The "Where Else Are You Applying" blank

<p>Someone clear this up for me, please. On some colleges' applications, there is a blank that says "What other colleges are you applying to?" It seems that this would be a pretty straightforward question, but I've heard all sorts of ideas as to what it's best to put down. First of all, why do colleges care where else we are applying? And secondly, why should we tell them? Is there some benefit to leaving it blank or listing them all or only the reaches or safeties,etc? What's the deal?</p>

<p>The colleges want to "guage" interest, as well as where they fall on your list of choices.</p>

<p>I'd list schools that are similar to the school you're applying to, and not too much more selective.</p>

<p>do some ivies do this?</p>

<p>I dunno about ivies, Davidson is the school I am applying to that does. So would it be a bad idea to just leave it blank if I wanted to?</p>