<p>Many of the colleges that my son is applying to ask something like, “What other colleges are you applying to?”</p>
<p>For several reasons, which I could explain if anyone really wants, he is apply to an odd assortment of schools. I would like for him to tell College A about the schools that resemble College A that he applying to - for example, if College A is a state university honors college, then he would list other state university honors colleges that he is applying to, and leave off the LACs and Ivys. </p>
<p>I am afraid College A will think either 1. that it is a safety school for my son, or 2. he is an unfocused applicant because of all of the different types of schools.</p>
<p>But if he does not tell every college about every other college, is that dishonest?</p>
<p>Is your S applying for FA? If so, and he completes the FAFSA, the colleges will be able to see the other colleges he is sending the FAFSA to. The school will most likely receive the FAFSA prior to making an admission decision.</p>
<p>There is a thread (I assume in the FA section) that links to an article about colleges looking at the order they are listed on the FAFSA in determining the student’s college preferences. They assume that those listed first are the first choice of the student (that wasn’t the case for my D) and that the lower they are on the list, the more aid they might give if they want the student at their school. The two bottom schools on my D’s list DID offer her the most aid (and were her top choices) and she’s at the school at the bottom of her FAFSA list now.</p>
<p>There are two cases. For case 1, you are right and listing all those colleges will be a disadvantage. </p>
<p>In case 2, the colleges won’t care where he is applying and won’t penalize people for applying to similar or higher ranked colleges.</p>
<p>For case 1, omitting some colleges will mean that you will have an advantage over others who listed everywhere they are applying. This is unfair.</p>
<p>If they don’t care (case 2), then there is no reason to list everywhere you are applying. </p>
<p>For the record, I don’t think they should ask that question. But if they ask the question, IMO you should answer it honestly.</p>
<p>i think you should still be honest, but i do understand your dilemma. My cousin had the same dilemma, but she only applied to very few colleges afterwards</p>
<p>If that question is required, then you ‘have’ to answer it (although honestly what are they going to do if you leave off one or two schools?) College admissions must understand that many applicants (most applicants?) apply to more than one school. The system that they themselves designed require applicants to trade between the cost of applying to many places and the risk of being rejected from everywhere if they don’t apply everywhere. They can’t turn around and punish some poor kid for applying to many schools!</p>
<p>Well you could always answer the question early enough in the cycle that you can honestly say you haven’t finalized your list yet. I personally think people over think this question, I think it’s used more for long term institutional research than as a way to suss out demonstrated interest and managing yield, but I could be wrong. I wish colleges wouldn’t ask, but I know that my kids were not 100% diligent about filling out all the forms and questionnaires for the colleges they turned down. So this is an easier time for colleges to ask.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is anyone else’s business where you applied - and that includes other colleges! I absolutely would not provide a complete list - perhaps just 1-2 peer schools. As far as FAFSA goes - while it will take a little longer - you can submit it to 2-3 peer schools, then delete those names and submit it to a 2nd group of schools, etc. Don’t put in all 10 if you want to keep your complete list somewhat private.</p>
<p>I completely agree with the Dean about this. I think it’s an intrusive question, and I think intrusive questions do not deserve honest answers. </p>
<p>Other parents on College Confidential have told me I am “setting a horrible example” for young people by “encouraging them to lie.” I can live with that.</p>
<p>Also, if I recall correctly, the question says, “List other colleges to which you are applying.” I do not think it says, specifically, “List all other colleges to which you are applying.”</p>
<p>“I am afraid College A will think either 1. that it is a safety school for my son, or 2. he is an unfocused applicant because of all of the different types of schools.”</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The school already knows from his grades and test scores if it’s a safety. If the school can snag him, it benefits by landing a top-notch student.</p></li>
<li><p>The majority of applicants are likely unfocused about college at the beginning of senior year.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m in lock step with Sikorsky. It’s none of the d**n school’s business. If they insist asking my kid such an asinine question, I’ll insist she prepare an answer that maximizes her appearance to the asking school. I won’t lose a second’s sleep over it.</p>
<p>To me, it’s like selling a house. If a buyer says to me “What’s your lowest accepting price?” – am I bound to tell him that figure? Absolutely not.</p>
<p>Perhaps this can be a topic for a philosophy or ethics course – is it ethical for a college to ask this question in order to determine if the applicant is using the college as a safety and use this information in the admissions decision, and what is the ethical response by the applicant?</p>
<p>Would that be listing one or two obviously less selective schools (so that there appear to be safeties behind the school asking the question) and one or two similarly selective peer schools which the school asking the question competes for cross-admits with (to try to bait the school into giving a bigger merit scholarship)?</p>
<p>If enough applicants catch on to the purpose of this question, then it will mainly show who knows how to “game” the question.</p>
<p>I think it is unethical and intrusive for the school to ask such things, and it is a sign of how the process is designed to favor the colleges rather than the applicants. However, that was not the point. It is unethical because other applicants may answer the question honestly.</p>
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<p>It’s not rocket science. I’m quite sure that most applicants understand why the school wants to know. The issue is not whether those applicants know how to “game” the question; it’s whether they feel it is unethical to answer the question incompletely. </p>
<p>If there is some issue about whether you have to answer the question, then ask the college whether you have to.</p>
<p>I’d agree with collegealum314 (and many other posters) that it is indeed unethical and intrusive for the school to ask. There are already enough friendly information points on the application for colleges to make an informed decision on the merits. This question simply does not go to the merits of the applicant.<br>
I’d suggest that the more appropriate question would be ‘Why our school?’</p>
<p>I did note that, of the colleges to which my son applied, at least one of the two colleges asking this question on the Common App did not have it marked as mandatory, and my son left the answer blank (as recommended by the school college counsellor).</p>
<p>I actually don’t agree with this at all. I think quite the opposite the MAJORITY of college students are not “unfocused.” The majority of students aren’t applying to a slew of colleges either. This is known and true. I really don’t think there is anything mystical about applying to a state flagship, an Ivy and a couple good LACs. That is quite common for the top students in Michigan. At a minimal all it says about the kid is that he/she hasn’t made the big/small decision…and that the student is strong enough to take a potshot at an Ivy. </p>
<p>A well developed and thought out list of college applications should not be mysterious at all. If it’s a common app question, just leave it blank. I would not have one of my kids “lie” or be incomplete, but total omission, in my opinion, is a more “honest” answer.</p>
<p>Many privates ask that question and they do keep track of student responses because they are interested in who is being perceived as a “peer school.” There is a high probability of being asked in an interview situation so it’s good to have a response crafted for that situation.</p>