<p>In my school, everyone applies 3 or 4 colleges, and not more than 5...
(1reach/1match/1-2safety)</p>
<p>It seems like applying 8-10 schools is normal here...</p>
<p>I was kind of shocked by reading some of those posts</p>
<p>Is it wrong/bad to pick many schools (about 11 colleges...?)?</p>
<p>Then how can I ask all the recommendations? Wouldn't it be bad if im the only person who asks 8 recommendations from one teacher while others only ask 1 or 2?</p>
<p>oh maybe it varies by the region where i live... i live in the south... or is it only my high school thing?</p>
<p>In my experience, I think it has more to do with the students' competitiveness than geographic region. More accomplished students tend to apply to more while average kids will go for only a few. I guess this is because competitive students want to maximize their chances of getting into a selective school. I know kids in my school who applied to 20+ while others apply to only 2 or 3.</p>
<p>Why would you ask for 8 recommendations? Just ask for one and copy it 7 times.</p>
<p>Southerners often apply to large state universities which accept well over 50% of all applicants which often means that their safety schools are safe bets. If you need a suggested formula, then consider applying to nine (9) schools comprised of three reaches, three matches & three safeties. Or consider six (6) schools using the same formula. Anything above 12 schools is probably too much for both the student & the college advisor to handle with appropriate enthusiasm. Large state universities are more common in the South due to the need for ag schools as well as due to fewer LACs.</p>
<p>Right now my list is at 16 but it'll probably fall a couple before I actually apply.</p>
<p>An over 50% state university acceptance rate seems to be pretty normal nationwide. OSU has 68%, UConn has 51%, Penn State has 58%, etc. I don't see how this is a southern phenomenon.</p>
<p>I applied to 6 UC's which is strange at my school because everyone applies to all of them. I applied to one state university and also 4 privates which three of them are on the east coast.</p>
<p>ah- didn't think about California...
well, no one in my school applied to UC...
USC means University of South Carolina instead of Southern California...=D</p>
<p>hahaha good one</p>
<p>Taken from "There should be a new admission system in place"</p>
<p>In reading this thread it seems like it is common for people to apply to 15-20 schools. Thats why many are suggesting that limits be set on the number of applications students can submit. I wondered if there was a way to determine just how common it is. This data is certainly tough to find. However, I was able to look at recent results for one top ranked suburban public high school over the past 4 years. This data represents a sample size of roughly 3,000 students.</p>
<p>Between 2004 and 2007 students applied to an average of 5.4 colleges. If those applying to only one school are removed (mostly early decision acceptances), the average number of schools rises to 6.6.</p>
<p>When the data is examined by class rank, the numbers shift. The top 20% of the students apply to an average of 6.3 schools (7.6 ex-ED), while the bottom 20% only apply to an average of 4.4 schools (5.7 ex-ED).</p>
<p>Intuitively, this makes sense. The top students who are applying to the most selective schools submit more applications to make sure they have choices, while the lower ranked students who apply to non-selective schools submit fewer applications.</p>
<p>As for the distribution of how many applications are submitted, less than 1% apply to more than 20 schools, and only 1% apply to more than 15 schools. This certainly doesnt seem like theres a problem with too many applications.</p>
<p>The mode of the distribution is in the 2-5 school category, where 30% of the students fall, while 20% apply to only one school. Combining these two groups, 50% of the students apply to 1-5 schools!</p>
<p>Filling out the distribution:</p>
<h1>Applications / %</h1>
<p>20+ <1%
16-19 <1%
13-15 2%
11-12 6%
8-10 20%
6-7 20%
2-5 30%
1 20%</p>
<p>One trend is that the average number of applications has increased over the 4 year period, from 5.0 (6.2 ex-ED) in 2004 to 5.8 (7.0 ex ED) in 2007. This supports comments that the common application has made it easier for students. The increase is 16% over 4 years.</p>
<p>I know that this study only represents one school, but it creates a context for examining the issue of too many applications.</p>
<p>Yeah wow that is crazy. It sucks because like some of the top applicants apply to like schools that are a little less selective knowing they will not go there just because they want to see if they will get in. I applied to schools that I would go to if I got into.</p>
<p>wow very professional research there, ACT 4...</p>
<p>and yeah, my counselor said even if you applied to safety schools, you should know well about those schools, and be prepared to go there if that's the only school you got in...</p>
<p>My friend applied to 15 schools. So that would equal out to like $1500 in app fees. Dayyyuuum</p>
<p>^I wouldn't call that a bad idea. A significantly better financial aid or scholarship offer from one school that you may not have wanted to apply to is worth well over $1500.</p>
<p>Yeah thats what I basically told him but......whatever....he didnt take my advice.</p>
<p>eighty-eight</p>
<p>hey my suggestion is that you apply to 8 schools
something like this
1 High reach/ Dream
2 Reach
3 Slight/Low Reach
4 High Match
5 Match
6 Low/ Safe Match
7 Academic Safety
8 Financial Safety</p>
<p>Ok high and low refers to the difficulty of getting in. High= more difficult, Low=Easier. Academic safety is one where you are sure you will get in based on your credentials (EC and academics), but you dont know whether you will receive financial aid or not. Financial safety is one that you are also sure you ll get in and even if you dont get the a scholarship or something from that school, you can still pay for everything. Applying to 8 schools will never cost you more than 500 dollars, and you "spread your risk" over a reasonable amount of colleges.</p>
<p>I picked 2 dream reaches, 1 slight reach, 1 high match, 2 matches, 3 safeties :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It's called a 'safety' for a reason. There's really no excuse for applying to more than one safety. </p>
<p>I'd suggest: 2 matches, 1-2 reaches, and one safety.</p>