<p>On the George Washington University common app supplement, it asks you to list the other colleges that you are applying to. I am wondering if its better to list only my higher caliber schools (so they think I have aspirations higher than them and that they should try and secure me before another one else does), only my lower caliber schools (so they think that they are at the top of my list), or all of them.</p>
<p>Colleges often say they ask only for statistics purposes, but if that was true there’re ways they can get this information anonymously. And believe me, this information can be used against you.</p>
<p>If you list only better schools then they’ll think they’re your last choice, and they’ll only hear from you again if everyone else says no. This means a lousy financial aid package, and perhaps flat out rejection (google tufts syndrome). If you list only worse schools then they might think they are your reach and you’d be so delighted to get in you’ll enroll no matter what, again they give you a lousy financial aid package.</p>
<p>So your first two attempts to game the system are nonstarters. I suggest you just play it safe. Everyone has a safety, so will your list. Add a couple of schools that are competitors, of slightly above and slightly below their level. And then a school that’s an obvious reach.</p>
<p>I’d also suggest putting down schools that are of a similar type. For example, if you are applying to a huge school in a big city, and you list 8 LACs in tiny towns as your other choices . . . well, that looks weird.</p>
<p>Or you can opt for vagueness with a phrase something like: “I am applying to other schools which also have strong programs in the xyz major.”</p>
<p>Or you can leave it blank.</p>