<p>I have done alot of research on almost every single school and I think it backfired on me. I have a list of about 26 colleges and absolutley cannot narrow it down. I want to go to any of these schools of course some a little more than others but I and see no harm in applying to all of them. But I was wondering if this would turn off the some of the colleges. or would they not really care? would they even see this information?</p>
<p>These are my colleges, they might seem a little random but I am 100% sure about all of them.
Syracuse
Rutgers
Tulane
Colorado
U MASS
U PITT
Vermont
Washington
Providence
Depaul
Fordham
Loyola Maryland
Delaware
SUNY albany
Denver
Loyola Marymount
Indiana
Ohio State
U of Ohio
SUNY Binghamton
Buffalo
UMBC
Case Western Reserve
Reed
Wisco Madison</p>
<p>There is a lot of variety on your list, and that may backfire. Some colleges ask you to tell them which other schools you're applying to. If they see a list of 26 schools ranging from Reed to Ohio State, it will seem to them like you haven't done your research, or like you don't really know what you want.</p>
<p>In addition, it benefits you directly to narrow down your list - applying to 26 schools is a lot of work, and the application fees will add up.</p>
<p>Have you visited any of the schools? (If so, what did you like about the ones you visited?) That could really help you to narrow it down. It's also good to ask yourself, "If I got into every single school on this list and had to decide where to go, which schools would I eliminate immediately?"</p>
<p>Also, I looked through some of your previous posts. You've said you're interested in majoring in classics, finance, and environmental studies. You may want to take a look at the major offerings at each of the schools on your list to make sure you'll be able to study what you want to study. For example, I know off the top of my head that Reed offers neither finance nor environmental studies (however, their classics program is fantastic).</p>
<p>26? You seriously have the time to apply to 26 colleges? Wow, I envy you. I would strike quite a few from that list if I were you... none in particular, just the sheer number is staggering. I believe that colleges do see some of this via ACT/SAT reports and information release agreements...</p>
<p>I'd say you shouldn't apply to more than 12. The basic laws of physics state that one cannot attend more than one college at the same time. So if you have 26, how are you ever going to narrow it down to just one? Just go with the basic format of about 4 or 5 reaches, 3 or 4 matches, and 2 or 3 safeties. It's not necessarily bad that your list is so diverse, but eliminate the extraneous schools. Do you really need so many out of state publics on your list? And I can take one off right now: Ohio University. It's just one big party school, and it's really been suffering lately because of its rampant drinking problem and plagiarism scandals. Someone who truly appreciates academics would not attend such a university.</p>
<p>There is lots of duplication in your list. Perhaps you're too easily enticed by the fancy marketing/websites/info literature.</p>
<p>And really: take the money you're asking you parents to spend and donate it to a worthy cause. It really is money you're otherwise flushing away. Stick to ten or less.</p>
<p>And how will your teachers and counselor feel about sending off 26 recs. That's just plain rude.
Not to mention the 9.50 per ACT/SAT you send out.</p>
<p>Some of those schools may have specific recommendation forms that must be filled out, each of which will require a dedication of time by the person filling them out. Thoroughly research each school and see how many seperate forms would have to be filled out. Check application fees. If you haven't already, thoroughly research each school. I spent at least a few hours learning about each school before I put my time into applying and asked others to do the same. To not research thoroughly is to waste your own time, your recommendors' time, your GC's time, and your admissions rep at the college's time. If you are applying to schools that ration student intake from your area, you could take the spot of someone who really wants to study there. Make sure you are really interested in each of the schools you apply to, even if only as a back up.</p>
<p>I applied to 15, more than half were free, and most were fairly easy (no recs or essays required). I did this primarily to gauge what scholarships I could get.</p>
<p>I wouldn't bother filling in a long, complicated application unless you could really see yourself going to that school. But this is a once in a lifetime occurance, so I say go for it if that's what you really want.</p>
<p>By the way, it's $8.50 to send the ACT, yet another reason why the ACT is better than the SAT.</p>