How to answer question "please list other colleges you are applying to."

<p>What should I say to this? Is there any use in lying and listing colleges that are less prestigious so as to make that college seem like my number 1, or does it not matter at all? What do they use this information for?</p>

<p>In my opinion, i don’t think it is any of their business to know that information. However, you don’t wanna lie so i think u shld just tell them the truth</p>

<p>This is one of those questions I hated answering. I once applied for this prestigious scholarship, only to be used at an Arizona state university (not necessarily ASU). One of the questions they asked me in an interview was, “What other colleges are you applying to?” I was like, “Uh…Caltech and MIT?” Rejected from the scholarship.</p>

<p>I’m bumping this. What rspence said kinda scares me now</p>

<p>Son decided to not apply to Rice when they asked this question last year. Rice lost an applicant, and son didn’t have to lie. If he listed the schools that he applied to (Ivies), I doubt that the info will make him a stronger applicant to Rice. He started at Brown yesterday. It’s Rice’ loss to manage their yield, but none of their business to ask.</p>

<p>Why not just list one or two peer schools? You don’t want the target school to think you see them as a safety.</p>

<p>[Uncommon</a> Common App Tips - YouTube](<a href=“Uncommon Common App Tips - YouTube”>Uncommon Common App Tips - YouTube)</p>

<p>I used to watch this guy, he gives advice about your question as well. Plus he’s really funny. :D</p>

<p>Go to 1:18 to skip the first tip, yours is second.</p>

<p>I think there is an argument for answering this question fully and honestly if the student’s application list is well-chosen. For example, a student applying to Amherst SHOULD also be applying to Williams, because if the fit is right at one, it should be right at the other.
I think students who are hurt by answering this question are those who apply to every Ivy League school or every school in the top ten of the USNWR rankings, because their list seems to demonstrate a lack of personal reflection about fit.</p>

<p>My approach was to list schools in the same selectivity range or a little bit lower. So if you are applying to MIT I would write something like Cal Tech, Cornell, John-Hopkins, and Duke. If one of your ‘safety’ schools asks, list schools you are applying to in the same selectivity range, don’t list the schools that more selective because it will make it seem like you don’t really want to go there.</p>

<p>One listed his schools, one just peer schools, one random schools. I think it is a MYOB question too, but it is asked.</p>