<p>There are indeed lots of previous posts about this issue, and more than one opinion about what to do (not surprisingly!). Most schools asked my son where else he was applying. Ithaca asks you to write the schools in order of preference (he listed Ithaca third and was admitted, for the record). Some auditors will discuss it with the kid, and others will just note it and move on. It does seem to be okay to just finesse it (saying “Right now I’m just focused on YOUR school” seems to be a common ploy) if you’re nervous about being blunt. I think the main thing is to be forewarned that it could happen so that you’re prepared to answer (by “you” I mean the student, obviously)–don’t let it throw you. By the way, I don’t see any evil undertones to this practice, although some people do; I think it’s just a way for schools to see what other kinds of places you’re attracted to, where YOU think you might fit, where their overlap schools are for this year, that kind of thing. So just respond in a way that makes you both feel and appear confident and relaxed. :)</p>