<p>Prompt: If you have applied or expect to apply to other colleges or universities this year, please name them.</p>
<p>This section is optional. Do you think it would count against your application if you didn't fill out anything in this box?</p>
<p>To me, this question seems like kind of a cheap shot. As if listing a bunch of ivies indicates that Rice is beneath you or vice versa. Let me know your thoughts.</p>
<p>Shouldn’t matter either way. Just list the schools you’re applying to.</p>
<p>Optional means optional. As Dorian_Mode said, it shouldn’t matter either way.</p>
<p>First of all, as already mentioned, it’s optional. Secondly, it’s just another piece of data for the adcoms to better understand you. Are you applying to lots of LACs? Research universities? International schools? Believe it or not, the schools you apply to says something (granted, maybe not a tremendous amount) about you.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a “cheap shot” because the application is not working against you to begin with. Plus, why would listing Rice’s peers (i.e. Ivys) indicate Rice is below them? I don’t understand that logic, and if I remember correctly, at least one or two Ivys ask the same thing.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>When my son applied he answered that question completely and honestly. We never thought it was big deal.</p>
<p>Although for a second there I was going to suggest that he ask them to first give the names of all the other applicants they were considering. Seemed fair to me. But, as I said, that was just for a second.</p>
<p>Not to be snippety, but if you use the search feature, you will find that this exact question was asked and discussed ad nauseum in the ED process this year.</p>
<p>To be more helpful, I will tell you that listing every school you apply to will not hurt you. I listed a ridiculous number of other places last winter and still got in just fine. Many others did the same.</p>
<p>Will not answering the question hurt you??? I mean, is it better just to answer it?</p>
<p>For future applicants, it is easier to list them and it will not hurt. If you leave it blank, they may wonder why you are skirting the question.</p>
<p>Be honest. Lots of us were honest and got in and also some with scholarships</p>