Someone upstream mentioned the deep thoughts notion.
Anyway…back to th OP’s question. I think it takes longer than an hour to complete each college application…if you are including the essay portion.
I wasn’t suggesting that anyone should apply only because the application is easy, just that knowing which ones are easy is good info to have available for a variety of reasons.
https://www.college-kickstart.com/blog/item/common-app-extra-essay-requirements
Still OP should be able to find several that will only take an hour to complete.
If they are already on your list, then I guess. But I would not prioritize even within the list this way. Make a plan to get them all done, and do it.
Well…University of Alabama application takes less than 30 minutes to complete.
My son did an early application to the University of Hartford/Hartt School that also was very brief. No essay AND no letters of recommendation (but he did have to audition).
But the other applications more than made up for the short one.
Isn’t OP’s daughter finishing soph year in hs? Are there any stats yet?
@californiaaa don’t expect to reuse most of essays. Supplemental essays are very different. Specially why school XYZ essay. If you can reuse those it means your essay was not a good one to begin with. My D16 applied to 18 school. 6 of them were UCs on one application. During the school year I would plan to spend at least a week per school. If not more.
It seems like many of the nmsf scholarship schools have short applications, but the honors programs at those schools require more effort.
Take time to listen to the podcast of This American Life where an adcom from GA Tech was interviewed. It is excellent…and highlights some of the goofs made when people take shortcuts.
Rick Clark, head of GT admissions, is very entertaining.
@californiaa, have you come back to the thread or is this wasted effort?
@Pizzagirl Thanks to comments like yours and several others, this thread has been extremely informative and eye-opening. With or without OP, I hope it continues.
<i guess="" those="" applications="" just="" get="" magically="" read="" by="" some="" volunteers,="" no="" office="" space="" and="" equipment’s="" are="" needed.="" many="" elite="" colleges="" claim="" they="" all="" applications,="" often="" more="" than="" once.="" if="" so,="" then="" 75="" doesn’t="" cover="" the="" costs="" of="" processing="" an="" application.=""><i guess="" those="" applications="" just="" get="" magically="" read="" by="" some="" volunteers,="" no="" office="" space="" and="" equipment’s="" are="" needed.="" many="" elite="" colleges="" claim="" they="" all="" applications,="" often="" more="" than="" once.="" if="" so,="" then="" 75="" doesn’t="" cover="" the="" costs="" of="" processing="" an="" application.="">
Often , applications are, first, read and evaluated by temps, on the minimal salary (or close to it) and volunteers. Yes, from home => no office space is needed.
Adcoms are looking at the preselected pool of the applications, not at the 100,000. Af far as I know.
Thanks! She has her finals this week. Next week - vacations. Next, she will start working on the application.
My personal experience:
100 job applications => 10 job interviews => 1 job offer.
However, last time I was sending “cold” applications was, approximately, 15 years ago.
californiaa, what is your reaction to the thoughts expressed here – that it’s not just a simple “insert professor X” in the essays? Does that ring true with you, make you think differently about the process? Remember, those who are advising you are veterans who have done this, so it’s wise to listen to people without prejudging.
<because californiaaa="" has="" made="" it="" clear="" in="" previous="" posts="" that="" she="" is="" seeking="" only="" the="" most="" elite="" schools="" (plus="" then="" uc="" system),="" that’s="" why.="">
The plan is:
- All 9 UC campuses (she is guaranteed by law to have a space in a UC campus, due to her grades/ACT). Luckily, one UC application covers all nine campuses.
- Up to 20 common application colleges (as much as she would be able to do).
- England: Cambridge (not likely) + London School of Econ + University of St Andrews
- Canada: McGill University + University of Toronto
We haven’t visited any colleges, except within the driving distance. Thus, saved a lot of money. Thus, she is welcome to apply to as many schools as she can.
I am on a “stand-by”, helping her with logistics. Major - “undecided” (unfortunately).
<how many="" students="" sign="" non-competes?="">
Non-competes are (luckily!) illegal in California. Businesses have to compete for talent in other ways 
@PurpleTitan
<btw, i’m="" not="" sure="" this="" is="" of="" help="" to="" the="" op,="" but="" if="" anyone="" wants="" apply="" without="" bothering="" with="" researching="" a="" school="" much*,="" they="" could="" trinity="" college="" dublin**="" (or="" any="" other="" irish="" uni).="" unis="" aren’t="" very="" holistic="" at="" all.="" for="" eu="" applicants,="" each="" program="" in="" uni="" just="" takes="" applicants="" who="" have="" highest="" number="" points="" (they="" some="" point-based="" system="" applicants;="" it="" seems="" like="" american="" translate="" an="" sat="" score="" over="" their="" somehow).="" americans,="" would="" require="" 500-word="" “why=”" tcd"="" essay,="" likely="" won’t="" matter="" so="" long="" as="" you="" don’t="" insult="" them.=""></btw,>
Thank you very much for the advice! My D is planning to apply to St. Andrew’s in Ireland. We will look at Trinity Dublin as well.
I love Dublin
<isn’t op’s="" daughter="" finishing="" soph="" year="" in="" hs?="" are="" there="" any="" stats="" yet?="">
The oldest is finishing Junior Time flies :)</isn’t>
@Pizzagirl, <californiaa, what="" is="" your="" reaction="" to="" the="" thoughts="" expressed="" here="" --="" that="" it’s="" not="" just="" a="" simple="" “insert=”" professor="" x"="" in="" essays?="" does="" ring="" true="" with="" you,="" make="" you="" think="" differently="" about="" process?="" remember,="" those="" who="" are="" advising="" veterans="" have="" done="" this,="" so="" wise="" listen="" people="" without="" prejudging.=""></californiaa,>
Even if I spend the whole month, I (I AM TALKING ABOUT MYSELF, NOT MY D) would not be able to come up with a simple “why Berkeley” answer. I know Berkeley really well, I love Berkeley, but I still can’t come up with any ideas “why Berkeley”, except … hmmm… good faculty?
What would research show me? Weather in California (good). Weather in Berkeley (bad). Faculty (great!, but undergrads don’t interact with most of them). Hmmm … spirit? Many Asians (I think it is a plus, but, obviously, don’t write an application about it). New athletic facilities (don’t care). Crazy traffic? Many geeks?
What, exactly, would I find in my research? How is it gonna help me?