<p>Back in August, I started a thread, <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/984615-world-record-number-applications-13.html?highlight=world+record%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/984615-world-record-number-applications-13.html?highlight=world+record</a> It got a lot of response. Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times published As</a> college application numbers spiral out of control, a few lonely voices say less is more - latimes.com What do you think about this?</p>
<p>“A small but determined group is going in the opposite direction: Families more concerned with finding a good match than the most impressive bumper sticker.”</p>
<p>count my daughter in this group…</p>
<p>If a student has done a thoughtful process and needs 15-20 schools to fulfill different needs in his/her list than that is fine; I don’t particularly think you need nearly that many but that’s my opinion…</p>
<p>Honestly, if you are not a “prestige hound”, 5-8 seems to be just fine…heck, she has only applied to 5 at this point and will have all of those responses before Dec 15th…</p>
<p>but then again, she doesn’t really fit the CC mold…</p>
<p>8-15 I think is the best number of apps. You need to select schools that fit your interests and also create possibilities if you get rejected. Compile a realistic list for your applications and have 1 or 2 safetys and 1 or 2 reach schools. You can never predict what happens so it’s best to play it safe</p>
<p>A reason for the “high” number of applications for many is to increase the chance of receiving aid especially merit. The chance for a merit scholarship at the top 50 schools involves so many factors that the students are forced to apply to a high number hoping to get something. You just don’t know what the scholarship committee is looking for and everyone that is vying for these scholarships have stellar stats.</p>
<p>This whole process feeds on itself. The more people submit lots of applications to the most competitive schools, the more competitive they become and the more competitive they become the more applications people submit. It is a crazy dynamic we find ourselves in.</p>
<p>DD originally had more than 30 on her list. We (DD & I) worked hard to find more of a fit, rather than ‘apply all’.</p>
<p>We did some visits. She had some interviews. We researched the schools of interest online (FB is a GREAT way to get the real scoop).</p>
<p>She sent out 2 full applications (actually sent 3, but delayed app fee, so it hasn’t been processed).</p>
<p>Received her first acceptance letter. We visited the school. She LOVED it and is beginning the full admission process. (I will not be sending the app fee for the third app)</p>
<p>I cautioned her not to go all ‘gung-ho’ simply because she was accepted. That’s the beauty though…she only applied to schools she WANTED to go to for the specific reasons important to her. On paper, she thought she would like >30. When I covered the names of the schools and only offered her the information reflecting her requirements, she narrowed them down pretty easily.</p>
<p>In the old days, we (parents of this crop of seniors) applied to 4-6 colleges, the norm nowadays is 8-12, with some going all out with lots more. Colleges must take some blame with all the marketing and encouragement for everyone to throw their hats in regardless of grades, test scores, etc…</p>
<p>It’s hard to get good statistics on the average number of schools applied to, but the College Board says that the average is 5-8.</p>
<p>“(FB is a GREAT way to get the real scoop).”</p>
<p>Alwaysbelieve - what is “FB”? Thanks!</p>
<p>FB=facebook</p>
<p>Financial considerations are a big factor in the number of schools to apply to, whether looking for merit aid or need-based aid. I can attest that all schools that meet 100% of need are not equal. There can be differences that amount to well over $10,000 over 4 years, and you won’t really know until being accepted and getting the fin aid package.</p>
<p>S visited about 15 schools, applied to 5, and was admitted at 3 and waitlisted at 2. He got off of the waitlist at one school and went there, the deciding factor being better fin aid. </p>
<p>D visited about 25 schools (many with her brother), applied to 9, was admitted at 6, waitlisted at 2, and denied at 1. She declined the waitlists and decided between a school with full-tuition merit aid and an ivy with excellent need-based aid.</p>
<p>Both S & D gave considerable thought to what they wanted out of college and what type of setting they wanted to be in before applying. This reduced the number of schools and made the decision of where to attend easier. Both are quite happy where they are. If the summer before senior year is spent doing some personal reflection and critical thinking the number of applications can be reduced. It is worse to kick the can down the road and apply to 16 schools only to receive 10 acceptances and having to sort things out under the pressure of a deadline during a very busy time in the life of a senior. </p>
<p>I told my kids not to consider application fees. They are a pittance in comparison to the enormous cost of attending college for 4 years. For my D I calculated the cost of applying to college, including campus visits and standardized tests to be about $2800. I consider that money well spent.</p>
<p>I definitely went the simpler route- I ended up only submitting applications to five schools, and my parents had no problem with that. I originally, I had 9 schools on my list, but when I got into one of them rolling I realized that there were only four others that I would honestly prefer to attend.
I also just didn’t want to spend tons of time filling out applications just so that I would have a better selection (I can be pretty lazy at times). I knew what I wanted and didn’t want, and didn’t bother applying all over the place.</p>
<p>Banjo: You sound smart not lazy. You didn’t let the craziness interfere with what you knew you wanted.</p>
<p>Banjo…you sound a lot like my DD. And I too, would not categorize it as ‘lazy’…you just know what you want.</p>
<p>This thread is for me! 4 schools.</p>
<p>Okay. We are a less is more family. S is a college sophomore. He applied to 5 colleges. He was accepted to 4 and is very happy with his choice. My other S and D are high school seniors. S had applied to 5 colleges EA. He has already been accepted at one and if he gets into his first choice school he is done. D has one ED application in and 3 EA applications in. She is hoping to be done also. We will see. I think if you do not need financial aid then less is more.</p>
<p>I applied to 5 schools. I think total for us was $125 in application fees. I just can’t fathom the money it would take to apply to 20 schools. Also, it’s 10 dollars for SAT and 10 for ACT per school, plus AP scores if you want them $12-15. I’m very happily accepted to two schools, an auto-admit to another, and waiting on the final two.</p>
<p>I submitted 2 applications (but one was to the UCs, so I think that was 3 schools at once).</p>