What is the reason colleges ask what other schools you're applying to?

<p>I was wondering what other parents thought of the question... What other schools are you applying? My daughter is wondering whether or not she should list all the other schools. Do you believe that the list could have a negative impact?
Any thoughts?</p>

<p>I assume they do this to identify their competition and then figure out how to improve.</p>

<p>They want to figure out whether you’ll go there if accepted. It’s all about yield.</p>

<p>My honest opinion is that I think it is none of their business where else my S/D is applying, but I do not know the actual reason for the question (altho’ my guess is that limabeans is correct) . I do not counsel my kids to lie, so I suggested that they list a couple of colleges they are seriously considering, that look similar to, or are lower-ranked than the asking college, and leave it at that.</p>

<p>So far my d has only done two early apps so she has put “undecided” in that space. After all, her list isn’t totally finalized yet ;)</p>

<p>Here is a fun thread that discusses this question - my d and I got quite the chuckle out of some of the responses.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/791706-listing-other-colleges-applications.html#post1063347108[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/791706-listing-other-colleges-applications.html#post1063347108&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>see also the thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/795734-why-do-applications-ask-about-other-schools-youre-applying.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/795734-why-do-applications-ask-about-other-schools-youre-applying.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This won’t stop at the application process, either. Both of my D’s received emails from the admissions departments of schools they were admitted to but turned down asking them to indicate which school they chose to enroll in, and why.</p>