<p>When a school such as GWU asks you to list other colleges you are applying to, should I list all or just some. They claim the list will not impact their evaluation of you as a candidate.</p>
<p>Although there are some variables, in general the adcoms can have a decent idea of what your match, safeties and reaches are.</p>
<p>How do you respond to this application question?</p>
<p>I would just be honest, although it really doesn't matter. Its not going to tell them anything they can't figure out from your stats, and they're not going to reject you just because they don't like the colleges you list.</p>
<p>I think it is an unfair question which they may very well decide your fate upon. What if I applied to Cornell, Emory, Boston U and American?
Would they state that Cornell and Emory were higher priorities for me and that American was my safety. </p>
<p>I guess you need to answer the question as opposed to leaving it blank. I might consider listing some but not of the other schools.</p>
<p>The commonapp is anonymous when applying but the CSS and FAFSA may not be.</p>
<p>The consensus answer to this question on the parent's forum is that you should list 2 or 3 colleges that you are applying to that are similar in "rank" to the one you are filling out...e.g., if you are applying to GWU, you might list American if you are applying to that school. It would not be a good idea to list your "reaches" if the school is not a reach, since they might believe that you are applying to them solely as a safety, and reject you a la "Tuft's Syndrome".</p>
<p>Be fairly honest. I think people get kinda paranoid about that question, but I've heard it's:
1) They want to see a common trend in your colleges. Did you take the time to research them and find schools that fit you and actually make sense? (This came from the Davidson admissions office)</p>
<p>2) Overlap. What schools provide potential competition? (This is common sense)</p>
<p>Excellent point! Our goal as applicants is to gain acceptance and not sabotage our efforts with a misleading question which is "not used in the evaluation process".</p>
<p>These days with the commonapp, we can apply to multiple schools with the click of a button so I guess the adcoms are attempting to evaluate our interest and prioritization of their school.
It would be more appropriate for them to track and evaluate interest by alternative means.</p>
<p>So there are different strategies to respond to this question.</p>
<p>i wouldnt try to give the impression that the school is a safety.</p>
<p>I don't think they would put too much weight on it either way, considering that theres no way to really validate what you put down. And even if they do consider it, don't overanalyze it. People spend too much time trying to manipulate the system. Just tell them where you are applying. Its really not that big of a deal.</p>
<p>Can't schools verify where you apply if you submit the College Profile or FAFSA.</p>
<p>Even if they can, I don't think they do. Otherwise, whats the point of asking the question (and what would be the point of limiting your list if they see them all anyway)?</p>