<p>We encouraged our son to apply to a broad range of schools, to maximize his affordable options come April. A couple of affordable state schools, seven or eight small, private schools known for large merit aid awards, another seven or eight "target" schools (less likelihood of merit aid but worth a try), and a couple of Ivies that he wanted to see if he could get into (likely unaffordable unless a rich relative dies). </p>
<p>So, after doing the "smart" move to maximize his chances of having a low-debt, quality education, we find ourselves part of the application creep, contributing to the ever expanding number (and cost) of college applications. After he had his essays written, it was always, "why not there, too?" </p>
<p>We feel on the margins on this. And yet, it seems to be working, with a $30,000 / yr merit offer from one school, $27,000 from another, and something close to a full ride at a neighboring state's public university. Well worth his time, and our money.</p>
<p>I suppose we could be criticized for taking up spots on admission lists that other students would love to have, or somehow aiding to the ruination of society. But it seems like such a numbers game, without any way to tell in advance what the outcome might be. Is it any different than sending out 100 resumes when trying to find a job?</p>
<p>Yes, it could be a stressful April. Affordability will be the first cut. The rest will be compared on quality of their physics programs, cost, feel, and factors he hasn’t sorted out yet (small school v. large, driveable distance or not).</p>
<p>well, years ago after D1 applied to 9 and regretted not applying to enough (got into 3), D2 applied to 28 (9 acceptances) and the choices were much better and no regrets ‘i should have applied to X’ like D1 had regrets. the acceptances were very surprising with both D’s. the sure bets were rejections and the far fetched were the acceptances. yes we did our homework but the element of the unknown at the admissions office was surely present. D2 loves her final choice and it was narrowed down to 3 visits to colleges in April.</p>
<p>You’ll regret it- in 2008 D applied to 15 schools with the same logic.
Private Safeties for money coughed up very little- they must have figured she’d turn them down anyway–no money at Boston U and RPI - the safeties.
It was heartbreaking to turn down Columbia, Cornell and Stanford because of affordability. Yes, we couldn’t at that time cough up the EFC of $37K+ – We were clueless of how it all worked back then! Stanford might have been nice-- Eh - Cornell, after the wave of bridge jumping, probably glad she wasn’t around that and Columbia, in the end- the plan to minor in some sort of Humanities topic wouldn’t have come about given the demands of engineering.
She used her bargaining chips with a free 4 year ride of tuition plus room and board at Maryland Aerospace to bargain U Michigan ann Arbor Aerospace into a half ride and then that ride was used to get more money out of another top rated Engineering state school she preferred for Aerospace.
No regrets now-- but you will not enjoy having to turn down Ivies b/c of affordability come April.</p>
<p>My advice, make the academic decision NOW rank order, before you have to muddy it with the $$ decision!</p>
<p>Do you also have a daughter applying to school this season? Because in some other posts this season, you mention a D who is looking for physics programs. Sounds like you have your hands full.</p>
<p>While I think the 21 apps is crazy–I applied to 5 or 6 schools, got into 4 or 5 and was waitlisted at 1–I am a bit more perplexed by your pronoun choice. Lots of “we” going into a decision that I personally think should be your child’s…at least until it comes down to the bottom line.</p>
<p>Call me a cynic and say what you will about this issue in general … But I’m picking up a hinky vibe from Baywood. “We” were an “I” last November.</p>
<p>While I have often found myself questioning “we” , I think when the primarily goal is low debt/high grant…the process is often co-managed by “we”, and not just the child applicant.</p>
<p>Hmmm, I hope you checked the quality of the physics programs before applying, especially at the small schools. Physics is not that popular a major, so many small schools have rather limited physics departments (some do have good physics departments, but you have to look carefully to find them).</p>
<p>It may be worth doing the non-cost evaluation now. When decisions and financial aid come in April, you and he will have a better idea of the preference order already. So then you and he can just eliminate unaffordables and rejections, then factor in cost to adjust the preference order.</p>
<p>This is a family with 19 apps. DS aplied early hunting for merit aid. He was able to narrow it down after he saw merit aid. We will work as a family to drop it down further in April when aid packages have come in.</p>
<p>My middle guy is content with the 6 he applied to which beat the 3 oldest applied to (he went to his first choice school).</p>
<p>As a parent, I can’t imagine applying to oodles of schools with visits, application costs, etc. As a former student, I can’t imagine finding the time to do all the honors/scholarship/whatever supplements while keeping up on schoolwork and extra curriculars effectively. I’m glad my guy cut his list to 6 before applying. His original list probably had closer to 20.</p>
<p>Youngest only has 3 on his radar, but he’s very picky with what he wants to do and it isn’t offered everywhere. I’ll be happy with just 3. Oldest had that and it worked out well with both acceptances and merit aid. I prefer the pre-application vetting of schools.</p>
<p>21 makes my heart pound, not because it is wrong but that its a lot to help manage. My D applied to 11 in the end and “we” had so much to do to help. 2 of the 11 were pretty straightforward, which left 9 that were not. So, reading essays, talking through, checking for accuracy, checking for spelling/grammar/missing/mixed up information/who wants what and when… Also, D has a supportive and very nice GC but with a lot of kids on her caseload, so not much help in that dept. Plus, DD would hit submit and then the next day get a note about yet another essay b/c of her major… aaaahhhhhgggghhh. </p>
<p>Anyway, learned a lot, and since D12 is our oldest, wasn’t sure how to help her narrow down more than the 11.</p>
<p>S spent time on campus at 13 schools, had formal tours at 7, applied to 3: two safeties and a match/lotto/financial reach. I guess we did our sorting early by location, size, affordability and academic challenge (two safeties are publics with excellent honors programs).</p>
<p>Yes. 21 is crazy. You mention you will need financial aid, so I don’t understand why you are willing to pay $100+/school to send in that many aps. I would make your child narrow down the list to 10 or have them put up the $ for the last 10.</p>
<p>I told D1 last year she could apply to 6 (ie/ we pay fees), one of which must be Rutgers. In the end, she visited Rutgers, applied EA and was accepted all in October. One and done!</p>
<p>PS - we toured 12+ schools and she spent a summer at Cornell, so she knew what she was looking for.</p>
<p>If you had good reason to expect the merit-based scholarships your son has been offered, then perhaps you didn’t need to encourage him to apply to so many places. On the other hand, if these offers are surprises, and the institutions that offered them are decent options for your son, then you did the right thing to have them on the list.</p>
<p>Sometimes the best strategy is indeed the “wide net”. If given your child’s stats and your family finances there are no clearly dead-on admissions safeties that are also dead-on affordable, then it can be best to apply broadly and then see what happens.</p>