<p>Is there a problem with applying to MANY colleges, let's say, almost 20?</p>
<p>I'm thinking of applying to 17 LAC's. I figured that at least one would grant me the financial aid I need. It might be expensive, but I'm viewing it as a direct investment on my future.</p>
<p>Do colleges get a list of all the schools a student is applying to?
Does it hurt to have 17 colleges on your list ?</p>
<p>Gracias.</p>
<p>wow that is almost exactly what one of my friends is doing and his reasoning is exactly the same as yours. he is applying to 20 places in the US, 1 in Canada and 1 in Singapore. What is the record for CC in terms of highest number of applications sent? I am encouraging my friend to go for 30 just for the heck of it.</p>
<p>with commonapp...i dont think 17 is much...but it might just be waste of money..i think you absolutely can narrow the list down to 10~13..</p>
<p>well...it is simple maths... if you want to get something that has a small probability..you just do the experiments that many more number of times so that theoretically at least you will improve your chances of getting the entity you are looking for.. </p>
<p>PS: I had applied to 25, got into 2 :D, that too one was outside of the US :D ..so even on empirical basis, the rules of probability stands..</p>
<p>I will offer another viewpoint. Before glibly rushing into 20 or 30 applications, remember that by doing so you will commiting yourself to an incredible amount of pressure and strain for the next few months. Applying to so many colleges is no joke, even with the common application, and at some stage you have to question whether it is worth it. The other danger is that with so many applications pending, it is hard to put in the requisite effort into each individual application, and your applications may suffer as a result.</p>
<p>Having said that, it might still be perfectly fine to apply to a lot of colleges, particularly if you need aid, but do keep in mind that it isn't as easy as it sounds!</p>
<p>That's a good point NBZ; however, I will be dedicated entirely to the application process during December. Leaving my home country obsesses me (I'm sure some of you can relate), I have so many reasons why I want to leave ...</p>
<p>Though applying to 17 colleges must be exhausting, I have a lot of motivation and it's the only thing I'm going to do.</p>
<p>But will it affect my chances .. ? I mean, won't a college get a list of all the colleges I'm applying to, and think "Oh, this guy will probably blow us of if we admit him" ?</p>
<p>No I don't think your chances will be affected in that way. The list of colleges you apply to is (or at least should be!) confidential. Besides, given the aid situation, it isn't actually uncommon for international students to apply to a lot of colleges, and colleges are probably aware of that. </p>
<p>If you really are motivated about this, then by all means go ahead and the very best of luck to you. :)</p>
<p>For some colleges, the strategy can work. Those are the colleges that have apps that are not so specific. For small LACs, it can be a problem, because they really look for kids who are very interested and fit their schools. THere is a point of diminishing returns if it negatively affects the quality time you can spend on each school. You see, if you apply to Harvard, once you get that app done and out,they are not particularly interested in you courting them. Everyone courts schools like that, so they ignore it. But the some of these littles school do pay attention to every contact and comment you make. You do need to court them if you want to get in, and certainly if you want money from them. Juggling too many schools can affect the quality of your attention to each individual school.</p>
<p>I'm supposed to write to all of the colleges I'm applying to ?
I didn't know that. You mean I should write to the colleges I'm considering, introduce myself and ask a question, just to make them know I'm interested? Well I guess that might be a lot of work ... this "courting" you speak of, is it before, or after submitting your application materials? Or is it during the whole application process? And what qualifies as "courting" ?</p>
<p>It's called "demonstrated interest". And not all of those colleges. Harvard could not care less. Yes, most LACs admissions directors told my son to keep in touch, e-mail, go to the chat times, etc. They know there are those who apply to a lot of colleges and like to eliminate those who are not truly interested. They know you can only go to one school. They try to get not only the best candidates but the ones most likely to go if accepted. In small schools it really hurts if they get too many kids that do not come when accepted. They have to watch yield. So they do look for things like demonstrated interest.</p>
<p>i recommend 15 colleges</p>
<p>Do you mean colleges keep in mind who cntact them continously? Jeez..but would not the mails be responded by someone in clerical position who has no control over admission decisions?</p>
<p>@ das222: Nope, not necessarily. I remember my friend, while applying for Stanford's summer program, called them excessively asking for updates and details, to the point where the person who answered knew her by voice when she called. That puts an impression into their minds, and it's very easy to let slip, "Hey, there's a very dedicated student from place X that is responsible and calls in all the time to verify their materials, etc."</p>
<p>20 colleges is a bit much, though, I must say. Wouldn't that time be better spent being very thorough with 5-8 and then focusing time on ECs and other things?</p>
<p>what do you mean by thorough?</p>
<p>I mean, I'll dedicate myself entirely during this month to write essays and organize my transcripts, recommendations, etc. I can manage this process for 16 colleges (I removed one from my list ...) during December, especially since some deadlines are in February or even later (Berea). </p>
<p>What else do you think is thorough?</p>
<p>I am applying to 24 colleges. For me it is difficult to get a clear idea of whether i have some chances at some places. In my case, only two colleges do not require an additional essay and that makes like 20-25 different essays, because some schools even want more than one. So i dedicated so much time doing internet research and, you know, what a person who is hundreds of miles away from the place does, and write, write, write.. I have like 6 essays left, but, still, i can see the end of the writing part. However, there was a particular moment that i begged my mother not apply to a particular school just because of the esaay they required.
The different forms - it is terrible. You have to be extremely careful, always alert and force other people to be alert too. It is very frustrating to be responsible for so many things - from the writing samples to the teachers' schedules. But, i think, it makes me realize how much i can take on. There is a lot of stress, but i think about April and, though i am not sure that i will get accepted, i know that at least i have done everything that depends on me.
About the writing to the colleges - i did that because i had many questions. My case is a weird one - i have an identical twin sister and our parents are divorced, so i had to write to several colleges requesting more information about the International Noncustodial Parent Statement and most of the ones i am applying to answered and were very nice explaining how to proceed with the application process and so on. So, it does give them the chance to get acquainted with you and you the opportunity to become even more interested in the college just because someone was friendly and kind.
I wish you guys all the best. Don't be overwhelmed - enjoy the feasts and holidays that are approaching and smile a lot - it really helps!</p>
<p>I am applying to 15 colleges. Danielcarp, are you going to apply to the University of New Orleans ? From what I know it's really popular in Honduras. I have a full ride there, but I'm applying to other schools. Depending on the responses I get on April I'll decide which school to go to.</p>
<p>No, no university of new orleans, only LAC's.</p>
<p>I'm thinking of applying ED II to Vassar...,</p>
<p>by the way, most essays require 250-500 words, does it matter if i write over 500? almost 600? are admission officers strict with "following rules" and stuff like that?</p>
<p>it's kind of hard to cut my essay now that it has 576 words.</p>
<p>well some are very strict-
I just submitted my university of california application and had a tough time editing my essays so that they would be under 1000 words- because i couldn't submit my application otherwise. It was extrememy frustating because everything on my essay was important according to me.
So i ended up giving the essay to my sister and asked her to edit the 100 words extra. </p>
<p>i am applying to 12 colleges but 3 are safeties and their applications are hardly any work. But i agree its very tedious as i have my preboard examinations in a week and have to prepare for them too.
I am also waiting for my december sat results, i got a 1970 in october and if my score improves to 2100; i'll apply to amherst and yale too and as the scores come out on the 20th- that will give me around 10 days.<br>
But the more colleges i apply to the more scared i become of the thought of recieving many rejections.</p>
<p>and i am applying to 3 lac's- carleton, bucknell and colgate (and hopefuly amherst)</p>