Not sure how to answer this question “list other schools applying for” - for MT’ers, it could be a long list 
We are in the same position. My D is putting one reach, one middle and one safety. We do not know if that is the correct way to handle the question but this is how we are proceeding.
Hmm I don’t remember D having this question on her apps… maybe it’ll come up in interviews.
To make things manageable (and D only had 11 schools total- I can’t imagine what people with 20 do!) We included other bfa schools on bfa applications, and other BA schools on BA applications. It wasn’t that we were trying to hide info, but we thought of the two groupings as “path A” and “path B”.
You list 1-2 at the same level as the school you 're applying to, 1 above, 1 below
Please, people, SEARCH! These questions have been answered many times!!
You don’t have to answer this question on the apps. I don’t remember what my D did, but I know some who haven’t and have been fine.
Not sure if this is still the case, but be aware that there is at least 1 school that will not only ask you to list them, they also want you to rank them. My daughter ran into that on a form she was asked to fill out at her on campus audition with this school and as it was nowhere near the top of her rankings and she asked me what to do. My advice was, “if they are ridiculous enough to ask you that question, you are under no obligation to answer it truthfully.”
Maybe writing in “I’d rather not respond” would have been better advice but it took me off guard too.
Even tougher than applications is when students are asked this question during audition/interview. I watched a panel event with Barbara Mackenzie Wood (of CMU) over the weekend- and she said they ask every single kid. (She said it wasn’t to trip kids up- more as a conversation starter. I recommend having a plan before going in so a kid doesn’t feel put on the spot
My first kid was honest about the ranking of other colleges and didn’t get into the one program that asked (which very well could have been for any other reason), but my second kid ranked the questioning school first or second, depending on how it really ranked related to others according to popular opinion (more than one school asked that year) and got into those programs (again, could have been any other reason as well). I agree that with @halflokum that if they’re ridiculous enough to ask specifically (not just a conversation starter like, “What other college programs interest you and why?”), then you can use that opportunity to practice those acting skills you’ve been developing.
I’ve also heard that, if this type of question gets asked during an interview, the auditioner could say something like, “I’d like to concentrate on (this school) right now. It’s one of my top choices/my top choice because (list of good reasons it is on the auditioner’s list).” If they asked again, then tell them a few that seem most like that one.
I’ve actually had a discussion about this with Barbara at CMU and her reason for asking does make sense. She is trying to get a feel for what types of programs the students are really interested in (conservatory, BA, BM, BFA, etc) and uses that in the conversations. So if you are applying to all types of programs, and you tell them, you should know the differences in the curriculums and have reasons for why you chose to apply to each of the different types of programs. Don’t just make it appear to them that you are casting a wide net in hopes of getting in somewhere.
^^^Except asking one to rank in order of preference doesn’t “really” get at the types of programs an 17-18 year old is basing their preferences on and I’m sure these admissions veterans know it. From my daughter’s list it would have been clear that she was looking at schools with an academic component included in “conservatory-like” curriculum but that’s really all one could glean unless they asked for more information as to why the schools were ranked as they were.
There was one school that was an exception to the academic component on her list but more or less the others fell somewhere in that category though two or three of them frankly had “iffy” academics but not zero. The only thing that one could have gleaned from her honestly ranking the schools would have had nothing whatsoever to do with the MT program as some down the list including the school that asked, have solid Mt programs. Her list would have been more a function of location which the schools lower on the list including the one that asked could not solve, and her view of the quality of the academics which these schools,including the one who asked could solve but so far had not in a way that was attractive to her.
Point being, just asking for a ranking doesn’t tell you anything. It’s an incomplete question so schools should not ask it in a vacuum and since this school did, I felt OK saying “hell go ahead and rank this one #1 because it’s a stupid stand alone question.” A conversation like people are describing maybe happens at CMU is a better opportunity to provide real context as would an elaboration as to why one ranked things as they did. Just a list tells you little.
I completely agree with @halflokum and, while @Dusing2 's conversation with Barbara at CMU sounds like it may be an interesting starting point, that same info could be gleaned by asking a student about the types of programs he is interested in (conservatory, BA, etc) and why, without looking like they’re trying to trick these kids in some way. There are so many rules that our kids have to/feel like they have to follow in this process (don’t look directly at the auditors, shake their hands/don’t shake their hands, slate/don’t slate, pick a monologue/song that fits your age/gender/race/lifestyle, or one that definitely doesn’t, use a piece of music that shows off your strengths, but don’t show off too much, etc…) that some of them are on edge that one misstep could spell rejection. Even if a ranked list doesn’t hold weight for admission, for many of our kids that’s exactly what it looks like it does. Also, at best, a ranked list would only be a snapshot of that moment of time in the life of a kid who is probably not even old enough to vote. Even if the school is truly not fishing for where they are in the list, it looks needy on the part of the school–rank me first or else…
Wow! @lovetoact you are right these kids have to jump through so many hoops. I am not even telling my daughter about this she is stressed enough as it it. They will have to just love the way she sings, acts and dances. I am hoping for a good outcome. She is prepared I don’t want her to be freaked out by these questions. I will tell her to just answer honestly. She will get in where she is suppose to go I really believe that.
@Mel2421- you know your kid best… but fair warning, I have heard of schools asking this (or other questions) BEFORE the actual audition - which can really rattle kids (throwing off their ability to sing, dance, or act) if they are not prepared.
Yikes @toowonderful Thanks! I will tell my daughter to read through this thread then. Thanks for heads up. We will take in seriously now.
@Mel2421 - my own kid was tripped up at a school that “should” have been a good match for her (no guarantees in BFA I know, but this was not one of her “reachiest” reaches) when they asked a question about her monologue before she started. What seemed rude was NOT that they asked about the play (she was well prepared for that- having read the full play) but asking for a comparison to another of the author’s plays which she had NOT read. (it was a Neil LaBute play, and she was familiar with “several” of his shows - but not all of them) Anyway- it threw her badly, and it was her only audition that she really felt badly about afterwards - meaning that she didn’t feel she had done what she could.
While I agree with your dislike of the question itself, I think it is best not to elaborate too much with our kids on how bad the question is as we don’t want them dwelling on anything negative or get too stressed about it. Rather, arm them with ways in which they might answer it just in case it comes up.
If it is a general, broad question, I think the suggestion of naming a few schools that are similar to the one at which you are auditioning is fine. Maybe put one that is a bit more academically challenging and one a little less so to make your list seem well rounded. You do not have to list every school at which you will be auditioning. Maybe you have them chosen because of geography. Or cost. Or type of program. Whatever the reason, make sure the group of schools has a purpose - that you don’t appear to be randomly auditioning for every type of program all over the country (even if you are). Make the school at hand feel they are what you are looking for in a school. They are not going to be checking to see how accurate your answer was so if your list varies from school to school, that will be ok.
If you are asked to rank them, I think the advice of ranking the school asking the question at or near the top of your list is very wise. Nobody wants to see themselves 4th or 5th on a list. And if they do so, they probably won’t extend an offer even if they like you because they will presume you are going to attend another school since they are so far down on your list. I would always recommend putting them 1 or 2.
I also like @myloves suggestion of how to answer: “I’d like to concentrate on (this school) right now. It’s one of my top choices/my top choice because (list of good reasons it is on the auditioner’s list).” If they persist, name a couple of others, but I think putting the focus on the school at hand is a great idea.
And I agree with @toowonderful - I would err on the side of preparing my student with answers to potential questions so they are not blind sided rather than not make them aware of questions that could come up. Develop ways i which you are comfortable responding and practice some Q and A. Chances are most times the questions won’t come up in the audition. But if they do, your student will not get flustered because they will have an answer to give in most instances.
That is awful! @toowonderful these kids have enough to deal with for them to through out stuff like that makes no sense to me.