<p>Should I really put all of them? I'm applying to some higher ranked schools (Pton, Stanford, Yale) and some lower ranked schools. The question is optional, but I don't want it to look like I have something to hide.</p>
<p>They are just compiling info. They want to see which other schools kids who apply to Rice are also considering. Answer honestly just like everything else on your app.</p>
<p>Mention 2-3 that are similar to Rice. No school wants to feel like a safety and showing colleges that are similar indicates consistency on your part.</p>
<p>My son will be applying to Rice, but hasn’t started their supplement. If the question is optional, he will leave it blank. Colleges will find this info out (through some central reporting system) after the whole admissions cycle next spring, so IMO that info is none of their business now.</p>
<p>If you want to answer it, I would do as MYOS1634 suggested, and add something along the lines of “final list not yet determined”. You could also add your state’s public flagship in there too.</p>
<p>When I was applying, I think Boston U asked me the same question and I answered honestly…I applied to all but 2 ivy leagues, and caltech, stanford, etc…so it was pretty obvious that Boston U was a safety but I was still accepted with a huge scholarship that I didn’t even ask for. </p>
<p>So I don’t think it really matters…just answer honestly.</p>
<p>I asked a Rice admissions officer at an information session why this question is on their application. She said that they look to see whether the student is applying to similar schools. When I told her that I thought it was inappropriate to ask the question, she said that the answers rarely make any difference in an applicant’s decision.</p>
<p>@siliconvalleymom So do they want you to be applying to similar schools or not?</p>
<p>Yes, they want to see that you are applying to similar schools. Her implication was that the answer that would hurt a candidate was a list of schools that didn’t make sense or seemed like they were chosen just for their ranking.</p>
<p>Previous poster:</p>
<p>Through what “central reporting service” do colleges find out later what schools you applied to?</p>