Do colleges keep previous applications?

Some may even keep a two-year backlog on site. All other applications may be kept in case of litigation, but they are usually moved out of on campus facilities to a warehouse someplace else.

Do colleges check applicants search history?

Colleges can not see your search history if you are not their student. Most colleges don’t look at your history even if you are a student. However, it is possible for some colleges to have access to your search history if you are using their computer or WIFI.

Can a college you’ve applied to see what other colleges you’ve applied to?

In general, colleges can’t see where else you apply. Colleges are also strongly discouraged from asking applicants which colleges they’ve applied to.

How many times can you apply to a college in a year?

You can’t apply to a college for the same term multiple times. If you want to apply to a college more than once, you must apply for different terms, if the college allows that.

Why do colleges ask about other colleges when you apply?

One of the primary reasons that schools ask about the other colleges you’re interested in is for marketing purposes. Schools use this information to learn what other institutions they’re competing against and refine their recruitment strategies. This is a pretty harmless reason, and it shouldn’t impact your chances of acceptance.

Why would a college not accept you if you already got accepted?

For example, if you’ve already been accepted at a higher-ranked school, the odds of you choosing them is diminished. So, the lower-ranked school may again not accept you to protect their yield. It’s worth noting that college admissions officials are well informed and evaluate hundreds to thousands of candidates a year.

What do schools mean when they ask about your chances of admission?

When asking this question, schools are also trying to gauge the likelihood of you attending. For example, if you’ve already been accepted at a higher-ranked school, the odds of you choosing them is diminished. So, the lower-ranked school may again not accept you to protect their yield.

Should I leave a question blank on my college application?

One way to approach this question, if you encounter it on an application, is to leave it blank. For example, this is one of the strategies we advise in handling the question on SUNY ESF’s supplemental essays. Of course, this isn’t a solution if the question is mandatory, or if you’re asked the question in an interview.