<p>How many colleges should you generally apply to? I have like 15 colleges in mind but I don't want to spend more than a $1000 just applying for colleges,</p>
<p>It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. For many students, 15 is too many. But for students trying to gain admission to super-selective schools, it may be about right. My opinion is that the student who is interested in selective colleges should apply to one or two “safeties” (schools where he is certain of admission, can afford to attend, and is willing to attend), 3 or 4 “matches” (schools where most students with qualifications like his are admitted), and the number of “reaches” (schools where students like him are admitted, but where the likelihood of admission is low) should be as many as he can do while doing justice to the applications. In my opinion, this is probably 6 to 8. So, 10 to 14 total. But, again, it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you absolutely must have merit aid to attend, you may need even more. If you are happy with your state flagship, you may need fewer.</p>
<p>if you apply online it is free, and it is a great school too!
<a href=“https://www.washjeffapp.org/web1/”>https://www.washjeffapp.org/web1/</a></p>
<p>Thanks :))</p>
<p>I would apply to 2 reaches, 4 matches, and 2/3 safety schools. It sounds like a lot and if you don’t have the money for it because college application fees are ridicously high, then 2 reaches, 2 matches, and 2 safety schools. </p>
<p>Applying to 2 reaches, 2 matches, and 2 safety schools is fine–as long as you don’t especially want to go to a reach school. And some people are perfectly happy with match or even safety schools–they don’t need any reaches at all.</p>
<p>I’m applying to 1 high reach, 2 reaches, and 5-6 safety schools. I’ve heard the average is around 8, but I know people who apply to 2 and one girl who applied to 1, luckily they got in. I say at least 4. Because ACT and SAT offer 4 free score sendings if you choose colleges during registration, I’m assuming they picked that number for a reason :-/ . My total is going to be around $300-$400, just so I can compare more financial aid options. I’m hoping it’s worth it because it’s my money. [-O< </p>
<p>Keep in mind that some applicants drop a few from their lists near the end of the process, as the effort required to fill out applications can bring the negatives of a school into sharper focus. I know that my S went from a list of 7 to a list of 4 as issues he had been well aware of before grew into dealbreakers when it came time to actually fill out the applications and write the essays. What had been minor issues seemed to grow in importance and he dropped one school for being “too remote,” one for being “too cold,” and a third for being “too small.” </p>
<p>Why would anybody apply to 5 or 6 safety schools? Perhaps they aren’t really financial safeties.</p>
<p>I believe that 1 safety is enough because a safety is supposed to be guaranteed admission and financial safety. </p>
<p>IMO, 1 safety is enough if you are happy attending. Safety means academic and financial guarantee - 100%, no doubt. You don’t need more than one unless you really like a university that would happen to be a financial/academic safety for you.</p>
<p>I suggest 2 safeties so you’ll still have a choice if you are shut out of reaches and matches. It’s not essential, but it may be psychologically better.</p>
<p>I’m doing 3 low-matches (very likely to be accepted), 1 solid safety, and 4 high matches, and 3 reaches. I’d say do at least 2 in each category (safety, match, reach), but then I’d be a hypocrite…</p>
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Since I think high matches are usually really reaches, that sounds sensible.</p>