<p>Hey everyone!
I'm pretty sure 20 colleges is too many to apply to! My parents want me to apply to these many so that we can "shop" around for merit aid packages that some of these colleges may offer me. The number seems too overwhelming (it's even the Max number of colleges allowed for the Common App) and I thought I could handle it at first because of the great streamlining of the process that is the Common App and Internet. </p>
<p>But then I realized I still have supplements though and there are more requirements for scholarship applicants as well. </p>
<p>It's also way too hard for me to narrow it down! All of the colleges that I'm thinking of: all the Ivies, NYU, MIT, Stanford, Duke, Emory, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie, Chicago, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Rice, Stanford, Vanderbilt, WUSTL are all great and it's so hard to narrow it down. (Those were all 20). </p>
<p>Are there any glaring weaknesses in any of these schools that would make me want to reconsider applying to them? </p>
<p>Or maybe a program that they don't offer. I'm looking to go to a school with great access to internships. Opportunities to pursue business, journalism, or science. Those are the main things I am for sure interested in right now. </p>
<p>You will definitely not get into all of them, that is almost a guarentee. However, it is futile to apply to all the Ivy’s/top 20. </p>
<p>If you get into any of those Ivy’s, each of them will fill your need 100%. So it is no use shopping around, plus the fact that most of the ivy’s do not supply any merit aid either.</p>
<p>Applying to 20 schools will cost you around $1400, is it really worth it? Find schools that offer programs/majors you’re interested in. Also you need some matches and safeties, since there’s always the possibility of getting rejected from all your reach schools, although we don’t know your stats.</p>
<p>Also, FYI, NYU is notorious for giving out terrible aid. Some people get “decent” merit awards from them, but most do not and have to pay much more than their EFC, if not full tuition.</p>
<p>You’re thinking about this wrong. Inclusion into your list of colleges seems to be based on one criteria, a college you would like to attend.</p>
<p>Categorize your colleges into reaches, matches and safeties, then start throwing out colleges in any category that has a lot, like the reach category. (Your list looks like it might be a little heavy with reach colleges.)</p>
<p>You say your parents want to be able to compare merit aid packages. Does that mean you won’t qualify for any need based assistance from a school like Harvard? Are you parents willing to pay full freight to a school if you don’t get any aid?</p>
<p>If you need merit aid then you need to add colleges to your list that offer merit aid and are easier to get into. (Duke, for instance, offers merit aid but it is extremely hard to get.)</p>
<p>What’s the rationale behind applying to all of the Ivies? If you take a closer look at each of the 8 schools, you’d probably find that you don’t even like some of them.</p>
<p>I think it’s a mistake to apply to such a “top-heavy” list, when you don’t seem to distinguish among the very different colleges and universities you’ve mentioned. Most of them are exceedingly competitive, and will frown on an obvious lack of attention to their unique attributes. They all know they are top-notch schools, and highly desirable; you need to pare down the list of “reach” schools, in order to let them know why you want to attend them: curriculum, location, size? If you want to go to Dartmouth, you probably won’t really want to go to Rice. When either school starts wading through thousands of applications from highly-qualified candidates, they will probably look more favorably on students who seem to have applied thoughtfully and knowledgeably. You seem to lean toward urban universities, which suggests that you could eliminate Cornell, Dartmouth, and possibly Princeton from your list. I also infer from the list that you are inclined toward science or engineering. If that’s the case, Brown might not be the greatest fit, either - it’s much more oriented toward liberal arts. If you aren’t committed to an urban setting, consider Syracuse (excellent journalism & communications), along with NYU, BU, and all the Washington, DC, schools. Many slightly less selective schools have excellent honors programs, with generous merit aid available.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all of your replies! Here’s my best shot at replying to all of them! </p>
<p>Some Stats… (I’m still working on my resume attachment to the Common App)
GPA: 4.0 unweighted
SAT: 2340
APs: All 5s for Micro, Euro, US, Chem, Calc.
SAT IIs: 800 Math Level II, 800 Chem, 770 Bio, 780 USH.
Asian Male (to answer 20more’s question)</p>
<p>I have a good number of ECs. Leadership positions I hold include President, Editor in Chief, and Vice President currently. </p>
<p>@Ortsac, could you tell me a little more about the aid that NYU gives? I’m aware that they also require the FAFSA to be filled out and that their merit based aid is also “half” need based (that’s my interp of it at least). </p>
<p>@Pea. My family would probably not qualify for need based aid at Harvard, and the rest of the ivies. But 250,000 is still a lot for four years for my parents to shell out. </p>
<p>Hope this clarifies. And @ stagemum, I am doing some more research into all of my colleges. The worst part is having so many of these big names stick out so much that you don’t want to cross them out, but also knowing that you wouldn’t fit in there anyway.</p>
<p>20 colleges . Why Not if you can handle all the essays.</p>
<p>I had very similar academic credentials and I applied to 19-20 colleges.</p>
<p>1 safety: State U
6 Ivies and 12-13 selective colleges such as Stanford, MIT, Chicago, NW, Rice, JHU .</p>
<p>A friend of mine (Asian male, almost identical stat as yours) applied to a lot fewer colleges and he was accepted from his safety school (state u) only. A lot of work but it is doable. Go for it!</p>
<p>Maybe take a closer look at what you want in a school. Take a look at what students attending those schools say about them. I think narrowing down a little would probably be a good idea…but hey, your life.</p>
<p>If you don’t qualify for FA, then there does nt seem to be much point shopping around every Ivy, MIT, and Stanford since they have zero scholarships based on merit. So it would mean your parents are willing to pay if you get in which can only mean they want you to get into a prestigious school. There is a good possibility the only school you get into in your current list is NYU since pretty much all schools seem to be reaches, even with your excellent numbers. </p>
<p>20more - I have a tidbit I found out today to add to your JHU rejection despite your excellent credentials. A local school which has a very good reputation had two kids do ED and 10 regular. Both EDs were admitted and all others were rejected. Let me add that they were not all Asian males…</p>
<p>Your list should be about 25% safety, 25% reach, and the rest matches. Right now, you are at basically 100% reach. There is more to a university than it’s ranking! If I were you, I would picture myself with finances and emotionally at each of these twenty colleges. Now, take about 5-6 of these and add them to your official list. Next, start researching your state’s public schools and other publics who give out purely outstanding merit aid. Find a social match(es) from these schools and add them to your list. Double check the colleges which are not the twenty you listed for anymore matches before you start finalizing your list. Now, here’s the fun part. Eliminate any schools on your official list your just applying for because of the prestige. After that, you have 6-8 great choices to apply to and you’ll be sure to find a happy home!</p>
<p>-------------------------------------------If it is to be, it is up to me…</p>