One school asking about the other schools I'm applying to.

[USF_Rockstar]

As the title suggests one school I'm applying to has a section on the application that asks what other schools I'm applying to. I think I can omit this section but I'm trying to determine if it would be benefical to tell them. I'm not sure how they would interpret this because some of the other insititutions I'm appling to are ranked considerably better. It makes me think they might make me a generous offer so I'll go to their school, or it could backfire by getting rejected because they might assume I won't attend anyway. What would you do, just leave the section blank or reveal the schools they are in competition with?

[linden]

I agonized about the same issue for several weeks. I finally decided to just write down one other school's name, the one that was ranked closest to the program for which I was filling out the application. Maybe I was not thnking clearly, but that was the best compromise I could come up with.

[docstudent]

Just like with any other question on an application, I feel that if someone asks, then you should answer truthfully. In my experience, those who didn't ask me this question on the application asked me in a phone/campus interview anyway, and answering the question on the application (i.e., listing all eight schools I applied to) didn't seem to negatively impact my offers. If you're worried that a school might think you're overqualified for their institution in comparison to the other schools you applied to then don't worry...they're probably right, and you'll get an offer from the better schools.

With respect to "playing the game" and ensuring that you get the best possible financial package, most schools can't vary their packages much between students, if at all. You should choose the school that is the best fit for you and your future goals...a difference of a few thousand dollars shouldn't sway your decision, and if admissions thinks you're just after money, then you'll leave a bad impression.

[academiccricket]

For most of my applications, this question is optional. I've heard mostly that "admissions offices use this for their data, to see who THEY are competing against to get students..." yada yada.

The reason I'm filling it in: I like to think of this question as another way to show that I've done my homework. I think this question might be an attempt to gauge if the students are looking for prestige only, or if they know what departments are best for what they want to study. My field is very broad, but there are GREAT programs for my subfield. Faculty will know "if she's applying here, she should be looking at...X, Y, Z."

For example, Harvard and JHU = the leaders in my subfield, and Yale is a place that I wouldn't even consider for a PhD because they take a different approach to the material. But if I listed that I wanted to study X, and Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford as places where I'm applying-only one place would really "makes sense" to faculty looking at my app which reflects that my proposed research doesn't align with the schools I've chosen, and subsequently, they are able to tell if a candidate has a clear focus or if they are feigning interest in a program (especially if their listed schools are all over the board, or Ivies only, et cetera).

Could it work against you in terms of "she's applying there, and will get in at other places...so we'll deny her..."--I think it is possible, and I've read stories on forums from people who seemed competitive, got rejected, and then talked to the programs who said "we thought you'd get in SOMEWHERE." I think this is more the exception than the rule, because ad coms expect candidates will get in other places, and hence the need for the dreaded wait-list.

Maybe I'm too naive in my perspective, but we'll wait and see how it goes in Jan.-Apr. 2009, eh?

[USF_Rockstar]

Thanks for all the replys. If I do tell them where else I'm applying it will suprise them to say the least... :|

[belevitt]

There is no way that they evaluate you on this information. This has got to be for recruiting.