Do you name other schools you applied?

[mefistofel]

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When they ask you on the interview about other schools you applied, do you tell them? Is there a rule? Limit to 5 or 10? Any suggestions? Thanks, guys!


Mef.

 

[superdevil]

i was never asked where else i applied, but i was asked where else i had interviewed. i just told them. they're asking for a reason--they want to know. don't annoy your interviewer by being coy and evasive, they're supposed to be your advocates to the admissions committee. just be polite, honest, and confident, even if it feels a bit awkward.

sd

 

[UCLAstudent]

I'm not shy about it. I highly doubt that it will be used against you. At most places, I get the feeling that my interviewer is truly interested in where I have applied.

 

[Athomeonarock]

The one school that asked me where else i was applying in the interview ended up accepting me. The interviewer made a comment to the effect of " you must really want this to apply to so many schools". It was less work to tell the truth than try to evade the question.

 

[acl3623]

i just tell them ballpark about how many i returned secondaries to...i dont think they really ask "which" schools have you applied to...just tell them, i dont think it really matters unless youre like super-stats-mcgee and then they know if theyre a backup to many other schools that you applied to.

 

[coincidental]

I usually give a geographic range. "I applied mostly on the east coast, as far down as X, as far north as X and my undergrad institution in the west." I don't really name a lot of names. But yeah, be honest. They know this is difficult and that you have to apply to a lot of schools. No one will hold it against you.

 

[lightnk102]

ive been pressed to be specific about schools i've gotten interviews from (and even which ones i've already interviewed at and which ones are in the future). i'm never sure whether its better to include the more competitive schools i've gotten interviews at (to make myself look like a more attractive candidate, but risk having them think i won't go to their school) or to only name the schools on par or less reputable with the school i'm interviewing at (thus, my chances of going there are higher, but then have them think no one else is interested in me).

I ended up spilling all the beans. i've never been very good at lying.

 

[LauraMac]

this question is illegal, and it really upsets me. i usually answer quite vaguely, but some places have made me specify schools. at ucla, my interviewer even made me list every single school i applied, where all i've interviewed, and where all i've been accepted. i was so upset. that is none of their business. it is completely irrelevant and really annoys me.

i guess just say whatever you are comfortable with. if you don't mind sharing, just list as many as you want until it looks like they don't want to hear anymore. otherwise, be vague and see if they'll let you off the hook with that.

personally, after the interviewing season is all over, i'm going to email all the admissions offices and tell them if i had an interviewer ask that. it's illegal, and i want to make sure the adcoms know they have people asking this sort of crap.

 

[Fed Meat]

All the schools I applied to are pretty much within the same geographic area, so I go ahead and list them. I figure it can only help me, as it just shows I'm not some California resident who will have no interest in the school once he gets into a Cali school.

 

[vcatz]

I was only asked this question once but I just named all of the schools I applied to. The interviewer also asked which ones I had been accepted by - I told her that as well. I think it is best to be honest with your interviewer. I think it may actually help you if you have other interviews or acceptances.

 

[leechy]

I've also been asked this question on several interviews. I usually start by naming the general geographic region I've applied to, and if they demand more specific information, I'll name three or four schools that are lower ranked than the school I'm interviewing at. I don't think it's fair for them to ask such questions, and they certainly shouldn't expect full disclosure when they do ask them (plus, I can't list all dozen or so schools I've applied to rapid-fire off the top of my head in the middle of an interview). On the other hand, I would sound like an a$$ if I told them I didn't want to answer the question. Unfortunately, it's like some of the other semi-illegal questions interviewers ask, like what your plans are for having a family, etc. You can't totally avoid answering, but you can try to minimize the amount of information you share, while remaining honest.

 

[Quentin Quinn]

this question is illegal, and it really upsets me. i usually answer quite vaguely, but some places have made me specify schools. at ucla, my interviewer even made me list every single school i applied, where all i've interviewed, and where all i've been accepted. i was so upset. that is none of their business. it is completely irrelevant and really annoys me.

i guess just say whatever you are comfortable with. if you don't mind sharing, just list as many as you want until it looks like they don't want to hear anymore. otherwise, be vague and see if they'll let you off the hook with that.

personally, after the interviewing season is all over, i'm going to email all the admissions offices and tell them if i had an interviewer ask that. it's illegal, and i want to make sure the adcoms know they have people asking this sort of crap.

Actually, it isn't -- I know that employers may specifically ask where else you are looking during interviews, and presumably med schools are under the same (or less stringent) standards. Questions such as family plans, marriage status, etc. are illegal, though from what I have seen on this site, med school interviews are complete social ******s and ask them anyway.

 

[LauraMac]

Actually, it isn't -- I know that employers may specifically ask where else you are looking during interviews, and presumably med schools are under the same (or less stringent) standards. Questions such as family plans, marriage status, etc. are illegal, though from what I have seen on this site, med school interviews are complete social ******s and ask them anyway.

actually it is an illegal question. i already reported it at one school, and they agreed that it is illegal.