<p>I was just wondering what everyone thinks about the number of schools to apply to. What seems to work best? What is the distribution of types of schools typically? (eg. 4 reaches, 3 matches, 1 low match, 25 safeties) etc.. Throw in your personal opinions based on experience. </p>
<p>I'm currently a junior in high school and I am building an application list.</p>
<p>Based on my wants and needs in a college, I am so far interested in the following: </p>
<p>Scripps (high match)
Muhlenberg (low match)
Skidmore (high match)
Goucher (high match)
maybe Vassar (reach)
Barnard (reach)</p>
<p>Suggestions for my list and additions to it are appreciated also.</p>
<p>25 safeties?</p>
<p>I think something good might be.... 2 reaches, 4 matches, 2 safeties</p>
<p>2-5 i think i meant.</p>
<p>anywhere between 5-10 schools should fit the bill. </p>
<p>1-3 Impossible Dream School
2-3 High Reach/Reach
3-4 High Match/Match
2-3 Low Match/Safety</p>
<p>Personally, I applied to 6 schools; two safeties, two matches, a reach and an Ivy.</p>
<p>It will also depend on your financial situation. If you/your parents have enough to fund the privates that you have listed, then you only have to make a list based on academics and your chances of being admitted. However, if you are dependent on merit scholarships and/or financial aid, you list may need to be longer to include financial safeties.</p>
<p>I'd go like 5-7 reaches since they are so hard to get into (better your odds w/ more schools), then 3-5 matches, and if your safety has rolling admin you only need one safety.</p>
<p>It depends on the level of competitiveness of the schools you are looking at, and the kind of schools you are applying to. If your top choices admit 60% or more of the class and you are a strong candidate, you can apply to fewer schools. If you are applying to very competitive places (those that admit less than 20%), you may need to apply to more, even if your scores are in their 'sweet spot.' Likewise, if you are applying to large public schools that admit classes of thousands, and you are in their 'sweet spot,' you only need a few. If you are focusing on small liberal arts colleges, which admit hundreds, not thousands, you will need to apply to more. And finally, if you 'stand out' in some way: a URM, a national level achievement, etc...you can probably apply to fewer schools. Then there's the money issue...</p>
<p>As you can see, its complex, which is why threads about limiting the number of schools people apply to are silly.</p>
<p>DS applied to 5.</p>
<p>College apps now a days take a lot of time. Each college wants at least 1or2 essays, and they have particular essay questions, I don't think he was able to re-submit any of the essays for other colleges.</p>
<p>My advice is to pick the ones that you would be really happy to go to. When we started the process last yr, DS had a totally different rank order of where he would go if he got in, his number1 is number 3, his number 2 is his number 1 and his number 3 is his number 2 (his number 3 was his match and he was accepted) I am sure even if his no. 3 (1 of reaches) accepts him he will still go to the others first</p>
<p>I don't think there is a right answer. </p>
<p>As long as you have 1 safety, you can have as many or few matches and reaches as you want. Don't add schools just to make your list bigger, but if you feel like your list is too small, it never hurts to add another that you genuinely like.</p>
<p>I applied to 6.</p>
<p>The first thing to realize is that your list will change so much between junior and senior year. I had a an initial list of 8 and a final list of 7, but there were only two colleges that overlapped between the two. I would say that if you have one true saftey that fits everything you need from academics to finances, you can move on to match/reach schools. In the end, I applied to one safety, 1 safe match, 2 matches, 2 match/reaches, and 1 reach. I can say I really love every school on my list and I can't wait to get my results back and make a choice. </p>
<p>You also asked for any school suggestions, I would say Wellesley. You have two all women's colleges on your list already, the Wellesley application is free, the academics and professors are top-notch, and they've just instituted a even better financial aid policy that they had before this week.</p>
<p>5 reaches
3 matches
1 academic safety
1 financial safety and academic safety</p>