Probably about 10 too many.
Older s applied to 2 (but had 2 more inprocess, if needed). Younger s applied to 4 (and had 1 more in process if needed).
D has applied to 6 thus far: 2 RD, 3 EA, 1 rolling. Was accepted to her favorite safety/low match, so we are done with that category. She has 6 additional apps waiting in the wings, but may not send any of those depending on how the EA decisions turn out.
12 Total
2 - LAC Reach ($$$ hoping for top Merit)
4 - LAC Match ($$ so far very good Merit at all)
3 - State Flagships ($$ no Merit, but affordable)
3 - State Safeties ($ small Merit and least expensive option)
I figure put them out there and then weigh options in the spring when all FA numbers are in. Should be a fun April.
Seven. 4 tippy-tops (HYPS), 2 LACs, and 1 state school with a NMF award.
My daughter applied several years ago. She wanted a large school and applied to 5 schools, our own state flagship and 4 OOS flagships. 2 were matches, 3 were safeties. None used the common app. In retrospect, she should only have applied to 4, as there was one safety that was clearly below all of the other schools in order of her preference. She was in the very fortunate position of not having to worry about finances, so there was no need for her to cast a wide net in the search for merit, although all of her safeties had guaranteed merit awards for which she qualified, ranging from full tuition to around $5K… All of her applications were in before November 1 and she had all of her decisions (admitted to all) by the end of December. That made senior year a lot less stressful.
So far 10, with another 2 possible, depending on outcome at ED school
1 ED
5 EA (2 OOS state flagships, 3 LACs–accepted to all, merit at 4 out of 5 so far, awaiting merit info for the 5th)
4 RD (1 in-state flagship, 3 LACs)
In retrospect, probably too many of each category (evenly split among likely, match, reach), and we probably should have waited on the RD schools until after the ED outcome, but all schools are CA schools, some were free to apply, and very few required supplements, so not a terrible expenditure of energy and dollars
I had a list of 16 that I paired down to 8 schools. It was too many too be honest. 3 were reaches, 3 were matches, and 2 were safeties. I got into my second choice Reach and attend there now.
One DD applied to 1 (ED). The other one applied to 8. 2 reaches and the rest were matches.
Oldest applied to 2 schools. He was in early college so continuing at the same uni was just a matter of registering. The other he was rejected from.
Youngest , who is more academically oriented and is studying engineering, applied to 9 - 1 safety (OOS flagship, near free ride), 2 matches (one OOS flagship, one in-state flagship), 2 reaches (private), 4 lottery schools (private). He was rejected from all of the lottery schools, accepted into the rest, and ended up staying at the in-state match because the huge price differential ($35-40K/yr less). We were able to maximize use of our prepaid tuition plans there and he can come home on the bus, which he did when sick this semester.
He did not apply to any ED , just EA.
D applied to 15. Got 2 admission offers so far. (One with a really good scholarship package but is out of state).
Oldest applied to 1 in-state private university (match) and was done.
Current college student applied to 1 OOS ED (low reach), 3 RD (2 safety, one reach, all OOS), got into her ED and was done.
Current senior has applied to 7, all EA. 2 safety and 5 matches. 1 OOS Flagship, 1 in-state safety directional, 1 OOS Private University and 4 LAC’s (1 in-state, 3 OOS).
Chasing merit for all options except the in state safety. 2 admissions so far. There are some RD options that might be considered depending on merit results but I suspect the in-state safety is preferred over those so doubt there will be more apps just for the sake of chasing OOS.
My DD has applied to 4: 1 ED Reach, 1 safety - accepted and given high merit award, 1 State U, and 1 OOS Public with a special program.
It’s the additional essays and “short” response questions for the honors programs, scholarships, etc. that are eating up a lot of time. I can’t see how she could manage applying to a dozen schools with her already busy schedule. If she doesn’t get into the ED Reach, she wants to apply to two other reach schools, but we’re going to discourage it since they are unaffordable.
My DD16 applied to one, automatic admit and was done. Visited several this was the one she wanted from the visit. Happy in department and university honors at UTD. DD18 is planning on 4-6. USNA is recent passion, others are all automatic admit in TX (UT, TAMU, TTU) as well as OU if she gets NMF. She wants a top engineering school that offers the most merit $, if USNA does not happen. It really varies depending on what is important. Both would have had the opportunity and qualifications to go to Top 25-30 schools if they wanted, but the cost and having to take loans does not appeal to either. They will take the best deal and best fit for their personality.
S2 has applied to 4 - two EA and two with a 12/1 deadline. There may be four more depending on next week’s news.
These numbers are all so reassuring! At my D’s HS the guidance counselors encourage students to come up with a list of 10 schools. They don’t make an issue out of it if the kid has fewer (mine has 6), but they do sorted send the message that applying to fewer than 10 is some kind of risk. Maybe that’s why one of my daughter’s classmates is applying to 22 schools!
My niece–a sophomore now in at an Ivy League university–told me she applied to 7 universities, none ED or EA. She applied to 2 Ivies (accepted at both); two UC campuses (accepted at both); and 2 LACs (accepted to 1, waitlisted at 1). She was rejected by USC.
@twoinanddone What you state is one reason why application numbers are so high at the elite universities. Many students feel there it little to lose and much to gain by applying to an Ivy or other first-tier university. It gets really sad when they apply to 5 or 6 such universities. I know one girl who did this last year, applying to 5 Ivies plus the University of Chicago. She had excellent qualifications but was waitlisted and then rejected by all. She was crushed even though she got into a number of first-tier LACs.
@exlibris97 My D was just reading something yesterday about the March 31st Massacre. (I think cause some ED stuff comes out today.) And ya, the USC thing has me shaking my head. I hear many instances where kids are in at Ivies and not USC. They are totally unpredictable. Congrats to her, sounds like it worked out well.
Wow, that’s surprising about USC (I’m not familiar with the admissions policies at all), but to be accepted at 2 tippy top schools and rejected there seems insane.