Don't Ask, Don't Tell

There's been a decent amount of traffic online -- and we've gotten a few questions here at U Sphere HQ, too -- about whether or not students should answer the question of where else they are applying.

And, another twist on this question is whether it's okay for colleges to ask the question.

NO, and NO.

NACAC (National Association for College Admissions Counseling) has guidelines for these types of issues that the industry is asked to adhere to. This is a group that operates with the best interests of students in mind, so they don't come up with answers to these questions in a vacuum.

Unless you've applied Early Decision, when you should only apply once, then the question should not be asked by anyone in the admissions office.

A follow up question that we've been asked: what about telling U Sphere where I've applied? What happens to that info?

We keep it to ourselves, folks. We use it to try to find other schools that might be a good fit -- and based on your personailty and where you've applied, we've got a good handle on whether or not we can make a decent suggestion.

But we're almost back to the "looking for a new car" post from this blog's November archives. Really shouldn't matter to the dealer whether you're looking at the FJ Cruiser or the BMW. If you're in the dealership with three kids in tow, they should try to sell you a minivan.