<p>One of the questions on an application asks "What other colleges are you considering?" Its optional, but what would look the best: Leaving it blank, or just filling in a few colleges? I don't want them to think they are just one of many colleges I'm considering.. What do you guys suggest?</p>
<p>i am also interested in what other people do for this section. i was thinking about putting in schools that are ranked lower than the one i am filling out the app for, but not higher.</p>
<p>DO NOT put your other top choices. For example, if you're applying to Harvard, then don't list Yale on your application. List some of your saftey/low match schools. OR......leave it blank....it's optional.</p>
<p>and what if there are just a few spots on there? Would it work to your advantage to put just your safeties so that way the college thinks that they are your top school?</p>
<p>Sorry if that didn't make sense.</p>
<p>I think leaving blank will make more sense if you are going to put just safeties.</p>
<p>thats what im doing, 8dbordel.</p>
<p>im thinking about applying to central washington university, university of washington, grinnell, and swarthmore.</p>
<p>so on swarthmores app i will list all those schools. but on grinnells app, i wont put swarthmore.</p>
<p>My son had that question on his app for Rice last year -- and it was not optional. He ended up putting all the schools to which he was applying (including MIT, Cornell, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, UT, etc.), and not only was he accepted at Rice, but they offered him merit aid equalling about 3/4 of tuition! So, the answer really depends on the school.</p>
<p>I would just put match schools not my reaches.</p>
<p>is that a question on the common app? i'm just wondering for future reference, as i am not applying to colleges yet.</p>
<p>From the National Association for College Admission Counseling Statement of Principles of Good Practice: </p>
<p>
[quote]
B. Admission, Financial Aid and Testing Policies and Procedures </p>
<p>Postsecondary members agree that they will:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>. . . ; </p></li>
<li><p>not require candidates or the secondary schools to indicate the order of the candidates’ college or university preferences, except under Early Decision plans;
[/quote]
</p></li>
</ol>
<p>So at the very least, you should say in whatever answer you give that you haven't made up your mind which colleges you prefer the most. </p>
<p>By the way, the way to find out what is on the Common Application </p>
<p>is to look it up online. </p>
<p>Most colleges don't ask this question. Those that do ask the question may make any number of different, even contrary, inferences about what you put on the form. One interviewer for a highly selective HYPS college used to ask in interviews what colleges the applicant was applying to. (At least one other HYPS college specifically tells its interviewers not to ask that question.) His reasoning is that if a student DIDN'T mention any "peer" institutions to the college he graduated from, then the student wasn't really serious about applying but was just making a "lottery ticket" application. </p>
<p>I wouldn't worry about this question at all. My advice to my son is to say either "I'd rather not say," or to give the FULL list, honestly. I would like to hear which colleges ask this question on their printed application forms.</p>