<p>Grinnell asks for a list of other colleges to which applicants are applying. It doesn't say optional, yet having a large list with more prestigious schools can't but hurt my chances significantly.</p>
<p>However, I see Grinnell as my BEST chance to go to a top college (16 in USN, no other merit-aid schools are about the 30s) and get substantial money for doing so. I just hope that they don't see themselves as one of the pack, they are the leader in the money-giving (and thus very important) schools.</p>
<p>on the other hand, they might offer you more money in hopes of competing with the more selective schools on your list that they believe you might get in to and go to instead of grinnell.
besides it doesnt really matter, just put down the schools and send in your app. there's nothing you can do about it.</p>
<p>yeah I definitely left mine blank too. I guess I didn't think about the whole scholarship/financial aid thing, though, which is actually a really good way to look it at. Originally I felt it as more of a negative gauge, and I've left it blank on all of my applications if they've asked. </p>
<p>Most colleges ask for that...I don't think its anything bad. I think it would be bad if you were going Harvard Yale Princeton Brown and Grinnell. But chances are then you really couldn't care less if you were going to Grinnell or not. Usually they can tell pretty well where they fall in the list, whether they should give you enough money to get you or shouldn't bother bc you're sure not going there. I put all my schools on there and they are even with everything except my top choice WashU, so I'm expecting them to give me competitive financial aid because they know that if I don't go to WashU, they may very well be the next notch down.</p>