chinablue

I am looking at a supplement that asks you to list all schools to which you are applying. I am not sure if it is proper to ask. What do you think?

ccuser95

If it asks, then u probably should....

Mandoggy

answer the question. just be honest.

ngongs

Son decided to apply elsewhere when that question arised.

Inpersonal

I also intentionally did not apply to schools that asked this question.

happymomof1

File this one first. You don't have a final list yet, so how can you share it?

GMTplus7

My guess is that the school just wants to accumulate data to understand which other schools they are competing against to attract students, rather than intending to use that information against u.

entomom

Answer whatever you like, they are probably just collecting admissions data to see who their competition is, but it's none of their business.

Put down a couple of colleges at the same selectivity level, and maybe a couple above and below. I would recommend NOT implying that they are your safety, just in case they are actually concerned about interest.

ucbalumnus

Or they want to see if they are the applicant's safety (i.e. if all of the other colleges are more selective ones), so the applicant is unlikely to attend if admitted. In this case, in the name of yield protection, they are more likely to reject or wait list the applicant.

T26E4

Posts 4-9 suggest a more nuanced and strategic way to answer this question. Why? Because nothing good for the student can come of it.

Frankly, it's none of the school's business. But I would follow entomom's advice -- list 1-2 schools of similar selectivity and maybe 1-2 of lower selectivity. No need to spill all the beans.

Data collection? Pfft. Not at my expense!

blueiguana

This is your application designed to get you accepted. The risk as others have pointed out is listing several other schools that are higher rated and the school seeing they are most likely your safety. For a school that practices yield control this can work against you. List 1-2 peer institutions, 1-2 below, and one above. You want them to see you view their school as a match. I would say that not applying to a school that asks for this data is extreme IMO. Just answer in a way that benefits you, not the school.

ucbalumnus

However, there can be an ethical problem if the list is not completely truthful -- e.g. if it asks for "all" other schools to which you are applying, but you leave some out, that is not completely truthful.

If the school was intended to be a safety, it is best to find a different safety instead (and perhaps drop the school in question if it is not more desirable than the actual safety).

happymomof1

^^^^ That is why I recommend filing the application first, before you have even finalized your list. Then you don't have to feel bad about not feeding them any data at all. If you would ever be asked (and why would they anyway), you can safely reply, "My list wasn't final so how could I give it to anyone? And, by the way, why do you ask about this?"

Will the application not process if you leave the space blank? Then try "undecided", or "Why do you ask?"

mikemac

I'd echo the advice you've seen; list a few schools slightly above, peers, and slightly below this school that you could plausibly be applying to. If this is innocent data collection there are plenty of ways they could collect this info anonymously. If not so innocent it could be used to reject you (if they think they are a safety and you're unlikely to attend) or affect your financial aid (if they realize they are your reach and predict you will dig deeper into your pocket if accepted).

daisychain

What's wrong with saying "undecided"? Is there really a risk that colleges would hold this answer against the candidate?