<p>So I've heard that it's bad to mention that you're applying to other schools when they ask you during the interview. But isn't it bad if they also find out if you lie? Some interviewers don't seem to believe you either... So what should I say when they ask?</p>
<p>Tell them the truth. They can find out where else if your applying if they really want to.</p>
<p>Ugh… I didn’t know that. I heard that if they knew you were applying at other schools, they’re just reject you automatically, because they don’t like the competition or something…
I already told three schools that I wasn’t applying at any other schools, and I’m really applying to five…
Will this be a huge problem?</p>
<p>Ehh, not too much of a problem, but I mean they probably didn’t believe you if it was a very competitive school. They could always assume that you changed your mind and decided to apply to other ones as well. But they know competition is tough so they expect you broaden your search. Like at my alumni Andover interview, the guy goes ‘well, I assume you are applying to other schools may I ask which ones?’ And I told him. It is really hard to get into Andover so they know most of their applicants will apply to other schools. He did ask me what my first choice was, and I told him the truth, it was Andover. But I don’t know what I would do in that situation if another school that wasn’t my first choice asked me. If another school asks me, I will just tell them I’m undecided on my first choice. Because I’m guessing the school wouldn’t feel too compelled to admit me if they weren’t my first choice.</p>
<p>They all seemed to believe me, because I told them that I was only interested in the specifics of what their school offered, and Andover never asked me :). All I’m applying to are quite competitive.
The last school didn’t believe me… well, she told me that I should apply at more schools, which probably isn’t a good sign :(.
So it doesn’t mess up your chances if they know your applying at other schools?
Thanks for your advice.</p>
<p>No, it shouldn’t mess up your chances if they know you are applying to other schools. As a long as you demonstrate a genuine interest in the school then it shouldn’t matter too much. Like I said though if you do tell a school that they are not your first choice then that might do something to your chances. But I really don’t think they would ask you that, I think i was asked that just because my Andover interview was alumni and more casual.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, I feel so much more relieved now… Same with my Andover interview, alumni too.
Thanks ;)</p>
<p>Here’s the advice I would have given you (from a parental POV):</p>
<p>If it’s early in the process, when you still might be revising your “apply to” list, I think it’s fair to say “I don’t know yet.” I’m pretty sure that an AO asked me what other schools we were considering in a parent interview…to which I responded something like “We’ve been to School X, School Y, and School Z so far and we plan to visit a few more…so I don’t think we can say which ones seem like a good fit just yet.” I think I may been asked this by more than one AO, and if we liked the school, I probably added “I can say that we like what we see at your school.”</p>
<p>Now, if it’s later in the process, like in December…when you should have a better picture of what schools you will spend the next few weeks working on applications for, then I think you just tell them the list straight up. And if you happen to really like the school of the AO who’s doing the asking, you say “I’m going to apply to School X, School Y, and School Z…but your school is really standing out to me at the moment.” Only say that last part if it’s true, btw. No need for false flattery.</p>
<p>Here’s a blunt question: Did you ever ask your folks for advice on how to respond to this question?</p>