I noticed that it is required for columbia's additional questions. Is it a disadvantage to write everything down? Do they check with other schools?
Filling out "what other schools are you applying to"
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they don't check. just write some bs programs
I wouldn't lie on the application. You should put down what other schools you are applying to, if you decide to go this route. If you don't want to then you could decline, nice words though. I would consider not applying to such a school, or doing so with the realization that the school might axe me for being a safety school buyer.
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it's only considered a lie if you're caught.
anyways, i listed all the other schools. i keep it real cuz veggie monster is so gangsta.
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I don't see what the harm in writing them down is. It's probably just so they know where others are applying who apply to their school.
roflcopterz.
I included my list of schools, though I can understand if someone's applying to tons of schools for some reason, it might not look as attractive.
I guess in a reductionist's view, schools ask this question so that they know where their applicants are applying. But be aware that admissions committees can use this information however they like, and it can hurt an applicant.
First off, not all schools do this, (I would bet that most don't), and some schools, and applicants, view it as unprofessional. The school is putting a lot of pressure on the applicant to reveal personal information which is not directly germaine to their application, and perhaps unknown to some applicants, the information can be used against them. Is this a dirty trick? I would say yes, as I've seen some get burned.
The information can say a lot about the applicant, (beyond providing fodder for the school to figure out who's its competitors are).
They can figure out, (or fool themselves into figuring out), why you applied for their school, was it because you want to stay in city x? Was it because you are interested in a particular area of study?
An interesting question is if you list top-notch schools on this section. Most, if not at all, schools that ask this question are middle-tier, or lower-tier, and thus might view you as a potential diamond in the rough they want to steal away. OR, the school may label you as using their school as a safety school if your GPA and such is good and if you applied to a lot of top notch schools.
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Don't get carried away now. That's all just complete speculation.
And school in question here is Columbia. I don't think anyone doubts the quality of Columbia's school.
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or...just apply to one school. therefore you can just type in "N/A" 
nobody but you, cutie!
nobody but you, cutie!
Well, I wouldn't say that this is all " complete speculation " given that some schools do use the Other Schools Applied To list in this fashion. Does Columbia do this? Columbia is highly ranked, (certain tracks may be ranked differently), nonetheless, the school might be paranoid about its rankings, or despite being highly ranked, the higher tuition may be driving students away.
In general, when you give out sensitive information like this, be aware that it can be used to your disadvantage.
If it was for research purposes, then a disclaimed should be attached saying that the information will be anonymized, but of course, with a wink and a nod, some schools feel entitled to this information.
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Unless you can present evidence to support your multiple claims, those claims are speculation, are they not? Nobody except the folks at Columbia know what that information is used for, and to insinuate they use the information against applicants is a bit paranoid.
I think that perhaps you misunderstood what I said. I am not specifically talking about Columbia, but rather how some schools use the 'Other Schools Applied To' list. Yes, schools do use this list to see if an applicant is 'using' their school as a safety school, as well as to gauge the applicant's area of interest. This phenomenon is well known and is not restricted to public health schools. Google it and you'll see what I mean. Sometimes it helps and applicant, sometimes not, like any specific piece of information collected on any application.
So, I don't really want to harp on Columbia, but . . . for what reason, pray tell, would you say this information is collected?
This is no doubt that this information is collected despite the negative stigma associated with schools that do this, (in the minds of some).
Here is some firsthand information: When I applied to schools, I got on some applications the question about the other schools I was applying to. (I might say that I was really interested in one specific school, but didn't get accepted). I told a faculty member, honestly, during a meet and greet that I was looking at other schools, but had a positive impression of their school. He wanted to know which schools I had applied to and why. Didn't get accepted to this school, even though I had a friend who was a student. I asked said friend, and she told me that they want students who consider their school at the very top of the list, so maybe my interest in other schools didn't help. Plus, the fact that I was applying to a lot of other schools might have looked bad.
Looking back, I think it was a little bit foolish, though the school did have a different philosophy than others, and also is reasonably well respected in my field, and so often wonder what life would have been like at this school.
Would I have done something differently? Like maybe not list all the schools I was applying to? I certainly wouldn't want to lie on an application. I might consider not listing any schools at all, and state that I considered this information confidential.
I think that a school should take an application at face value and assume, first off, that the student is interested in the school. And maybe asking for this information from the applicant shoots both the applicant and the school in the foot if interpreted in the wrong light.
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Also, Stories, I did not insinuate that Columbia used this information against applicants. If you read my post carefully you would realize that I am assuming that a relatively good school like Columbia uses the information for market-type research. I.e. where they stand in relation to competitors, and the effects of a downturned economy on student choice, (yes, higher tuition schools may get fewer applicants).
Say Columbia notices that a lot of 'their' applicants are also applying to Tulane, and that a good chunk of them are leaving for Tulane, instead of going to Columbia, despite being accepted. This might be a potentially legitimate use of the information.
To maliciously speculate, or insinuate, would be to say that Columbia is doing to students what a school did to me. The scenario whereby Columbia uses this collected data for market research is the more benign one, but I think we would all agree that this information is being used for something, what is is we don't know.
Notice that I am not speculating about my own experience, as I know that this does happen. Plus, I know a little about admissions committees, the issue of "do we or don't we put out an Other Schools Applied To question", can be contentious, and the perspective varies by institution. Some schools, (which I have a high opinion of in terms of ethics), feel that they should not be asking this question and that it might cloud the eventual debate/conversation regarding admitting a certain student. Another school, which I have less experience concerning the adcom, has a more paternalistic attitude such that they view students more as commodities, and ask this question like it is really important. Realize that in higher education this is a real issue. And yes, schools which use this question consistently can be paranoid about their standing in whatever field. I have heard on adcom faculty member stating that a lot of "our" applicants are hoping that they'll get into Harvard, but are "using" their school (I think Harvard was the school), and that they wanted the applicants which thought that their school was better than the big H, or something to that effect, rather than just being Harvard's waiting room.
This is not the first time that you have mis-interpreted what I have clearly written, I would ask that you read my post, and others posts, and reflect on them before making accusatory posts. I speak from experience.
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As everyone knows, I'm here to help facilitate and keep discussion constructive. If I see potential for misinformation or speculation, I'm here to try and help move it along. Just calling it like I see it.
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I just want to say that if a school REALLY, REALLY wanted to accept a certain applicant...they would regardless of what school he/she applies to. There is no way that what schools someone applies to is going to be the defining factor.
However, consider that applicants with stellar gpas, who are applying to the top ten schools, might get passed over by the middle tiers as they admissions committee would, perhaps fairly, assume that the applicant would go to JHU over their school. We all know that this does happen, that the best applicant doesn't always get the spot.
In these situations the school justifies it by saying that the applicant wasn't sincere about the school and was only using it as a safety school. This is why middle tier schools sometimes email applicants asking them to explain why they want to got to the school over others.
Schools don't like admitting students that turn them down. Why? Because it makes them look bad, that an applicant went with another school over them.
Let's say I am on the adcom for an expensive middle-tier school, like maybe BU. And I got an applicant who I find out is also applying for Harvard, JHU, UNC, Emory and other top schools. Do I think that the applicant will really go to my school over these other schools? I could reasonably conclude that I don't want to wait months while this student waits for UNC, or whatever school? (Making BU a wait-room for applicants who really want to go to other schools?) So I reject this student, or perhaps email 'em asking for confirmation and a reason as to why the applicant would go to the middle-tier school.
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I stand by what I said.
If someone didn't get into X school, then X school (regardless of ranking and blah blah) didn't want that person bad enough. If that person thought that they were truly qualified and really wanted to attend the school that person should appeal. Something as marginal as "What other schools did you apply to?" is not going to define anyone's application.
I think that this is especially true with MPH programs since they are not terribly competitive (relatively).
Borks, I can't help but feel like you...I don't want to say "hate" or "dislike"...but I have a feeling that, if given the chance, you would rather fling poo at BUSPH rather than other schools.
If you are ever in Boston, let me know and I will take you out for a drink. I am sure that I could convince you that, while not perfect, BU is a great choice for many students. 😎
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And I can also back up that sentiment that BUSPH is a fantastic place to go to school and can have you talk to many alumni who have gone on to successful and fruitful careers (and second in command of HHS). And as always, anyone is welcome to ask me questions as an alum, as well!
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I am sorry if you thought I was "flinging" something at BU, I did not intend to single out BU. I apologize in that mentioning BU distracted from the point I was trying to make, I should have used generic names. And I did not want to unfairly malign BU, they are probably just one school that uses this question.
However, I do know people who have not enjoyed BUSPH, and one person who was turned off by how BU asks the "Other School Applied To" question during the application process, (they pulled their application). So, via admittedly second-hand accounts, I get the notion that BU plays this game, (asking applicants about other schools applied to).
The point I was trying to make, if this thread has not been derailed, is that it is well-known that schools collect the information in the "Other Schools Applied To" thread, and that it can, and often times is, used in the application process.
While this question may not "define" the application, some admissions folks feel that it is pertinent as actions speak louder than words, (what schools did you apply to, versus writing a flowery essay).
I don't know why some people are very averse to even discussing why this question is used? Don't applicants want to know that?!?😕 I wish there was an emoticon of an ostrich sticking its head in the sand . . .
It isn't a requirement if I am not mistaken (does not include a red box). Why include that information if it isn't required? Just skip it, it can possibly do more harm than hurt to you depending on the school you are applying to.
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I'm inclined to agree with Borks that schools that ask this question on an app are doing it for Market Research Purposes. I'm applying to 7 schools and only 1 has requested this info U Mich, they're ranked #4 I can't see them being too intimidated by U South Carolina and Tulane but knowing that I'm applying to Hopkins and UNC may encourage them to sweeten the deal when the time comes.
A year late, but, a lot of safety schools use their safety school image to their advantage to build up their reputation, or at least that's the case in law school. The higher the test scores and GPAs of admitted students, the higher the school will eventually be ranked. Look at University of Richmond's law school. They were a regional safety school for decades. As more people applied to law school, and consequently, to UR as a safety school, they were able to become more selective and improve their image by improving their admitted student stats, even though most matriculates are still in the lower end of the admitted range.
Plus, if the other programs you apply to are significantly better (for instance, if you applied to only top 10 MPH programs and then also applied to, for instance, Maryland) they know they're the safety school, but generally, they still want you. What your application implies is that you might qualify for top 10 but still consider Maryland's program to be worthwhile and so they are more likely to go out of their way to bring you in because they have a vested interest in having the best students they can.
While health programs may be different from law school, this is how it was explained to me by a law school admissions officer while I was in the admissions process.
Plus, if the other programs you apply to are significantly better (for instance, if you applied to only top 10 MPH programs and then also applied to, for instance, Maryland) they know they're the safety school, but generally, they still want you. What your application implies is that you might qualify for top 10 but still consider Maryland's program to be worthwhile and so they are more likely to go out of their way to bring you in because they have a vested interest in having the best students they can.
While health programs may be different from law school, this is how it was explained to me by a law school admissions officer while I was in the admissions process.
