Where else are you applying

HomeApplyApplicationsWhere Else are You Applying?This page may contain affiliate links.Sep 27, 2015On the common app, over 40 colleges ask applicants where else they are applying. Heres advice guidance counselor Sarah Loring de Garcia recently gave her students on how to answer.   Dear students,   A couple of you have come to me recently because you are working on your applications, and youve come across a question that rattled you Where else are you applying? I think its completely fair that you would be uncomfortable about answering this question. Frankly, I think its none of their business. The colleges claim that they use this information for legitimate purposes, but I think it also leaves the door open for abuse of the information. Therefore, I would encourage you to consider using the following response if a college asks you for the list of colleges where you are applying:   Please be assured that I am very interested in [the name of the college who is asking the question]. However, I politely decline to answer this question based on the advice of my college counselor, who would ask you to refer to the NACAC SPGP (2013, page 15 item #12). Thank you! Im attaching the document to which this response refers It is the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) Statement of Principles of Good Practice (SPGP). On pages 14-16, you will find a list of the recommended best practices for promotion, recruitment, admission, financial aid, and testing. Item #12 specifically states that all postsecondary members should refrain from asking students where else they have applied. These are best practices, not requirements, but it is clear that the majority of colleges and universities can see the same problems I do with this question. If you do wish to answer the question, thats your decision but if you do, I would encourage you to list the colleges in alphabetical order.   Have a great day! Ms. Loring Road2College Debbie Schwartz is former financial services executive and founder of Road2College and the Paying For College 101 Facebook group. She's dedicated to providing families with trustworthy information about college admissions and paying for college. With data, tools and access to experts she's helping families become educated consumers of higher ed. View all posts CATEGORIES ApplicationsApply TAGS Common AppCommon ApplicationNEWER POSTControversy Erupts Over Site to Compare College CostsOLDER POSTHistory of the College Essay