<p>"There are several reasons colleges may want to ask this question, but they just shouldn't ask it. It puts unfair pressure on students. I think it is appropriate to politely and truthfully evade the question."</p>
<p>Agreed. I'm surprised that so many believe they are morally obligated to answer a question just because someone asks it. Some things in life are personal and no one's business. </p>
<p>If a college wishes to have this information, they should ask for it anonymously. It seems that many students give only partial lists anyway, so these colleges are getting very poor data.</p>
<p>I do not think giving an incomplete answer is lying in any way. When I apply for a credit card, I feel no obligation to list all of my sources of income. I list enough to qualify. A student answering this question can do the same: Truthfully list as many colleges as you feel comfortable listing.</p>
<p>I don't see why any student should have to wonder how the information will be used or whether it will hurt their chances for admission. Just give a truthful answer with which you are comfortable, IMHO.</p>
<p>I don't like this question, either. :( The only school on my list that asks me this (RPI) is unfortunately one of the ones in which I haven't really been able to "show interest" by visiting or anything. I'm applying to two Ivy League schools and I think like all of my schools are top 25... :[ But I'm genuinely interested in RPI. Urghhh. </p>
<p>I'm thinking about, like, "Other schools with outstanding cognitive science / neuroscience departments: [list in alphabetical order]" or something...</p>
<p>
[quote]
an alum interviewer . . . immediately put my son on the spot and ask[ed] him exactly where College X was on his list...and to name his list in the exact order of preferences.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Colleges are obligated under NACAC rules to ensure that all persons involved in their admission process, including alumni interviewers, know the NACAC rules and follow them. Any student can say, "I'm not going to respond to this question because you're not supposed to ask this" if the student is not making an ED application.</p>
<p>To correct a mistaken point made above, colleges do NOT learn from College Board where else individual students are sending SAT scores. I asked a College Board representative about this last year, and he linked me to the data format for College Board score reports for individual students sent to colleges, and that report doesn't even include fields showing where else the student is sending scores. </p>
<p>Colleges DO receive aggregate reports from College Board about what their "overlap" colleges are, from among all (anonymous) students applying in the reported time span, but this information can't be linked to individual students.</p>
<p>“So…nobody thinks that just being honest is an option? Folks, how about trying that? Not because it games the system, not because it improves your chances…just because it’s honest.”
I have to agree with this. it’s the people who are confident in themselves and don’t try to game the system who end up at ivies, because they know they’ll be successful wherever they’ll go. they know they’ll use whatever oppurtunities available to them rather than relying on oppurtunities of an ivy school. that’s why they’re accepted.</p>