how many colleges???

<p>how many colleges is the right number to apply to??
how many safeties?? matches??? reaches????
also do you have to send your act scores to each college you apply to??</p>

<p>you have to send either sat or act scores to any school you apply to.
accept for that wacky one in vermont.</p>

<p>it all depends on you for applying to colleges. If i had a fee waiver i would go crazy and apply to atleast 15. But im strapped for cash so im going to apply to 6 (3 reaches)(2 matches)(1 safety)</p>

<p>The number of colleges depends, 2-4 in each category is the general of consensus, although for me I applied to many more then that, most of them safeties because I needed a great deal of merit aid. You need to send your scores to all colleges you apply to unless they are test-optional.</p>

<p>*although for me I applied to many more then that, most of them safeties because I needed a great deal of merit aid. *</p>

<p>I think many students are doing this now to see which safety school gives them the best merit money for “just in case.”</p>

<p>My vote for kids aiming high is 8-12, with one safety, 1-3 matches, and a range of reaches (though not impossible reaches, reaches just by virtue of the ridiculous selectivity of top colleges).</p>

<p>I say 3 reaches, 3 matches, 3 safeties. When there’s so much competition, I wouldnt be skimpy on apps.</p>

<p>I plan on applying to 3 reaches, 3 matches, and 1 safety as of now. I might add another reach and match</p>

<p>definitely apply to more than just one safety. Years change and what if something wrong happened and your safety doesn’t come through?? I say that you shouldn’t really worry about the number of schools at first. Right now you should compile a big list of all the schools you are interested in after researching. If you are missing safeties, matches, or reaches you should add some in. Then you can start taking schools off until you have 6 - 15, depending how much you want to spend and how much you really want to go.</p>

<p>If it’s a true safety, you don’t need more than one (unless you’re looking for financial safeties, in which case it’s wise to shop around). The best thing you can do is to apply early to your safeties, whether it be EA or rolling decision. (In fact, I plan on applying to as many schools, safety and otherwise, EA next fall. The results of those decisions will give me an idea of where I stand in the admissions process for my other schools, allow me to tweak my list if need be, and hopefully give me peace of mind.)</p>