<p>I have 5 colleges that I'm considering applying to. Is that too many? Not enough?</p>
<p>I think the average is about four colleges, although most people that you talk to on College Confidential will probably be applying to more. I myself plan to apply to eight.</p>
<p>Generally, so long as you have a safety school (or more than one if you distinguish between admission safety and financial safety), a couple of match schools, and a couple of reach schools, you have a fair list.</p>
<p>On CC, the average is probably somewhere around 10. But if you would be happy going to all 5 of your schools and you have a good chance of getting into most, if not all, of them and you can afford them, then you’re fine.</p>
<p>Both DDs applied to 5. Both got waitlisted at one and got in to the rest. Make sure you have a safety.</p>
<p>The average for students applying to Rhodes is greater than 10, which I think is nuts. It may be because we’re a common app school, I’m not sure. But if you’re comfortable with your 5, have a reach and a safety as well as a few matches, then I think it’s a good number.</p>
<p>It’s not the number that’s important…it’s the variety…</p>
<p>Such as…</p>
<p>0-3 reaches (not everyone wants to try reaches)
1-3 matches
1-2 safeties
1-2 financial safeties (which may also be your regular safeties)</p>