What to do when a school ask - what other schools did you apply to?

[sharpieLIFE]

Hello Everyone!
One of the schools I'm applying to - has a section in its application where they ask what other programs/school am I applying to. Then it says that field is optional.

So I wonder - why do they ask that?
Would it be a bad thing if I leave it blank (since it is optional)?
Any opinions on this?
Thanks!

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[DrMidlife]

Schools ask this question because they want to know who their competition is.

For instance, naturally Gtown wants to know if/when it starts losing students to the USC Global Med program. California pays a lot of Gtown's bills.

Not answering looks like you're hiding something. Answering that you're applying to a school's competitors looks like you know what you're doing.

Best of luck to you.

 

[sharpieLIFE]

Thanks!