<p>Colleges that just use the Common App are going to know you are using it because how else can you apply? And if they have received anything from you; SAT scores, inquiries, request for materials, sign up for tours, they are going to know you are interested. </p>
<p>It depends on the college and the admissions counselor as to how interested that admissions office is in where else you have applied. It can sometimes be to your benefit if you list schools that are direct competitors for the same pool of students with a payoff in sweetened aid packages or merit awards. Colleges also want and should want to know where else you applied so they know who their biggest competitiors are year to year. So it’s not always a bad thing that they know where else you are applying.</p>