<p>Every time one of these threads surface, I ask myself why others are so concerned with how many colleges a kid applies to? So…why is it?</p>
<p>D has 14 on her list. But she may not submit them all. So far she has submitted 4, which includes our in-state university honors college (to which she has been admitted and is her affordable safety), her ED application to her first choice, and two RD applications with 11/1 merit scholarship deadlines. If she doesn’t get into her ED school, then we will have to decide how many of the remaining 10 on her list should actually be filed. Of the 10, 6 would be reaches (under 20% acceptance rate) and the other 4 are more in the match category. The ones with due dates of 1/1 will be ready to go on 12/15, but others aren’t due until 1/15 and those may or may not get filed depending on how nervous D is feeling over Winter Break.</p>
<p>It seems to me that in many cases, applying early to one reach, one match, and one safety might bypass the problem for many. Assuming that the child gets into one (or all), they’re either done or they have a “floor” below which they need not apply in the RD round. </p>
<p>In DS case, he got into his reach, but had he not, he got into his match and could have tailored RD apps to schools at that level and above. If the applicant only gets into a safety, well, then you’re back where you started – nothing ventured, nothing gained. </p>
<p>In cases where financial aid needs are extremely tight, this might not be workable. </p>
<p>10 schools for DS</p>
<p>2 safeties, 3 low matches, 2-3 high matches, 2-3 reaches</p>
<p>But these 10 schools also could be broken down as follows:
1 ED, 1 ED II (if ED is deferred), 5 Early Action, 3 Regular Decision </p>
<p>2 LACs, 2 Research Universities, 3 flagships, 4 public universities</p>
<p>4 Common App (though only one without supplements); 3 schools under one application; the rest were separate applications</p>
<p>2 schools smaller than 5,000 students, 2 schools larger than 30,000 students, and the rest in between</p>
<p>2 honors colleges and 7 with special programs within the schools, which required separate essays and applications</p>
<p>3 schools which did not require application to a specific major, 2 schools where he cannot apply to his major until he is a sophomore and acceptance is based upon grades; and 5 schools where acceptance is into a specific college/major</p>
<p>I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to come up with a list that, no matter what happened, DS would have at least one school we could afford, which offered him a major he wanted, and that had the attributes he desired in a school. The most difficult thing of all was discovering how wildly different the curriculum would be for an Economics and Math major among his different choices. We also wanted him to get in the applications early so that he could focus on his AP classes this year, but have enough choices that, were he to decide to go to an LAC versus a state flagship, he would have the option. Very glad this is behind us, and that he already has two acceptances.</p>
<p>Both my kids applied to roughly 20 schools!<br>
The typical 3 reaches, 4 target, 3 comfort. = 10.<br>
We live in CA 2 UCs and 2 CSUs. = 4.
We are a family of modest means so each had 3 solid economic safety (meet full need) = 3.<br>
D1, an athlete, 3 schools with completive teams (reach/target/comfort) / same for D2 but art schools. = 3. </p>
<p>Interestingly, both girls realigned what they wanted from a college experience once the acceptances started to roll in. </p>
<p>D 1 was admitted to all her reaches (with major merit and/or F/A!). Rejected from most of her comforts. Rejected from both UCs and one CSU.</p>
<p>D 2 waitlisted/rejected at all her targets and economic safeties. Accepted to most her reaches, all comforts and all art schools (with merit and doable f/a). Accepted to UCs and CSUs
Go figure. </p>
<p>Four of my kids have gone through the process so far. They applied to 4, 3, 3, and 1. They were accepted at all schools, except the first kid was wait-listed at one school (due to late application/rolling admissions), but was then accepted and attended that school. I’ve seen the process with a bunch of nieces and nephews and kids’ friends, too. Two or three schools seems typical. Probably a regional difference, as we are in the Midwest. Six would be considered a lot–even for top students who are reaching.
Many kids have a school in mind, usually a nearby school, a school that has a specific program they want, or the school that is most affordable/has best aid–and they just go there. There are exceptions as noted above (unsure of aid or competitive arts programs, etc.) but it is not that complicated for most people. </p>
<p>Proud mom of 3 - I think that this interests people because it dramatically impacts the process and our kids, and also presents an economic and emotional burden for many families. While I don’t begrudge any family from sending out a high number of applications, I think that doing so means that you haven’t done your research or, as another poster mentioned, the research has left you unclear about what you’ll end up paying or what the outcomes might be. The process has become the problem, and many resent having to “play the game.”</p>
<p>D1 did send out more apps than D2 will- about 12, I think - and the only surprise was a WL from a school that was a safety stats-wise. I think that demonstrated to me the futility of sending out apps when your heart isn’t in it. YMMV.</p>
<p>What sort of accelerated program (medical, dental or otherwise) would have the student rejected from the college outright if the student couldn’t get into the accelerated program?</p>
<p>One would say that BSc/MD hopefuls would apply to more schools than normal students.</p>
<p>I agree Sakacar3. I think kids applying to so many colleges has impacted the process to the detriment of the students. Colleges hold back, create wait lists, increase deferrals, spend less time on the apps…all because frankly kids apply to colleges they perhaps have no real intention of attending. I also think that there is some wishful thinking regarding financial aid, that if a kid applies to a ton of colleges maybe, just maybe one of them will cough up alot of money. But it just doesn’t work that way and the surprise big tuition discounts went waning at least 5 years ago. Even colleges known for surprising big tuition discounts have tightened their belts.</p>
<p>@momofthreeboys While your theory may hold some merit, the reality is college admissions is a dirty game. I don’t fault anyone for trying to increase the odds in their favor. If my kids had stuck to the typical 3 reach /3 target/ 3 comfort, neither would be attending their current school. </p>
<p>At our house 20 was a completely doable number. M kids took the SAT in spring of junior year. Completed 2 essays and complied protfolios over the summer. Requested rec’s the first week of school. Scheduled interviews for September. Both had all their apps submitted before thanksgiving. Results started arrive over winter break. </p>
<p>I think the colleges don’t have clean hands here. Everyday, more of what we call college spam is in our snail mailbox. My son showed me his email inbox, and seems like at least half of it is more college spam. They also give out many fee vouchers. </p>
<p>All in the interest of driving up applications to make them seem more selective to raise their rankings to spam applicants about that in the next cycle. </p>
<p>At least we got some unsolicited t-shirts and always needed refrigerator magnets out of the deal. </p>
<p>D has applied to 6 EA and has 11 more on her list. Depending on what comes back for the EA, that list will most likely decrease. Every day I wish we had a better idea of the financial outcome so she could have picked three or four schools and be done with it. She is literally spending every waking moment on essays, both for apps and scholarships. She definately has three schools she would love to attend that are academic matches. With a divorce situation, not knowing what the exs NCP will look like, and a small business to boot, we really have no idea what will happen. Her net is cast wide in hopes that she will actually have a choice in the end, even if its only between two or three schools.</p>
<p>NEPatsGirl, Be aware, while the EA will probably come back with merit (if awarded), the final F/A package probably won’t be awarded until March. That’s the bad news. Here’s the silver lining. The complicated and stressful process may force your girl into a better understanding of herself and what she truly wants out of her college experince. What she thinks wants now may change by May 1. The application process drags many kids, kicking and screaming, into a place of increased confidence and maturity. Good luck. </p>
<p>Kids don’t need to apply to every college that emails them. College is a business. I get tons of offers in my e-mail from dozens of retailers, doesn’t mean they are tricking me. Good lesson for kids to do their research and formulate good options and know what the family can spend. </p>
<p>D 1 applied to 7 and D2 applied to 3.</p>
<p>D will (hopefully) have 12 applications. We have no state flagship, living in DC, so that means all privates and OOS. As another poster mentioned, it can be hard to categorize matches vs reaches, in my D’s situation. And merit will play into the calculations, hopefully. Same schools are long-shots, but I’d feel a fool to have to pay full price for a mid-level school and not have applied to any top-rated ones</p>
<p>@momneeds2no-
20 college applications may be possible if they’re all on the Common App and don’t have supplements, but most of the schools my kids applied to had at least 1 and sometimes 2 or 3 supplementary essays. D decided not to apply EA to one of her schools after looking at the rather daunting supplementary essay. She’s hoping she’ll get into her ED school and be able to avoid it altogether.</p>
<p>@Sue22, No, not all common App. As I remember all contained supplements, especially for art programs, athletics and special scholarship opportunities. The key was starting early–two essays. One as a primary for the common app, the second used a foundation for supplements. By the end of junior year the kids should have all the “raw material” required to complete applications. Staying calm and methodical is part of the process. Neither of my kids wasted much time on “test-prep”. Rather they foused on essays (which highlighted genuine interests) and portfolio (which showcased accomplishments). They didn’t need to struggle with essays or supplements. </p>
<p>Both my kids set sights on “first choice” but, because of financial concerns, did not apply ED. By the time time May 1 rolled around, both changed their minds. Although I do think they would have been just as happy the orginal “first choice”. ED is good way to go, if you can swing the $$. Best of Luck. </p>
<p>I wanted to add that aside from ‘chasing merit’, the senior yearr classes are helping my S decide whether he wants to lean more towards economics or computer science (plans to study both but not sure which will be predominant) - hence apply to some schools known for computer science and some for economics and also ones which seem most flexible to accomodating both. Wanted to keep his options open (also applied to one in our city in case he decides to stay close) and what’s the harm of applying to a few extra if you can afford the applications? If you don’t apply then you close off those possibilities and I believe many students grow during their senior year so thoughts on schools, majors, geography could shift over that time period. </p>
<p>My son had extremely disparate math and critical reading scores which made it very hard to discern match/reach/safety schools. He ended up applying to fifteen schools. I personally thought it was overkill, but he was waitlisted at a number of schools that seemed like matches (and even a couple of safeties) if you just looked at the overall scores . . .and got into some others that seemed more competitive. I think his scores just made it even more of a guessing game. But I do think normally 8 or 9 would be perfect. My younger son is a junior, and I’m hoping he can narrow things down to 8.</p>