<p>I really don't understand this question on grad apps. It's on every application I have seen so far. Why do they want to know? I plan on being truthful but does anyone know what they do with this information?</p>
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<li>phpguru</li>
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<p>I think they genuinely want to know so they can determine which schools are their "competitor" schools.</p>
<p>I don't know whether they ever use that information to make admissions decisions. My gut says no (because they're grad schools -- they don't give a flying monkey about yield), but it freaked me out enough that I didn't list all the schools to which I was applying on some of my apps.</p>
<p>Yes! I was worried about that exact same thing last year when I applied! I really don't think they will be biased by what you write down for that question. My advice is just to answer truthfully. I knew someone who was concerned about privacy and left that section blank, and he still got into my program, so I don't think it's a huge deal either way.</p>
<p>(I will add this question to my online FAQ.)</p>
<p>In some cases, you are just too good for their program they will not waste time with you.</p>
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In some cases, you are just too good for their program they will not waste time with you.
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<p>Uhhh, I don't agree with applycorner's thinking at all! As Mollie said, grad schools don't care as much about yield, so if you are obviously very well-qualified for a school, they will simply admit you without any hassle, even if they know that you are probably not going to go (who knows, you might actually go there for reasons such as location, people, or other personal reasons). If programs don't admit overqualified applicants, you would hear a lot more complaints on the Internet and in these forums about students who got rejected from their 'safety schools'.</p>
<p>I got into Cambridge, LSE and others but got rejected by my safety Arizona State Uni. Some times admissions make no sense.</p>