<p>I'm currently a junior (rising senior), and that means it's time to decide which colleges I'm going to apply to. I have a list of 40 or so schools that are potential schools for me. I know that seems like a lot, but that includes safety schools, reaches, etc... </p>
<p>I was wondering how many schools is good to apply to? I know someone who applied to 19 schools so that they could have backups if they didn't get into some of them. </p>
<p>What is a feasible about?</p>
<p>Also, how many did you apply to and where?</p>
<p>Thanks a ton!</p>
<p>What can your family afford and what are your stat’s (GPA and SAT/ACT scores)?</p>
<p>If you’re full pay no matter what the cost, then your list can be shorter.</p>
<p>If you have stellar stat’s and you’re willing to include a couple of schools that you are certain to be accepted to (where your stat’s are WAY above the average!), then your list can be shorter.</p>
<p>If neither of the above is true, then your list has to be longer . . . it needs to include schools that are both admissions and financial safeties. Given the unpredictability of financial aid at many schools, you can’t be too conservative.</p>
<p>I’m not going to give you a number (sorry!), but those are the things you have to think about.</p>
<p>First, figure out your safeties which you are assured admission, assured affordability, and would like to attend. Then you can eliminate all schools which you would not choose over your safeties under any circumstances.</p>
<p>How many to apply to is up to you otherwise. Of course, more schools means more effort and application fees. Some people’s first choice is a safety for them, so they apply to just that one school. Others apply to a lot of schools because they have a lot of reach schools.</p>
<p>I have a 3.65 gpa unweighted. I don’t know my class rank, but I’m sure its in the top 10%. I’ve only taken the SAT and ACT once, and haven’t done that well on them, but I plan to submit my ACT scores and get at least a 28. I come from a middle class (possibly upper middle class) family with an income of about $65k. Also, I have a ton of extra curriculars and work 2 jobs.</p>
<p>Cost net of non-loan financial aid will be a significant factor in determining what schools can be your safeties (a school cannot be a safety unless you are assured of being able to afford it). Run the net price calculator on each school’s web site.</p>
<p>Where would I find the net price calculator on a school’s website? Can you give me an example?</p>
<p>Just do a search at each school’s website for “net price calculator.” The schools are required to post it . . . but they’re not required to make it easy to find!</p>