<p>My son, who is a high school senior, just had an interview at a prestigious school. During the interview, the interviewer asked my son what other schools he had applied to. He also asked whether my son had applied Early Decision to any other schools. My son answered honestly that he had applied Early Decision to one of the other schools he had applied to. </p>
<p>I feel as though this was inappropriate question--it was none of the interviewer's business if my son had applied Early Decision to one of the schools he applied to. Now that the interviewer knows the truth, I now believe my son's chance of getting into the school he interviewed at today will be decreased. </p>
<p>I would appreciate knowing other perspectives as to how my son should have answered this question.</p>
<p>My son when asked by his Harvard interviewer why he hadn’t applied to Harvard single choice early action (This was a few years ago when that was an option), told the truth, that he thought he was a better fit for MIT and Caltech so he’d applied early to them instead. It didn’t stop Harvard from accepting my son. (And come April he still thought a techie school was a better fit and went to Carnegie Mellon.)</p>
<p>Well, if he’s applied ED somewhere then this college wasn’t his first choice and he was honest about that. Is there really any other way to answer this question and be truthful if directly asked other than simply saying “yes” and giving no more information. It probably won’t decrease his chaces if he’s highly qualified for the college with which he was interviewing.</p>
<p>My perspective is that you should be thanking your lucky stars that you successfully raised your son to answer interview questions truthfully, instead of spinning them with falsehoods just to get a desired outcome.</p>
<p>Was this an alumni interview? If so – Chances are very good that even if the interviewer includes this information in his report, the admissions people will ignore it. They know that the acceptance rate at these schools is so low that the chance of getting in to one’s first choice is slim.</p>
<p>It is an inappropriate question and the admissions people know that.</p>
<p>Harvard asks alumni interviewers not to ask students where else they applied, and not to base interview reports on how interested students seem to be in Harvard. I’ve noticed from posts on CC that some alum interviewers don’t seem to follow that advice, but Harvard’s stand on those issues is clear. </p>
<p>I was surprised while interviewing students that several students volunteered what other colleges they’d applied to. I have no idea why they revealed such info unless they did so out of nervousness.</p>
<p>Of course, if a student gets accepted somewhere ED, unless the ED school releases the student from their commitment (and typically such schools need a verifiable good reason such as the student’s not being able to afford the school), Harvard will not accept the student or – if Harvard learns about the ED acceptance after admitting the student, Harvard will rescind its acceptance.</p>
<p>I’ve asked what other schools the interviewee has applied to, because often the answer helps tell the student’s story about what school they think fits them better.</p>
<p>I make it clear they don’t have to answer. By and large, most have answered, but I have never asked if an ED candidate applied ED elsewhere.</p>
<p>I am not sure if my school’s Admissions office uses it.</p>