The "what other colleges have you applied to" question

Applying to College
1

<p>What do you tell your interviewers when they ask you this question? Do you say the big name schools you applied to (for example I stated that I applied to Princeton and Columbia at a BS/MD interview). Was I supposed to say the "bad" schools that I applied to so that I could let the interviewer know that the program was my 1st choice?</p>

<p>In an nutshell.. should you say the "great" schools you applied to at an interview or should you omit those schools and just mention the "bad" schools?</p>

2

<p>I’d mention schools that they consider “below” them so they don’t think you will pass them up for a better school.</p>

3

<p>Thanks. I thought that much. Hopefully my interview was good enough. The worst part about it is that the program is my first choice.</p>

<p>Any other opinions?</p>

4

<p>bump ^^^^^^^</p>

5

<p>Making it too clear they are your first choice can hurt you in financial aid. After all, it stands to figure you’ll accept a worse package to go there. Letting them know you prefer other schools isn’t a good idea either; otherwise you run the risk of Tuffs syndrome.</p>

<p>So give them a neutral package. Mention some peer schools. Have an obvious safety. It’s also pretty typical to apply to one of your state colleges.</p>

<p>This is a highly inappropriate question to be asked. The interviewer for school X is not your counselor. You’re not turning to them for advice. So cross that rationale off the list. If they want to know where their applications are applying, there are many other ways to find out that information once the application cycle is done. The National Student Clearinghouse, for example, supplies just this information. Having eliminated the innocent explanations, understand that knowing where you applied before decisions are made can be used to your detriment.</p>

6

<p>To Georgetown: “GWU, American, some SUNYS, whatever.”
To Harvard: “Georgetown and UChicago, but obvi those suck.”</p>

7

<p>Thanks guys.</p>

8

<p>yeah I didn’t list every other college when asked that question</p>

9

<p>I would have thought that ones that are similar (or just slightly less) would be best. Plus maybe an obvious saftey or two. This way they will know that they are not the safety nor a reach but they target. This way they will put forth some effort to show that they are better than the others.</p>