<p>Before I enter the thread with my own opinion, has anyone tried asking the school(s) that asked this question what they do with it and whether or not declining to answer is an acceptable option? </p>
<p>Hearing the response from the schools themselves might help clarify a lot of this.</p>
<p>I know I have seen on some application forms (linked to in earlier threads on this subject) a statement by colleges that they are collecting the information solely for research purposes. (That is, they want to know what the competitor colleges are, to know what their student market is.) But it seems plain enough to me that most colleges that ask about this are colleges that offer ED programs, which are naturally interested in whether a student will honor an ED commitment.</p>
<p>Written statements and personal responses often have deviations; different schools may use varying levels of candor. </p>
<p>Personally, I have ethical problems with asking applicants to answer that question. Nevertheless, there's likely useful information to be gained by asking a school directly. You may hear back from the school that they don't see the answers to this question until after decisions get made. Plus, schools may be forthright in saying that it's completely okay to decline to answer. I'm NOT defending the practice, but there's a lot of speculation in this thread. Speculating after asking them is likely to be a good deal more productive.</p>
<p>i think you'd be fine if you don't list too many colleges.</p>
<p>daisy28 say that college is your first choice lol
I do't think it's a big deal if yo leavae it blank, or list some similar collegs, or list all colleges. I don't it will affect your chances much, since you'll get in after all if it's a safety.</p>
<p>It was mentioned in this thread that it would be reasonable/acceptable to leave the question of what other colleges you are applying to blank (if you want) since it is optional.</p>
<p>I discovered that whether it is optional varies by school. We discovered that, for the four schools S is applying to, the question is not listed as optional.</p>
<p>Leaving the slot blank when it is not listed as optional is a violation of 'answer all the questions' rule.</p>
<p>So let me throw the question out again, assuming that it is not an option to leave it blank:</p>
<p>What colleges should one put in this slot that asks what colleges are you applying to or are intending to apply to?</p>
<p>*If other colleges listed are more selective than the one in question, there is the risk that the college in question might feel 'disrespected', a second class citizen in the applicant's eyes.</p>
<p>*If other colleges listed are less selective than the one in question, there is the risk that the college in question might feel that the applicant is 'not a very strong candidate to be applying to dumps'; it could reduce the perceived strength of the applicant.</p>
<p>*If other colleges listed are equal or comparable in selectivity with the one in question, there is the risk that the college in question might feel that the applicant is not sincere in his or her proclamations of love for THAT particular college. "Oh, I bet you say that to all the colleges", says the blushing adcon.</p>
<p>Even though the colleges say it is for research only, the adcons are all humans and are subject to the biases noted above. It is an unfair question. to the extent that this is a bit of a poker match, it is almost tantamount to asking the adversary, ahem, I mean the applicant, to show his or her cards, or at least some of the cards.</p>
<p>I'm not fond of the idea that you have to list the names of all the colleges that you are applying to. I just found out that it doesn't really matter because collegeboard sends all the names they sent scores to. Either way, they know.</p>
<p>My FAQ post on this issue, post #20 in this thread, </p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4897353-post20.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4897353-post20.html</a> </p>
<p>suggests that if you want to protect yourself, mention the NACAC rules. Don't let a college bully you into reporting information you think is inexpedient to report, but you also shouldn't lie. Just respond to the question truthfully in a way that shows you have thought carefully about which colleges to apply to.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I just found out that it doesn't really matter because collegeboard sends all the names they sent scores to.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think that is incorrect, on the individual level. In other words, I don't think colleges get ANY report from College Board that lists what colleges each individual applicant applied to, applicant by applicant. It is certain (because College Board says so) that colleges get a report for the whole college listing what other colleges had score reports sent to them by students who also sent score reports to that particular college.</p>
<p>Collegeboard won't send information about where else you're applying.</p>
<p>I am sure that invoking NACAC would endear the applicant to the college. :) I guess it might show a certain feistiness free spirt and independence of thought, but if the applicant is not a super stud stats wise, it might be enough of a reason to deny - especially considering the hyper numbers that are applying.</p>
<p>(btw, I am speaking of top 100 LACs no higher than 50).</p>
<p>thanks, tokenadult, for the reference. Given that, it is amazing the they have teh gall to put that on the app, especially as non optional. The fine to that reference says ORDER and not mere mention of the colleges.</p>
<p>I personally called collegeboard yesterday and asked "When you send scores to the colleges that I request be sent my scores, do they also see the other colleges that I requested my scores sent to? " and the answer was YES. I asked why they would do that and she said "It's has always been our policy to do it this way."</p>
<p>Nickel,</p>
<p>collegeboard is not saying that you're are applying to these colleges. they are simply saying that when they send your scores, a list of all the other colleges who got your scores goes along with your scores. The actual colleges don't have any way of knowing whether or not you actually applied there or not. All they know is that you sent your scores to them.</p>
<p>guitars101; just wow.</p>
<p>If that is really true then it would be best to list all the schools in alpha ortder</p>
<p>Yes, but ultimately, colleges will know who are safety schools and who are reach. Oh well, either way all we can do is our best and hope that the right college accepts us and everyone is happy in the end.</p>
<p>People who answer the customer-service phone numbers for College Board frequently give out wrong information--as I found out once when some of my son's scores vanished from his record of scores--so I would double-check anything you hear about College Board policy on the phone with a written statement from College Board on the same policy. I have never seen a Web link that suggests that colleges see individuals' other colleges to which test scores were sent, as contrasted with colleges getting a report about where else all the colleges' applicants sent scores.</p>
<p>Token,</p>
<p>I'll send an e-mail and ask.</p>
<p>You can also be pretty sure that a college that asks this in an application will also ask it in an interview. And some will ask that don't ask it on the application.</p>
<p>good point about the colleges that recv scores are not necessarily ones that will be applied to. This might be why some schools ask for the schools.</p>
<p>my friend at work today thought that it would be reasonable to put comparable schools in the list on the assumption that colleges are bit like products/dealers, almost like cars, and they might want to know what their competition is. Another friend then chimed in, 'to give you sweeter deals' knowing that you are a savvy consumer of colleges and to distinguish them from their competition.</p>
<p>thoughts, anyone, on my friends' speculations? adcons as used car salesmen? (my characterization)</p>
<p>The recommendation to deal with the sent scores issue (sharing of where scores have been sent) is to stagger the actual sending - don't send to all schools on the same day if you can avoid it - because it is apparently the receipt that is included and not a deliberate "report". TokenAdult - I have been told this is true by a former admissions officer and a college counselor now. I do not feel that the schools have any right to ask this question on their applications. If they are declining students because they didn't answer that question then things are WAY out of control. That is a privacy issue. This whole situation needs some investigation - meaning the whole process. I spent many hours on the phone with CollegeBoard this week and I would be very surprised if you get a written answer, guitars101, to your question. On another issue, I was told yesterday, by someone in operations (and you need an act of God to get to operations), that the reason why they send cumulative scores (and don't offer score choice) is that the colleges requested it. Well, doesn't that make the concept of "we only look at the highest score" a bit in conflict with that. I feel very strongly that the students are being used and abused in the college admissions process. It is certainly not set up to help or respect the students, who are customers as well as the schools, but apparently not the priority customers. That may seem harsh but few l7 year olds would be able to get past the "agents" and "supervisors" at CB. And, most l7 year olds are now fearful that anything they do or say will impact their application to the point that they abdicate their rights quite readily. Kids should be protected from having to reveal this information and most kids, in an effort to please the school, would not think twice about filling it in honestly. One might ask the question - what is the need for this information in evaluating the qualifications of this student to attend school X? Why do they need this information to evaluate student's fit? The process is not respectful of the student's rights and there is no protection for students in this process.</p>