"What other schools are you applying to?"

[linguini]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I apologize if there is already a thread on this...couldn't find it.

If an interviewer asks you what other schools you're applying to, are you expected to give them your full list? On one hand, you want to be honest with your interviewer. On the other hand, if you are interviewing at a "safety" school, listing off your "upper-tier" schools may make it clear that they are not on the top of your list. How would you respond to this question in an interview?

And yes, I know there is no such thing as a safety school. Hence the quotations marks.

 

[olemissbabydoc]

I apologize if there is already a thread on this...couldn't find it.

If an interviewer asks you what other schools you're applying to, are you expected to give them your full list? On one hand, you want to be honest with your interviewer. On the other hand, if you are interviewing at a "safety" school, listing off your "upper-tier" schools may make it clear that they are not on the top of your list. How would you respond to this question in an interview?

And yes, I know there is no such thing as a safety school. Hence the quotations marks.

I've never been asked. However, several of my fellow interviewees were asked at our last destination. They all generally gave a "short list" of comparable schools (giving about 5-6). This is enough information if the interviewer is just interested... but not too much.

 

[chad5871]

At my interview on Tuesday my interviewer asked how many schools I had applied to. I just told him how many secondaries I had completed and left it at that. He commented on how expensive the process is and I agreed with him, and then the conversation went in another direction.

 

[genswim24]

When asked I didn't give a list, I just kept the answer vague and talked about a region of the country that I was looking to stay in. He was happy with the answer and we moved on to the next topic.

 

[majestic red]

I was recently asked this question at a Tufts interview-- I just listed off UMass, BU, "and a few others." The interviewer then went off on a tangent about how Tufts is better than UMass... :/

 

[linguini]

I was recently asked this question at a Tufts interview-- I just listed off UMass, BU, "and a few others." The interviewer then went off on a tangent about how Tufts is better than UMass... :/

Well the price tag certainly isn't better than UMass!

 

[RoadRunner17]

Are they even supposed to ask you this question?

 

[Narmerguy]

Are they even supposed to ask you this question?

They can ask whatever they like I suppose but you don't have to answer.

 

[ButImLETired]

My interviewer asked me this question, so I rattled off a bunch of equally-or-lower-ranked schools in the area, but he was purposefully trying to find out whether I'd applied to CA schools, so he then refined the question by asking me specifically about CA schools. When I said that yes, I had applied (duh, they're my state schools) he asked me why I'd leave California for his school (I almost went "well, Cali schools are such a crapshoot, who knows what they'll do"). So then I told him how I'd just moved to CA, and I wasn't terribly committed to the state one way or the other and in fact was looking forward to a whole new place. So then he goes "so you like moving around? Well we wouldn't want you to move away after you graduate. We'd train you expecting you to stay here."

er...

 

[majestic red]

Well the price tag certainly isn't better than UMass!

Lol, he said something to the effect of "we lose a lot of applicants to UMass, not because it's a better school but because of the price."

 

[Law2Doc]

When asked I didn't give a list, I just kept the answer vague and talked about a region of the country that I was looking to stay in. He was happy with the answer and we moved on to the next topic.

Yeah, you don't have to give your whole list, just throw them a bone and list out a few schools that are similar in location and ranking. If you are interviewing at a low ranked school, you probably don't want to tell them you are interviewing at Harvard and Hopkins. If you are interviewing at an East coast school, you probably don't want to rattle off a list of UC schools. So use common sense but let them believe this is a school you might actually consider.

 

[linguini]

These are all good ways of handling that question...although I still hope I don't run across it in an interview!

Thanks!

 

[daniellema13]

Last year i was asked what other schools i'd interviewed at and if i had any more coming up.

 

[calnation]

lol I wonder what the reaction would be if you answered this question like...

"Well I'm also applying to law school, pharmacy school, PA school, business school, and various different graduate schools"

 

[Jonnymed]

I was asked by both my faculty interviewer and during my student interview about where I was applying. I told them I had applied fairly broadly (a mild understatement with 30 schools on my list). I have a lot of ties to the school I was interviewing at, so I didn't feel I had to "prove" my interest too much; however, at my upcoming Case Western interview, I'll likely give a list that is regionally determined and of lower/similar rank. I'm a CA resident, and almost all premeds apply to all their state schools, so I wont lie about that either. Just be vague, and I assume most people on the admissions committee will leave it at that.

 

[genswim24]

Last year i was asked what other schools i'd interviewed at and if i had any more coming up.

I got asked that as well. At my last interview the first guy asked me about interviews while my second interviewer asked me how many schools I applied to.

 

[atomi]

I apologize if there is already a thread on this...couldn't find it.

If an interviewer asks you what other schools you're applying to, are you expected to give them your full list? On one hand, you want to be honest with your interviewer. On the other hand, if you are interviewing at a "safety" school, listing off your "upper-tier" schools may make it clear that they are not on the top of your list. How would you respond to this question in an interview?

And yes, I know there is no such thing as a safety school. Hence the quotations marks.

I would answer the question honestly. Remember, these people interview thousands of students. They will be able to tell if you are b.s.ing them.

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

It's so strange that schools ask you that. What's the purpose?

I thought there was a reason why schools aren't allowed to see the other schools you apply to or get accepted to via AMCAS. Being vague sounds like a good choice to me.

 

[linguini]

It's so strange that schools ask you that. What's the purpose?

I thought there was a reason why schools aren't allowed to see the other schools you apply to or get accepted to via AMCAS. Being vague sounds like a good choice to me.

Unfortunately medical schools can pretty much do whatever they want and still have top-notch people groveling at their feet for acceptance...myself included. Being vague might work...but I wouldn't play dumb. No interviewer is going to believe you if your response is "Hmmm I don't remember what other schools I applied to!!!"

 

[funkydrmonkey]

Unfortunately I told the truth.😱🙁😡 Later I realized it was an "open mouth and stick foot in moment"... we will see how it goes...

 

[majahops]

I named three other schools that I applied to. I applied to far more in total, but they didn't explicitly ask me to name them "all" (perhaps I should have gone into Law). I doubt they'd ask that of anybody.. and if they did, I wouldn't tell them all the schools. That question would be like me asking "so where am I ranked among today's interviewees?" They already have the complete upper hand in the admissions process. No sense in tipping even MORE of your own hand.

So just name two or three real quick and without really hesitating. You're not being dishonest, you're just not rattling off the total 80,000 schools you ACTUALLY applied to.

I apologize if there is already a thread on this...couldn't find it.

If an interviewer asks you what other schools you're applying to, are you expected to give them your full list? On one hand, you want to be honest with your interviewer. On the other hand, if you are interviewing at a "safety" school, listing off your "upper-tier" schools may make it clear that they are not on the top of your list. How would you respond to this question in an interview?

And yes, I know there is no such thing as a safety school. Hence the quotations marks.

 

[majahops]

Haha, I read this post immediately after posting myself. It's funny that I would have made a similar suggestion and even funnier that I'd make a joke about going into law...

Yeah, you don't have to give your whole list, just throw them a bone and list out a few schools that are similar in location and ranking. If you are interviewing at a low ranked school, you probably don't want to tell them you are interviewing at Harvard and Hopkins. If you are interviewing at an East coast school, you probably don't want to rattle off a list of UC schools. So use common sense but let them believe this is a school you might actually consider.

 

[armybound]

I typically name a few.

"Oh, I'm applying to some local schools like Tennessee and Louisville, and some back in my home state of Texas.."

 

[useatoothbrush]

I'd say be vague or give comparable/related schools if possible. However, there are times I think you're better off telling the truth. For instance, at one school the interviewer was asking about a particular school and asked the question in a way to suggest that he already had a big hunch I was applying there (ie you've done this and that, lived there for a bit, ect so you're applying there right?) . If I said I didn't apply there, he would have thought I was lying or very stupid. In the end, he didn't seem turned off that I was applying there and said yeah, people apply to a broad range of schools, my sons did, ect.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I listed regions which satisfied all my interviewers and didn't get me in trouble.

I would say "oh I appied to a bunch of schools in DC, New York, Chicago, Kentucky because I have family there, and of course California schools. I really want a change of scene and can't wait to try living on the east coast. But realistically I need to keep california schools as an open option just in case cost becomes a big issue when I have to decide."

It seemed to work.

Cali applicants really need to be ready for this question. Most east coast schools know full well we'd go to a UC if given the chance, so you really need to convince them that you are interested in the area/state and aren't just trying to go to medical school wherever you can.

 

[pianola]

I just listed places where I had interviews...what's the big deal anyway?

Is having an interview elsewhere a reason to reject me?

 

[drizzt3117]

I just answered the question honestly every time it was asked (~5 times) and got into all five schools, YMMV.

 

[flip26]

I just listed places where I had interviews...what's the big deal anyway?

Is having an interview elsewhere a reason to reject me?

I think this is a good way to answer it.

People should not be so paranoid about every question put to them...they are just trying to see if they can rattle you...they already know that the average number of applications is around 13 or 14, so nothing you say will blow their minds...there is no right or wrong answer, but "how" you answer can reveal a lot about your maturity or insecurity...

 

[URHere]

This question came up for me at almost every school where I interviewed - sometimes it worked to name a few comparable schools, but sometimes the interviewers wanted a specific (and complete) list of schools. Eventually, I decided that I would save time by just listing off all of my schools (there were only 9 of them) and being completely forthcoming.

I don't think that this honesty hurt me anywhere, and I actually had one interview tell me that it was refreshing. As long as you are prepared to answer the "Well, of all of those schools, why do you like ours?" question, you should really be fine either way.

 

[pianola]

"Well, of all of those schools, why do you like ours?" question, you should really be fine either way.

Yeah...it's a good followup 👍

 

[rowerlauren]

I've been asked about my other interviews at all 5 of my interviews so far, not by all of the interviewers but by at least 1 at each school. And I've been very forthcoming in saying where I have interviewed. Of course I also emphasize why I like their school, but it's insane for them to expect you not to be interviewed anywhere else. When I'm at interviews at top schools they will expect you to have other interviews, if they liked you on paper, why would other schools not like you?

 

[pianola]

Thank you, rowerlauren 🙂 Glad to see I'm not the only one with the tell-it-truthfully policy. Besides, the truth is easier to remember 😉

 

[go lakers]

I was asked @ a NY school to list the schools I had interviewed at thus far and my impressions of them. I listed a few of them and essentially tried to point out one flaw in why I would not attend there. ...seemed to work.

 

[student1799]

I was asked @ a NY school to list the schools I had interviewed at thus far and my impressions of them.

What if you got asked this question at your first (and possibly only) interview? How would you handle it?

 

[pianola]

What if you got asked this question at your first (and possibly only) interview? How would you handle it?

I would say I applied to a mix of in-state and out-of-state schools (if it's the truth). [Or only in-state (if it applies to you). Or only out-of-state (if it applies to you).] I wouldn't be any more specific than that. I tend to follow up that comment with "I've only applied to places I'd be 100% excited to attend." Give them a big smile and that'll signal: "Next question?"

 

[RySerr21]

I usually just list of the states of the schools I applied to. Sometimes they ask specifics but usually it is left at that. I also mention that I applied to both MD an DO, and at Loyola i actually had a pretty good discussion with my interviewer about my interest in osteopathic medicine and also his opinion of the whole md vs do thing. We seemed to see eye to eye so it was a good convo over all.

I was also asked the last two times "is this your first interview." I then explain my answer and the convo moves on from there.