<p>I plan on applying to 12-15 colleges... about 2 SUPER REACHES, 4-6 reaches, 3-4 good matches, 3 safeties</p>
<p>but if how many i applied to made no difference i would apply to somewhere between 18 and 22 (i have lists)</p>
<p>so how many is too many?</p>
<p>My school suggests 2 reaches, 2 matches, 2 safeties. I am planning on 3 big reaches, 2 slight reaches, 2 matches, and 2 safeties, for a total of 9. I think that in this day and age it is advantageous to apply to several reaches because it's pretty much a crapshoot.</p>
<p>Rsmattu, the application limit is really up to you. Just keep in mind that most applications cost between $60 and $75 dollars. To apply to 15 colleges could be pushing four digits (75 x 15 = 1125!) To apply to 22 would be pushing $1600+. To me and my pocketbook, that's a lot of money. </p>
<p>Collegeboard weighs in on this, however in a couple of websites. Please check them out; they will help answer your question.</p>
<p>Why 20 Is Too Many: Understanding the Application Frenzy
College</a> Applications - How Many Schools Should I Apply To?</p>
<p>How Many College Applications? Finalizing Your College List
College</a> Applications - college list - search for schools that match</p>
<p>I would recommend honestly no more than 10, and i think 8 is a good number. If you're financially stable and can handle like 20...well, it's your choice. But definitely I doubt it's worth it.</p>
<p>the financial thing isnt really an issue cuz a lot of the college money saved for my sis has gone to me cuz she has pursued a "different dream" so is it only a money thing or does it hurt my chances at each college?</p>
<p>It does not hurt your chance at each college. Again, I don't see why you should apply to that many, but if that's your thing, by all means..</p>
<p>dude, did you look at the links in my last post? Applying to too many colleges reduces acceptance rates!!</p>
<p>it reduces it for everybody else according to those books... lessens it for me if i dont have enough time to sort things out according to the links u sent me... considering i have all summer i kinda feel like if it doesnt hurt my chance at each college why not gamble at like 20-25 colleges... it hurts the community but as for me it helps me... and trust me.. i need as much help as i can get...</p>
<p>what i got from the links u gave me is that it reduces chances only if im not focused and I'm going to give a sincer app to atleast 5 colleges</p>
<p>if i give garbage ones to the other ones and some how get into them, so be it i suppose...</p>
<p>thank you for all ur input tho cuz i was getting scared for a sec that the more colleges u apply to the lower chance u get at each</p>
<p>
[quote]
dude, did you look at the links in my last post? Applying to too many colleges reduces acceptance rates!!
[/quote]
I didn't read that post; I replied after reading the OP, I don't usually read every single post on there.</p>
<p>Anyhow, how does that make any sense? Whether you apply to 10 or 20 schools, I don't see how it reduces your chance. Unless you mean, if a very qualified student applies to 20 and gets accepted to all 20 that's reducing chances for others...</p>
<p>yeah thats exactly what I was thinking... I dont understand how that reduces my chances... If I were overqualified I suppose I would be taking spots from other students</p>
<p>you probably don't need 3 safeties...</p>
<p>If money isn't an issue, why apply to more than 1 safety?</p>
<p>After seeing my son go through this process this past year ( he applied to 8 schools ), I recommend trying to find a rolling admissions school (ex. Universityi of Michigan and University of Pittsburgh) where you think it is highly likely you will be accepted and which you think you could be happy with. Once you get the first acceptance, there is a good feeling that you have a school. This will eliminate applying to many schools. I think that 6-8 MAXIMUM is enough. The biggest worry is finding enough teachers to do your recommendations. Do you think that any teacher wants to fill out 15 plus recommendations for one student when many students come to the same teacher to fill out recommendations? Also, just apply to those schools where you could be really ok with attending should you get in. Two reaches, two likely and two-three safeties is all you need.</p>
<p>I'm applying to 1 safety, 2 matches, rest reaches.</p>
<p>Even "safeties" can be unpredictable.</p>
<p>Probably more than 12 is too many. think about it: that breaks down for the super-qualified kids as:
2-3 safety
3 match
3-4 reach
3 super-reach (HYPSM et al.)</p>
<p>the fact of the matter is that you are only going to be able to go to ONE college, and i doubt that there are more than 12 or so that would be good matches...</p>
<p>I think by definition a safety is a school where you are certain to get in.</p>
<p>i applied to fifteen (one ED, two EA). it broke down like this...</p>
<p>4 reaches (two in state, two legacy)
1 slight reach
5 matches (one in state)
5 safeties</p>
<p>i think that my number was too high, and here is why: most of these schools, with the exception of reaches, accepted me. however, most of the acceptance packets (mostly from my safeties) were ignored. i didn't even consider them as options. so, the moral is that you are never applying to too many schools if you would honestly consider attending each and every one. imagine that you are only accepted to that school and none other before you commit to applying.</p>
<p>i already have like a hierarchy of colleges... like my own little ranking of like 25 colleges that i would like to go too, i would have no issues shutting down one college for another... the top 5 are obviously where i would LOVE to go but if I dont get into those colleges (i dont expect to get in) I am prepared to say no to somewhere to go to another place...</p>
<p>and just a quick question... what top 35 college is the most unpredictable in their admissions? like what college in that USNews Range would give somebody underqualified the best chance of getting in according to high SAT scores and low GPA? (seeing what others i can add to my rankings)</p>