<p>Quality is important to me. I will start apps in the summer and make sure EACH is my best work. So far my list is...
Haverford
Amherst??
Barnard
Hamilton
Colgate
Macalester
Bryn Mawr
Mount Holyoke
Wellesley
CMU
Tufts??</p>
<p>Several safeties</p>
<p>Is this an okay number or should I narrow it down?</p>
<p>By several safeties, do you mean that those safeties are not listed? That is way too much, in my opinion. I mean really, think about the application costs.</p>
<p>The standard thing is two-three reaches, three-four matches, and two-three safeties, or something around that. I’d say that you shoudl have a total of twelve colleges on your list, maximum. Don’t apply to a school you’re not interested in, and…well, yeah. Basically, narrow it down.</p>
<p>First thing to do is figure out at least one, preferably two or three, safeties. Safeties must be schools which will certainly admit you (be careful of schools which consider “level of interest” or “demonstrated interest”; these may reject applicants who appear to be using them as safeties, because the schools want to keep their yield numbers up), and you will certainly be able to afford (either you can afford list price, or guaranteed non-loan need or merit aid will bring the net cost down to what you can afford).</p>
<p>For many students, in-state public universities are the most likely safeties.</p>
<p>Once you have done that, you can drop from your application list any schools which you would not choose over your safeties. Also drop any schools which are out of reach financially. The rest is up to you, but make sure that you assess reach / match / safety for both admissions and cost / financial aid. Admission without sufficient financial aid is no better than rejection.</p>