<p>At the Yale Questbridge conference, one of the admissions officers (perhaps from Yale, though I don't remember--he was an African American male) warned of mentioning schools in your common app. He even went as far as to say that some colleges will throw out an application when they see another college's name. </p>
<p>Now, I didn't have time to prod him on this topic--and as much as I feel that some cases are acceptable, I'd like some elucidation of his words. I, for example, competed in Fall 2010 in a moot court competition held at Princeton University and run by Princeton students. My team placed and considered the competition (which attracts people from the tri-state area and beyond) a significant accomplishment, considering the time investment. </p>
<p>I don't think I can describe the competition in any way without explicitly stating where it was held. Would any colleges judge if I include it? My intuition says they will not; after all, it is not my choice where the competition is held, and my competing is by no means an endorsement of Princeton. But the admissions officers' words were disconcerting. </p>
<p>So, how would college admissions officers (and also Princeton ones, to throw that out there) view this?</p>
<p>You could just mention the competition was held by a highly-regarded university. I don’t think mentioning the name would be a problem, but the risk may not be worth mentioning the name if you can get around it.</p>
<p>I can’t say for sure, but I’d assume that they were talking more of the “…and that’s why I want to go to Princeton” essay endings. Taking part in a program at a college is an activity or accomplishment, which you should definitely discuss on your application. Good luck!</p>
<p>I mentioned other universities in my application, as it was the only way to describe which national debate tournaments I had attended/placed at, and I was fine. I think he meant it in the way that an admissions officer I talked to at Notre Dame said, “We don’t want to be reading your essay and see you describing why you want to go to USC, when they just beat us in football the week before.”</p>
<p>Its kinda risky, but I don’t think it will be to bad if you mention it since (like you said) it adds to thought of difficulty (sorry couldn’t think of any better wording). I just wouldn’t say that much about it.</p>
<p>I think you are mis-interpreting his intent. There is nothing wrong with saying that you won a Poetry contest sponsored by Harvard. What the adcom was getting at is making a simple mistake such as concluding in your common app, “Ever since I won this contest and visited H to obtain my award, I’ve always wanted to attend H for college.” </p>
<p>And then sending that exact same essay to Yale. (I’m sure the Yale adcom will be happy to oblige by immediately rejecting you!)</p>
<p>All right, so if I just state “Moot Court competition held at Princeton University,” for example, I should be fine? That’s what I figured; I’m just an early victim of Admission Season Paranoia Syndrome.</p>
<p>Yes, another vote with EmilyL and bluebayou.</p>
<p>A young woman I know works in admissions at a college in Washington, DC. When she does information sessions, she always ends with the advice, “Proofread your essays. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read an essay that says how much a student wants to go to college in Boston. I always say, ‘Good luck with that. You won’t be coming here.’”</p>