How ill-advised is it for universities to know you're applying for other universities?

[Normal]

If a school did a search for me they would find that I have applied to one other school, and to be honest I am equally enthusiastic about both for very different reasons. I know when you are applying to schools you are meant to try to convince them why theirs is the school for you, and I don't want to be seen as being insincere when I make that case to them.

[LLajax]

I think that they already know you're applying to other schools. Almost no one applies to just one school, and faculty members know that if they had a student applying to grad school, they would encourage their student to apply to several (at least).

I've also been told (by faculty members) that they will discuss applicants with their colleagues at other schools, so I definitely think they know your applying to more than just their schools (and expect it).

[Sigaba]

@Normal

AFIAK, no academic institution would punish you for applying to more than one program.

[Kitkat]

I think the main reason why a school would want to know what other schools you are applying to is to see where they are compared to other schools, and how likely you would be to go to their school.

For example, if you are applying to a bunch of Ivies, and then the local state school as a back up, and have the background to have a good chance at the Ivies, the state school might not take you just because they might see it as a wasted offer, when they can get someone who is more likely to say yes to their offer.

[NoMoreABD]

I had a phone conversation with a POI, who asked me where else I applied. When I was hesitant about replying, he said that it's very clear to them that prospective students apply to multiple programs, and that they don't expect people to apply ONLY to theirs.

It doesn't meant it's not the best fit for you, it just means you're being realistic rather than a dreamer...

Moreover, you might even use that information for your benefit. If you're applying to programs that have similar concentrations, it makes you seem focused on what you're looking for. And if you're applying to a bunch of ivies, you can let them know they need to fight for you. I'm not sure how effective that is, it's just a reasonable advice I read here somewhere.

[LLajax]

I had a phone conversation with a POI, who asked me where else I applied. When I was hesitant about replying, he said that it's very clear to them that prospective students apply to multiple programs, and that they don't expect people to apply ONLY to theirs.

It doesn't meant it's not the best fit for you, it just means you're being realistic rather than a dreamer...

Moreover, you might even use that information for your benefit. If you're applying to programs that have similar concentrations, it makes you seem focused on what you're looking for. And if you're applying to a bunch of ivies, you can let them know they need to fight for you. I'm not sure how effective that is, it's just a reasonable advice I read here somewhere.

I had a POI ask me the same question, and I thought I was going to pee my pants. I was like (mentally) "are you for real right now?" I, being the face of calm, cool, and collected, immediately gave him an extremely abbreviated version of my list. Then he went through and asked why I was applying to each place, which had me sweating. Easy enough to answer why (after all, I've written why in all my SOPs), but tricky to walk that line so I'm not fawing over another school while talking to this POI at a different school.

[ktel]

All the profs I spoke to when applying also wanted to know what other schools/profs I was considering. Some even offered suggestions. Seemed more like curiosity and being helpful

[Dharma Bum]

I think that graduate programs know students apply to multiple places; to not do so looks pretty silly in my opinion. One of my professors told me to remember that graduate applications are also a competitive process for the institutions. They are competing to grab up the best scholars and if they know where else you have a applied, that could definitely work to your advantage.

[litjust]

Yeah, I agree with Dharma Bum (love that name, by the way!) and think you should totally let it work in your favor. We all apply to more than one.