When a professor calls you to talk about their program....

[IRmiester666]

What do you say if they ask about other schools that you've applied to? Or other schools you've been admitted to?

I don't feel that comfortable talking about it, even if the prof is from the school I ultimately want to attend.

Do you guys get questions like this?

How do you/should you handle it?

[bassdude]

I always took the really honest approach, telling them the names of the other schools I was considering. Why? All of the people I wanted to work with are friends with one another so they weren't surprised at all by my list of schools (with the exception of two departments, which were a good fit for me research-wise but aren't places people normally consider due to their low rankings). Here's my way of thinking: these people are going to be your colleagues for the rest of your life. They already know you've applied to other programs and they really all want you to make the decision that is best for you.

Being talked about here as well:

But I agree with rising_star

[IRmiester666]

ok. I totally understand about being honest about other places you are considering....

BUT, what if you got into one really awesome, highly ranked, program and got rejected by EVERY other school you applied to... all of which, are (supposedly) of lower quality.

I don't want to give them the impression they made a mistake by accepting me!!!