<p>Temple came to my high school today, and I happened to be the only one there (squeee!), so it was just the rep, another GC, and I talking. It went lovely, she was impressed by how much I knew about it. I didn't hesitate to say it was my top choice.</p>
<p>Anyways, my question is: is it SO bad to name another college while conversing? I just said it was "another college", but it was meant to point out what I really like about Temple. </p>
<p>She wasn't phased by it or anything, but I worry myself to death. I didn't want to look like I was considering a billion other schools and lying to her, because I wasn't.</p>
<p>When I was an admissions rep, it was always considered highly unprofessional for an admissions person to say something negative about another institution.</p>
<p>Obviously an applicant isn't bound by those same rules. And most students do apply to multiple institutions, so ad reps know you are comparing and contrasting institutions. Unless you're ED, no one expects you to prove your loyalty by not considering other schools! However, usually conversations between reps and prospective students focus on the college in question. Other schools may come up in passing, there is nothing odd or inappropriate about that.</p>
<p>Sometimes, I confess, I was secretly pleased when an applicant mentioned ways in which a competitor fell short (in their estimation). Howver, it was off-putting if the student seemed to be doing it to deliberately win favor. It sounds to me like you weren't doing anything of the sort.</p>
<p>Stop over-analyzing, you'll be fine. People aren't perfect and sometimes we can say things we'll regret, but others won't even notice or care. Just take it easy knowing that meeting probably boosted your chances of getting in.</p>