colleges. All of those schools will know you’ll also apply to UMich or UVA because they’re such excellent nearby schools.</p>

<p>Don’t worry about it. Schools are secure enough to know that applicants apply to their competitors.</p>

<p>applying for financial aid doesn’t let them know other colleges you are applying to either, right?</p>

<p>I find it hard to believe that you’ve done “very careful research” but have 10+ schools.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I’ve heard that, but it could be a rumor so…idk?</p>

<p>Some schools ask on their apps. Up to you whether you answer fully, or at all.</p>

<p>if you apply for aid, the list of schools you send your FAFSA to will be available for all your schools to see</p>

<p>Isn’t the FAFSA deadline usually near the end of the year? Most decisions are already out by that time</p>

<p>So if a college can see all the colleges an applicant has applied to would they be turned off by an applicant who has applied to many elite schools?</p>

<p>^In simple words, yes.</p>

<p>I was planning on applying to Rice, JHU, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Brown, Washinton U and some safeties. Should I still go ahead ?</p>

<p>just make sure you make it seem like you are not shotgunning applications</p>

<p>I applied to Rice (where i went), Tufts, CMU, JHU, Chicago, Cornell and a couple others.</p>

<p>Aren’t need blind admissions not allowed to check Financial records?</p>

<p>@XTewodrosX: It is completely fine :).</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>That is not how many need blind schools define “need blind admissions”. In many cases, “need blind” simply means that applying for financial aid will not be an inpediment to admissions.</p>

<p>I don’t think the other schools you’re applying to really affect the decision as long as you express enough interest in the school. I got an e-mail from a Northwestern music professor (I auditioned for their music school) asking me about my commitment to music (because on the music app you’re supposed to list all the other schools you’re applying to, and mine were HYPSM, Columbia, Dartmouth, and UCs, all unrelated to music). I basically just reassured him that I was committed to music and would strongly consider attending Northwestern’s dual degree program … a couple of days later I was accepted, despite the fact that the other schools on my list were all academically elite and completely unrelated to music.</p>

<p>I don’t think the fact that it’s music makes a difference. I think as long as the admissions officers want to admit you, you will be admitted (barring the yield protection that some schools do).</p>

<p>There are some schools concerned about yield–Tufts, WUSTL, LACs–that notorious for turning down kids without clear demonstrated interest. Still, there are ways to show interest without applying only to that school, or to that school and safeties. </p>

<p>For starters, you never have to tell schools to what other schools you’re applying. And if you do, you can say something vague like, “Schools with strong anthropology departments,” (there’s a thread on tactfully avoiding the question somewhere out there). If it comes up in an interview, casually turn the question away with something like, “Oh, you know, [flagship university] and a few others, but X is at the top of my list,” (assuming it is). </p>

<p>You can show your interest by attending college fairs, interviewing, answering the “Why X” question genuinely and with detail, emailing your regional admissions officer, applying ED…</p>