If you apply through the Common Application, who long does it take to add another college to your list of applications? One hour?
The application is the same. Essay topics are very similar, they can be twisted, modified, and re-used in many applications. Recommendation letters are the same. Application fee … yes, I know that it may be an issue. However, Why not apply to as many colleges as possible?
What is the maximum possible under the Common Application? 20? ($2,000 in application fees).
If you apply to 10-20-30, you have to keep track of all of them. If School A asks for updated grades, you have to remember to send them. What if 15 schools ask for 15 different things?
For the tippy-top privates, if you want to do a good job, I doubt one hour is enough. I’d say a full 40 hour week of researching the school and how you fit it + reworking essays spread over several weeks for each school.
If a college asks for a “Why XX College” type of essay, you have to be at the top of your game, have very specific answers and insight into that college (not just platitudes like “you are in a city I like” or “you offer so many opportunities” or “I really feel at home there”) and if you’re doing a really good job, these are not re-usable essays.
It’s not just app fees - it’s fees for sending in SAT/ACT/AP.
And there are fees for submitting the Profile to the schools that require that too.
The limit is 20 universities.
You should research them all.
The “general” commonapp essay is likely to take many, many hours.
For a typical college that has a supplement, add a minimum of 6-8 hours.
Some colleges are “free to apply” and/or don’t have a supplement - look for those, many are quite good.
One hour? =))
No. The research may take about an hour. If the college requires supplemental essays, they can take from 8-40 hours IIRC. Yet another reason why one should pare down the list before actually applying.
I know it’s not the same thing, but I applied to seven graduate schools last fall and it was definitely like a full-time job. I had to research the university, its faculty in the specific department, the students in the department, etc., and then I had to tailor my personal statement to the program and sometimes add extra stuff for certain schools (like the “autobiographical sketch”… in addition to the personal statement? Really?).
I went into this process with my full course load and my part-time job thinking I could apply to like 10 or more, but in reality, I barely finished seven and had a solid week of hell toward the end near the deadlines.
Don’t bog yourself down too much with it because, if you do it right, you should supercede one hour per school by a LOT (especially if there are more supplements).
Wow. How to put a number to it…I don’t know.
But skieurope has a good idea (above) about what activity to allow yourself as you take a break between drafts.
It took me July, August, September, October, November, December to finish the UC application and 14 other applications if that puts things in perspective.
I’m clicking on the ‘Best’ button right about now, @anxiousenior1 ^^^.
Are state schools easier? Do any schools take the standard app without supplements? Which ones?
Remember that you’ll have interviews for some schools, too.
You may want to narrow down your list by using the Net Price Calculator for each option.
<are state="" schools="" easier?="" do="" any="" take="" the="" standard="" app="" without="" supplements?="" which="" ones?="">
Univ of California (UC) application is reasonably simple. One application for all 9 campuses.
<remember that="" you’ll="" have="" interviews="" for="" some="" schools,="" too.="">
Interviews will come much later. Obviously, not every school will invite my D for an interview.
<it took="" me="" july,="" august,="" september,="" october,="" november,="" december="" to="" finish="" the="" uc="" application="" and="" 14="" other="" applications="" if="" that="" puts="" things="" in="" perspective.="">
Thank you!
<some colleges="" are="" “free=”" to="" apply"="" and="" or="" don’t="" have="" a="" supplement="" -="" look="" for="" those,="" many="" quite="" good.="">
Thank you for suggestions. Will make a list of free to apply schools.
<it’s not="" just="" app="" fees="" -="" it’s="" for="" sending="" in="" sat="" act="" ap.=""></it’s>
Ooops, I forgot these ones. Thanks!
<if you="" apply="" to="" 10-20-30,="" have="" keep="" track="" of="" all="" them.="" if="" school="" a="" asks="" for="" updated="" grades,="" remember="" send="" what="" 15="" schools="" ask="" different="" things?="">
This will be my job 
i am planning to work as my D’s secretary.