<p>How many schools should I apply to? I am more specifically asking about reach schools. Is it better (provide of course I'd be happy to attend all these schools) to apply to more, to increase chances of getting in somewhere, or should it be narrowed to a few schools?</p>
<p>Just some background in case it helps: I have test scores/grades to be considered a qualified student at most schools, including Ivies (of course that's not an indication that I will get in). I am applying to two safeties, am researching more match schools, and have several reaches. </p>
<p>It is my opinion that students looking at highly selective colleges should apply to more reaches, as long as they can do justice to all the applications. The results are unpredictable–you may be admitted to one or two of them, but not others, and you can’t assume it will be the more selective ones that will reject you. I don’t think two reach, two or three match, and seven or eight reaches is unreasonable, if the reaches are highly selective.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Start with a safety which you have 100% chance of admission, 100% chance of affordability, and 100% chance that you like. If you are the type of student who can only find near-safeties (95-99% chance of admission and affordability, due to holistic or subjective admissions criteria or “level of applicant’s interest” (and you show interest)), then have at least three such schools to minimize the risk of a shut-out.</p></li>
<li><p>Add any number of other schools that you want. Since you have your safety, only add schools which you would choose over your safety.</p></li>
<li><p>Note that an early admission (from ED, EA, or rolling) that is affordable turns the school into a safety. You may be able to drop other applications which are less desirable than that school (and in the ED case, you have agreed to drop all other applications).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Once you have a couple safeties and a reasonable number of match schools, the number of reach schools is depending on your budget and time dedication to the application processes (e.g. writing and revising essays). Don’t forget you need to pay for application fee, score reports, transcripts, and sometimes CSS profile for each school you apply. Average cost is around $100 per school. Don’t underestimate the amount of time to write a good essay. Before you apply to any school, check the NPC of each school. Unless you can get a lot of merit aids, you should avoid those financial reach schools that are not affordable to you from the beginning.</p>
<p>If you have access to Naviance, and there is enough data, you can often estimate your probability of admissions by looking at a neighborhood around your point. </p>
<p>Make a list of schools in order of your preference (not in US News order, your order). </p>
<p>Now, assuming that the order doesn’t change, and that you can afford them all, calculate your probability of attending each school by multiplying the probability of admission of that school by the product of the rejection probability of all more preferable schools. </p>
<p>If the probability of attending is small enough (we use 5%), then eliminate the school unless it has the potential to be a top choice. Then recalculate. Since good applications take a lot of focused energy, applying that energy to a school with a very low probability of attendance is a waste of time. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I’m at three safeties right now (no writing supplement, little to no fee for all) and four others (one high match, three reaches). Aiming for 2-5 more, provided of course I can afford, like the schools, etc. And thanks @classicrockerdad for your calculation method: ll give it a try</p>
<p>applied to 10 schools, had about 3 dream schools, 4 reach schools, 3 safety schools. the reach and safety schools were local and respected schools in the Philadelphia area (where I am from). the dream schools were outside of Philadelphia. </p>
<p>@ClassicRockerDad That system is really interesting. I used Parchment’s numbers based on my stats (which are probably inflating chances for top schools), and it says I have a 60.98% chance of attending one of my top 4 reach schools. The numbers start to lose meaning after my 7th school where the chances of attending one my top 7 schools are 99.95%.</p>
<p>It’s nice to hear about somebody who got into all his reaches, but that’s not the norm. Take a look at the results threads for some of the more selective schools to get a feel for this.</p>
<p>My son applied to 9. 2 reach. 3 match. 4 scholarship potential/safety </p>
<p>It was more work than either of us thought it would be. Several of the schools had scholarship apps in addition to the regular app and he had decided to apply for all the scholarships he could. He did well, getting interviews with 2 schools for scholarships. Those were extra trips though. </p>
<p>The point is applying to a school can be a lot of work so make sure you are serious about each school you choose. </p>
<p>7 reaches is absolutely ridiculous. I recommend that students use a ratio. I found it in “The New Rules of College Admissions”. </p>
<p>2:3:2</p>
<p>For every 2 reach schools, apply to 3 match schools and 2 safeties. This way, you have a real cushion. I say that no one should apply to more than 10 schools. MAYBE 12 or 13. The reason for this is that when you do get admitted to a lot of schools (A girl in my D’s old school got admitted to 17 schools), you have a hard time choosing. Also, when you make your decision in late April or on May 1, if you have 8 acceptances you are deferring, it increases your chances of buyers regret. </p>
<p>AnnieBeats, please. This is terrible advice, even if it’s in a book. There are lots of people on this site who are looking at reach schools that have single-digit admit rates and unpredictable admissions. If they really want to go to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Amherst, Duke, et al., they need to apply to more, not fewer. So again, if what you really want is to go to a reach school, apply to a couple safeties, 2 or 3 matches, and as many reaches as you can manage in terms of the applications.</p>
<p>I always thought, once you get into the safety of your choice (where you will be absolutely happy to attend), apply to however many colleges you can manage -does it really matter whether it’s a reach or match?</p>