<p>I really have no idea how much is too much. What's the amount you recommend?</p>
<p>Right now i have 15 schools on my list. (5 super-reaches/reaches, 5 matches, 5 lower matches/safeties) That's too much, right? I'm just really paranoid that I won't make it into any of the schools if I narrow my list down anymore. Please don't tell me I should apply to like 5 schools. Lol. I can't do that.</p>
<p>I've heard someone mention on here the inverted triangle technique. Go for one or two safeties, a few more matches, and a few more reaches than that. Ideally, this leaves you with an equal number of acceptances from each category. And I'd say anything over about 10 is too much, when you've passed caution and gone into paranoia. You don't want to detract from the quality of each application. Make sure each school is someplace you could happily see yourself for four years. Look into specific programs and contact people from the school. Find out which schools you can cut because they don't offer what you need.</p>
<p>And remember that if you have a true safety, you only need one!</p>
<p>Thanks, that helps a lot. Yeah I've definitely gone into paranoia lol. I want to find a safety that I'll really be okay with, and that I can almost definitely get into. ...BUT I'm having trouble because my standards are way too high. :[ Ack. Well I'll figure it out!</p>
<p>Bump. Any more suggestions would be much appreciated!</p>
<p>I dunno, I think it depends on where you live and what they have by state schools. I applied to about 12 colleges, but 11 were state colleges and universities, one out of state. So really 3 applications. They consisted of mostly safeties, some matches and a couple of reaches. Only 2 rejects and, surprisingly, they were the 2 matches, not the 2 reaches.</p>
<p>I figure, you get one shot at this. Don't regret not applying to colleges just for some arbitrary reason like you don't have much of a shot or you think 12 or 14 or whatever is too many to apply to. It's one time, not like you're dong this every year.</p>
<p>I'm probably in a minority on my view, but I like to keep my options open.</p>
<p>haha...right now i only have 3 definite school's on my list....AND I'M A RISING SENIOR!!!</p>
<p>ahhhhh!</p>
<p>ps: you don't need 5 safeties.</p>
<p>I think I'm limiting my daughter to 10 because I heard that's the max you can put on the financial aid form. I think you can put more, but I'm not sure how to go about it. If anyone reads this and knows the answer, please advise.</p>
<p>I say 10 only because 6 of them are in Florida where she truly wants to be, but she is considered OOS which will make things tougher. We already applied IDD to one in-state school so if she gets in ok, if not no biggie, we'll just take it off the list for Fall admission. That would leave 1 in-state school and 3 others in PA, CT, and MA each.</p>
<p>4 R, 3 M, 2 S for me -- i think thats pretty good and it follows the inverted triangle technique (unknowingly) as glassesarechic pointed out</p>
<p>Right now six, but it may be going down to five.</p>
<p>2 Safeties
2 Matches
2 Reaches</p>
<p>5, and if possible, im cutting it down to 4.
2 saftey 2 match 1 reach. I might abandon the reach simply becaue I'm only doing it because my Mom wants me to. I just happen to be lucky that the school I am in love with happens to be a match for me. I dee no point in applying to a school that I am less likely to get into if I don't even want to go there. I would rather go to a school that I love than go to one i constantly struggle with because it has a prestigious name.</p>
<p>Ya I'm doing the triangle too</p>
<p>1 S, 4 M, 5-6 R</p>
<p>Though the list would probably be cut down partially (or completely) depending on how EA/ED goes.</p>
<p>The inverted triangle thing is actually a really good idea.
I've narrowed it to one safety, four matches, and 6-7 reaches.
I think that's alrightt; I may narrow it down some more.</p>
<p>I never heard of this term.</p>
<p>"I think I'm limiting my daughter to 10 because I heard that's the max you can put on the financial aid form. I think you can put more, but I'm not sure how to go about it. If anyone reads this and knows the answer, please advise."
@ jerseyshoremom, I saw somewhere on the Financial Aid boards that after you submit the information, if you delete the schools the information will still be online. BUT I would definitely call someone and make sure or at least get some other confirmation here from one of the great FA people around here. But I know the 10-school thing can be gotten around =).</p>
<p>8 schools. 1 is a safety, and I daresay 2 are matches.</p>
<p>2 S, 5-8 M, 3-4 R</p>
<p>I have two in-state safeties, four matches, three reaches :/ I think anything above 8-10 schools is too much, and if you can shave your list down to six or seven, you're doing great. Don't cut off your options though.</p>
<p>What is IDD? Some kind of early admission for state schools?
I never heard of this term.</p>
<p>schoolmarmABC, it stands for "instant determination day". For this one in-state school, all you need to do is send a copy of your transcript and a copy of your SAT or ACT scores and they will offer or deny admission. The make this determination next month. If they offer, you need to follow up with an official application, official transcript, and official scores. There is no fee for applying. </p>
<p>So we went ahead and did this, figured I saved $50 on the application fee. If she gets in, fine, if not, we have other colleges to apply to.</p>
<p>3- Reaches
4- Matches
3- Safeties</p>
<p>10 total.</p>
<p>2 Safeties
3 Matches
2 Reaches</p>
<p>Although, to tell the truth, there's a fine line between my matches and reaches. In a good way, though. Meaning the reaches are closer to being matches.</p>
<p>1 in-state safety
2 matches
3 reaches</p>
<p>I'm still going back and forth deciding on a few schools. It's pretty tough, but I know I need to limit myself.</p>