<p>"What other universities have you applied or are planning to apply to?"</p>
<p>When college applications ask you that, do you tell the truth? Do you leave out that top Ivy, or limit yourself to just the few safeties?</p>
<p>It just feels like I might be shooting myself in the foot if I answer honestly. Oh well.</p>
<p>I’ve heard of people saying “Tier 1 College, Tier 2 College, Safety School, and other similar”</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/553624-what-other-schools-you-applying.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/553624-what-other-schools-you-applying.html</a></p>
<p>Some schools, especially those that are trying to move up in national prominence, are believed to reject or waitlist applicants who they think will enroll only if they don’t get into more highly ranked schools. Google “Tufts syndrome” to find out more about this. And a question “where else have you applied” plays right into this. It is none of their business!! They should judge you on your application, not where else you might want to go. If its simple market research they could send you a stamped postcard to anonymously return listing where else you’d applied.</p>
<p>A 2nd reason to be very suspicious of a question like this is for financial aid. FA is not a cut-and-dry science. Schools can calculate need differently, and, much more importantly, have a great deal of latitude in how they decide to fill it even among the students they accept. With a student they really want they can put together an attractive package with more grants and less work-study and loans. Do a little searching here and you can find that with a few competing offers in hand, students are often able to negotiate with a school and get their package improved. On the other hand, if they realize (by knowing where you’ve applied) they’re the reach school, they’ll surmise you’d be so pleased by the opportunity to enroll that you’ll pay more for the privilege – hence more loans, less grants.</p>
<p>The pitfalls having been pointed out, leaving it blank can raise their eyebrows. So fill it in strategically, to your benefit. You want to leave the impression they’re one of your top choices, but not the only one in their group. So list a slightly stronger competitor and at least 2 peers. The slightly stronger sends a message that you’d be on the fence about attending if you got into both without being as obnoxious (to them) as listing a handful of Ivies on your Tufts app. The peers lets them know that if their FA package stinks compared to what their competitors offer they’re never going to see you on campus.</p>