<p>How many universities are you applying for admissions? My heart is telling me to apply to all the ivies and prestigious school and when I think about it, it's alot of them. But I feel it will become overwhelming and too much. Also, the cost of applications can add up and I might end up with a dozen rejection letters and a waste of time. What's the ideal number of schools a transfer student should apply to? Thank you:)</p>
<p>That's a pretty hard question. All the ivies sounds a little useless just because usually you're transferring for a specific match, and the ivies offer really different atmosopheres among themselves. I would investigate your choices more closely and come up with those that you think you'd like the most, then come up with a few you have a greater chance at, but that you'd still be content with transferring to. At least for me, I didnt' get in to the ones that had I had the smallest chance on, but thankfully I added an extra to my list that took a chance on me, and although I still only applied to 4, and a few more coudln't hurt, going over might have increased my chances at just ending up at another school whose environment wasn't the right match for me. Sorry to be vague... hope this helps somewhat.</p>
<p>It doesn't make sense to apply to a large number of schools where the odds are extremely slim (ala Ivies), imo, UNLESS you would be happy to stay where you are if you are not accepted to any of them. </p>
<p>Rather than an ideal "total" number, you should think of the ideal number in 3 categories of selectivity: 1 or 2 "sure bets" that you would be happy to go to (if your current school is already 1, you can skip this category); 2 or more 50/50 chance schools; as many super-selectives as you (a) can afford the apps for (b) can do a good job on the app for (c) can stomach the rejections from if a lot go that way. <em>If</em> a lot of the superselectives turn out to be rejections, it's not really a reflection on you; it's just the extremely limited # of slots available.</p>