I am already done with my apps, but I feel weird. My friends all applied to atleast 10-15 colleges, and I only applied to 4. Is this fine? I also have a really good safety.
My kids each only applied to one. Many of their friends also only applied to one. Don’t worry about your friends. In the end you can only attend one college.
It’s not very prudent.
You must sure they’ll be affordable without loans, with 2 having acceptance rates of 50%+, and you must within top 25% for most of them…
I would be quite disquieted too.
Let’s see if you’re safe or not:
- Why did you apply to only 4?
- Have you run the NPC’s on each?
- What 4 colleges are they?
- What’s your budget?
- what are your Stats?
4 is fine. If you are happy with your choices, and are sure that at least 1 is an affordable safety, it will all work out. The problem some kids have is that their “safety” is either a high match or low reach, or it isn’t truly affordable.
My older son applied to only 2 schools–one safety, one match. They were affordable, instate options, and he was accepted to both–had 1 acceptance in hand before Christmas and was accepted to the other in early Feb. He’s currently in his 3rd year at a small SUNY, and has a good chance of finishing early. He’s happy, we’re happy…
My younger son applied to 3 schools-- a SUNY safety, a SUNY low match, and an OOS low match that he’d need merit $ to attend. He was accepted to all with merit $. The SUNY’s were cheaper, but he got the level of merit we told him he’d need to go to the OOS school which was his favorite. He’s finishing his 1st semester there and is happy with his choice.
If you don’t feel you need or want an elite, prestige college option, don’t appy to any. Match and safety schools really ARE good fits for a lot of students. Find a school where you fit in that has the major(s) you’re interested in and that you and your family can afford. Good luck!
I agree with most comments: 4 is fine if done strategically. My kid will likely apply to one state school.
I have one safety- CSUMB, and 1 match, 2 reaches for Computer science (3 public, 1 private). I don’t want to leave NorCal. I have a max budget of 40k, but hope for scholarships and aid.
Are you “in district” for CSUMB?
In any case, you live in CA, so you are lucky in that if your plan falls through, you can attend community college and then transfer seamlessly to a UC or a CSU. if you’re not happy with the idea of having a choice between community college and CSUMB, add a couple colleges.
It’s usually good to have two safeties, so that you have a choice, or at least one more match. Those who apply to few colleges tend to have only one or zero reach.
The fact you’re applying for CS makes things even more complicated since it’s impacted everywhere.
What about Sonoma State? NoCal, residential, offers scholarships, a good match if CSUMB is a safety.
Chico? Very residential, nice college town, good honors program if you qualify.
Both would be better than CSUMB.
Assuming your match is SJSU and your reach is Cal Poly?
UoP? Merced?
My safety is CSUMB but my parents made me apply. My match is a kinda dream school for me- UCSC. I love the campus and it is good in CS. I don;t want to go to community college at all, but I want to stay near my family and friends, and in NorCal definetely. However, I didn’t apply to other schools like Cal Poly, SJSU, etc… I am kinda regretting not applying to more schools now…
Is it too late for you to apply to these other schools?
What about applying to colleges in Southern Oregon? It’d be close to NorCal. Or a few colleges between SF and LA?
I understand you want to stay close to your family, but unless you commute (meaning live less than 30mn away from college and have a car), you won’t see them much. And your friends will move on.
For UCSC you need to be in the top 25% to have a shot at CS. What’s your UCGPA and your SAT?
If you don’t like CSUMB, then it’s not a good safety - students need two safeties that they like and can afford.
Yes it is late. I don’t want to go to a college where I have to fly a lot, I want to stay near Santa Cruz, San Francisco, NorCal, area. My GPA is 3.98 and I have a 1560 on the old SAT, which I won’t send. I will send a 36 ACT (I also took Subject Tests, PSAT)
I already applied to all my colleges except one. I think I can afford CSUMB but I don’t want to go there. I honestly don’t know why I applied there 
I know lots of kids who only apply to one place that they know they can afford and where they know they will be admitted. Stop meauring yourself by a bunch of HS classmates! In the end, each of you can only attend one place in the fall.
If your family has run the Net Price Calculators, and all of the four you have applied to look like they will be affordable, and if at least one guarantees admission for your stats, you are good to go.
true^^ thanks so much for the advice
also, @MYOS1634 , I just calculated my UC 10-11 weighted and capped GPA on RogerHub. It is 4.40. I think this is good for UCSC, however, is it good for Cal?
@happymomof1: The problem is that the OP has applied to one safety s/he doesn’t like and isn’t especially good for the major they want, then a match (UCSC), then two reaches (presumably UCB and UCLA).
@CSjash:
How did you go from 1560 old SAT (~22 ACT) to 36 ACT?
Did you run the NPC on all these colleges and bring the results to your parents?
What did they say about costs?
Why would you have to fly a lot?
You live on campus (or you commute if the campus is about 15-30mn to your house). In most cases, if you live on campus, you drive back for breaks.
There are lots of colleges within driving distance, that expands your choices.
Your 36 would be very valuable at UPuget Sound, for instance, a university that’s good for CS. They have good scholarships and honors programs. Scholarship Deadline: Dec 15.
https://www.pugetsound.edu/admission/apply/freshmen/honors-program/
https://www.pugetsound.edu/admission/tuition-aid-scholarships/financial-aid/scholarships/incoming-students/
What about Whitman, USeattle, UPortland, even UWashington Seattle (if you truly have a 3.98/36, you’d get into the Honors College ← apply, and be eligible for scholarships). UWash Seattle is terrific for CS. Of course, if you can get into UWash Seattle, then you can probably get into UCSC and get Honors, too. 
yes, a 4.4UCGPA is ok for Cal. You’re definitely in at UCSC and may get honors + Regents. So, I guess, you’re good unless you want a program as good as Cal’s (UWash’s is that good… and that hard to get into. And it really depends on your budget: if it truly is 40K/year, you should be okay if you apply to Honors, but if it was a vague estimate or you didn’t actually talk to your parents then it could be much too expensive).
Actually I took that old SAT as a freshmen. I took the ACT recently, and actually practiced for it. I still prefer CA schools and Norcal, as I want to work here in Silicon Valley. So I didn’t apply to schools like Washington, Puget Sound, etc… is UCSC good for CS though? It is my top choice actually.
4 is fine as long as you accurately setup your college list with safety, match and reach. Lower the cost is always the 1st priority.
Yes, UCSC is very good for CS. As I said, you have a good shot at Regents and Honors Program. 
If it’s your top choice, I think you’re okay.
yup, 4 colleges is good, if you know where you want to go. In fact, I think UCSC is a safety for you, because you have a high UC GPA and ACT.
“I just calculated my UC 10-11 weighted and capped GPA on RogerHub. It is 4.40. I think this is good for UCSC, however, is it good for Cal?”
Your stats are very good for Cal but the UC deadline has passed right so not sure if you can apply there? Have you been told you’re HS GPA is good enough for ELC, which would mean that you’re guaranteed admission into one UC.
Are you counting the UC system as one or did you apply to multiple within the UC system? My son applied to 4 within the UC system. One private EA and he’s going to apply to two others. So total 7. I’ve suggested he add some others to his common application but he doesn’t want to.
I have only applied to two actually - UCSC and Cal, so this is half of my entire list.