"Do your own research - it's a skill you'll need in your future professional career!"
Our response can only be given concerning our institution and what we have to offer. We have no knowledge of any other institutuion's practices, courses, etc. and should not encourage a discussion about that which we have no knowledge. The student should be encouraged to explore all possibilities and angles of his or her future career to make the best informed decision.
Respond in a fashion that gives accurate information on only your institution and encourages the student research or visit the competitive institution in order to satisfactorily answer the questions they may have.
How does your school train/manage employees on the "best practices" you mentioned in your posts?
Let them know that you are not a liberty to discuss other programs, but you can tell them about your program.
A safe answer is to stay focused on the facts of what our own institution offers and avoid attempting to offer information about another institution. As well, encouraging students to investigate all options available to them is a great form of "Best Practices."
tell them they are not in a postion to respond about other institutions
The student, if researching competitive schools, should be encouraged to visit all schools of interest and compare what is important to them.
