<p>One college I am applying to has an optional section to write what other schools I am applying to. It's kind of like a tier 2 type of school...average.
Should I even put that I am applying to other colleges? If I should...should i put down the tougher schools I am applying to or the easier schools?</p>
<p>Good question. My daughter would like to know the answer to this, too. Anybody have an opinion?</p>
<p>Bump…</p>
<p>bump #2…</p>
<p>This has been discussed before in old threads. Its perfectly fine to leave it blank. (The college is just fishing for yield information.)</p>
<p>Also, it has been suggested to use a phrase like “Other similar level universities which offer my fields of interest.” </p>
<p>I think it can only cause trouble if you give your exact list–they will see your reach schools and possibly think, oh we are just the fallback school. You want to make each school believe you love THEM. (And hopefully you do if you are applying!)</p>
<p>so it sounds like its better to leave it blank than to write anything?</p>
<p>Leave it blank or use a vague phrase like, “Schools with strong writing programs.” Do not list the schools themselves.</p>
<p>well it kinda says
"College #1: "
"College #2: "
and so on</p>
<p>They are trying to entice you to spill your whole college apps plan–you do not have to! On the line of College # 1: “Various schools with strong xyz programs.”</p>
<p>Then leave the other lines blank.</p>
<p>nah dont tell them</p>
<p>I wouldn’t tell them</p>
<p>leave it blank. Some colleges trying to move up in the rankings will waitlist kids who they see are applying to better ranked schools and who they think will get in.</p>
<p>one other reason to leave it blank is financial aid. Colleges have latitude in determining your EFC, and even more in selecting the package to meet it (loans, grants, work-study, etc). If a tier-2 college can see they are the safety, they know the only way they’re going to be enrolling you is if everyone else above them says no. At that point you’re not going to have a lot of options, so they know they can give you a lousy FA package and you’ll take it.</p>
<p>I started a thread on this - and the overall response I got was to either leave it blank if its optional, or list a couple of peer colleges if it is mandatory to answer.</p>
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<p>Do you really think that the ad-coms at this school are so dense that they can’t figure out based on your application whether their school is a safety for you or not? Moreover people turn down higher ranked schools for “safeties” giving them better financial aid all the time. My bet is that a tier 2 school knows what it takes to attract a top candidate away from another school, and they know what kinds of packages those other schools offer. If they want you, it may well work in your favor to list those “better” schools. </p>
<p>If they really think that Hell has to freeze over before you’ll attend, then they’ll probably just outright reject you, and it won’t make much difference what you put down.</p>