<p>What, in your opinion, is the ideal number?</p>
<p>find those you really want to go to and an equal number of safeties in the same area or that fit your major.</p>
<p>example, you wanna go to harvard, stanford, duke
I would also apply to, boston college, uc berkeley, unc chapel hill</p>
<p>idk, that was my method w/ regard to UCs and CSUs, also w/ Rutgers and CUNYs.</p>
<p>Neither Boston College, UC Berkeley, or UNC-CH are safeties (possible exception is instate with guaranteed transfer/acceptance based on stats etc.).</p>
<p>Buerre's general approach makes some sense; there is no set number. If staying at your current school is not an appealing option for you, you need a selection of reach/50-50 chance/ and safe schools. </p>
<p>A safe school is one for which your stats exceed the 75%ile (or better) and which has a high acceptance rate for transfers. Bare minimum for a "safe" school would be over 40%.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>The important thing to remember is not to overly "cluster" your list. I had a friend who did this and got screwed. He applied to every single Ivy, but wasn't really qualified for any of them. Needless to say (I've never understood the need for this phrase, but I think it works here), he was rejected "8" times. He got stuck with his safety school. What he fell into the trap of was making a list of schools that were all the same. You need to have reaches, matches, and safeties. Don't apply to a ton of schools you know you only have a small chance of getting into and only apply to one definate. My list is 3-Reaches, 2-Matches, 1-Safety. If you end up applying to 10 schools, its probably because you are not sure what you are looking for and are just applying everywhere to compensate. Stick to a concise, yet varied list to ensure that if you get rejected from your "Dream School", you won't have to go to the local community college because you were rejected everywhere else.</p>
<p>1 REACH SCHOOL (Top 20)
1 SLIGHTLY REACH SCHOOL (Top 30)
2 MATCH SCHOOLS (Top 40)</p>
<h2>1 SAFETY SCHOOL (Top 50)</h2>
<p>Ex.</p>
<p>Stanford
UC Berkeley
UCLA
USC</p>
<h2>UC San Diego </h2>
<p>If money is the issue, you can get rid of the first one in the list and apply to 4. But personally, I think 5 is the magic number :)</p>
<p>im doing 9...there's only one safety in there and i'm FINE with that</p>
<p>Ok, but my friend wasn't and he got really depressed. But that was just him I guess, to each his own. If you don't get into any reaches though, that's a lot less options</p>
<p>I would just make sure your safety school is one you would not mind going to. Don't just apply because you will get in.</p>
<p>yeah but it's really hard to feel that way.
Usually when ppl think safety school, they tend to think it's not good enough for them because it's an "easy" school to get in. So ppl tend to have very little respect toward that school.</p>
<p>Even me.
although UCSD is my safety school, I surely don't feel all comfortable going there. I know it's the 3rd highest ranked school of UCs, but i just keep thinking "if i can go there with no prob, it must not be very prestigious" because ppl like to challenge themselves and have those competitiveness.</p>
<p>But oh well, i surely won't feel bad about it, but not good either.</p>
<p>Yes, but you can find other positives in the school. Being able to get into the school should not be seen as a negative. Maybe you go to a lesser school but you are able to excel in their honors program more than if you went to a more elite school. Also do not be so sure about UCSD...I heard some horrible things about them rescinding admissions this year. I think that may have been for freshman though. Does anybody know what happened with that?</p>
<p>Although I have never experienced it, I can predict that the worst feeling in the world for a prospective applicant is to be sitting at home in April with no acceptances, or one acceptance from a school that don't want to go to. College is too long to not be going to a school you feel good about.</p>
<p>1 REACH SCHOOL (Top 20)
1 SLIGHTLY REACH SCHOOL (Top 30)
2 MATCH SCHOOLS (Top 40)
1 SAFETY SCHOOL (Top 50)</p>
<p>^ thats just idiotic....</p>
<p>IT DEPENDS ON YOU...</p>
<p>people need to stop asking extremely personal questions when nobody else can decide for them...</p>
<p>you should apply to a good amount of schools. basically apply to 3-6 schools you are crazy about.....preferably one thats difficult to get into, and one that is a practical guarantee for you...</p>
<p>but choosing one from the top 20, 30, 40 is just retarded. thats for people who dont know what they're doing and all they care about is prestige.</p>
<p>I agree. This is a personal choice. I think the people that thoroughly research the schools and why they want to go there are usually able to keep the list down to a handful (maybe a few more). They also have a higher chance of getting in because the schools are better fits for them and they have good reasons for wanting to go there.</p>
<p>9 reaches and 1 safety</p>
<p>always good</p>
<p>gianscolere1,
what also helped me narrow down the schools I applied to was looking at the schedule of classes for my major. I am concentrating on a specific part of my major and not all schools offered enough classes to get a good foundation in this area. so that could be a big consideration to keep in mind as well.</p>
<p>
I didn't write that they were safeties. they were an example of finding schools within the same area and I chose to list those well known to me and possibly the op.</p>
<p>
[quote]
you should apply to a good amount of schools. basically apply to 3-6 schools you are crazy about.....preferably one thats difficult to get into, and one that is a practical guarantee for you...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's exactly what I just did...</p>
<p>
[quote]
but choosing one from the top 20, 30, 40 is just retarded. thats for people who dont know what they're doing and all they care about is prestige.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Apparently, I know EXACTLY what im doing.
I have my reason for transferring to certain college, and yes, prestige indeed is a factor but not the entire reason.
Why do you think people care so much about ranking, and why do you think so many people are so desperate to get into ivies or stanford or Berkeley Business program? Do you think if Berkeley ranked like #20 in business, would people still be trying so hard to get in there like now?</p>
<p>Stop saying that prestige dont matter cuz it matter A LOT. It matters for recruiting and for your future career path. One main reason why people want to go to Wharton is because it pretty much opens you up for more opportunity for career. Top ranking firms recruit there the most and that alone is good enough reason to go there. Why do you think top firms recruit the most in schools scuh as ivy and stanford? It's cuz they are known to be the most prestigious schools in the nation.</p>
<p>Prestige does matter. Those who doesnt care about prestige obviously don't have a big goal and ambition for their future.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who contributed. I was simply trying to get an idea of what others are doing. I fully intended to come up with my own plan based on this knowledge.</p>
<p>the reason why people recruit at places like wharton and berkeley is that they know the kids are smart. its not so much that you went to one of those places as that you got in there. obviously, there are more qualified kids than there are spots, and tons of smart kids end up at schools with less prestige. but believe it or not, theyre still smart, still good workers, and still get jobs. theres more than one way to skin a cat (or get a job ibanking).</p>
<p>if it helps you OP, I'm applying to 11 or 12 schools (not sure a/b last one). I have one ultimate safety, several matches, and many reaches. I suggest you apply to as many schools as you can afford that you actually have an interest in. Most ppl can afford the applications b4 they can afford to visit each and every college they are interested in. Once I get accepted to whichever universities, then I'll visit.</p>
<p>dhl3, I think when people say the "prestige" of schools, they mean the bragging factor of having attended such a school. You are right though, prestige does play a large part in one's choice for a university, but that is usually because those prestigious universities have the best programs for them. I.E. not only is Haas prestigious, but it is arguably the best business program in the country, which is the reason why it attracts many people with business prospects.</p>
<p>Anyways, I think 4-6 schools is a good number.
1-2 Reaches
2-3 Semi-Reaches
1-2 Safeties</p>
<p>Your safeties should be schools that you want to attend, and not merely apply to because you are guaranteed admission.</p>