<p>I think 26 is a good starting point. Once we had decided we had a large enough list to start with for S, we could begin narrowing it down by comparing A to B, A to C, etc. That helps to put them in some kind of rank - i.e. given just A and B, which is preferred? </p>
<p>If you haven’t visited all of them, visiting (even if not for a tour but just a walkaround) really helps as well. </p>
<p>We are working on list for D now, and hope that by September we will have it narrowed to 10. ish. </p>
<p>DS did 20, focusing on searching for aid. Based on his stats he got everything from 5,000 to 28,000 from schools, with gaps from $1,000 to $25,000. Casting a wide net worked for us to compare.
Beware that if you are applying for merit aid at smaller LACs that once you are admitted the scholarship competitions require multiple essays, projects and many require the student to attend a scholarship weekend, which was hard for us. Also, be aware that if you are also looking for need-based aid that the same schools that give good merit do not also heap on extra for need.
In hindsight DS should have applied to fewer safeties and gone for more reaches that gave good need-based aid, though. In the end he is attending a school that gave us both.</p>
<p>Another great thing to do is see if the colleges can give you a personal financial aid estimate. The NPC were pretty accurate for our family, but the personal ones gave us an idea of the potential merit that was expected.</p>
<p>Make sure that there is at least one school (or two or three just in case) which is a solid safety that is assured (not just likely) admission, assured affordability, suitable academically and otherwise, and a place where she would like to go to. Such a school is the safety, which is the most important part of the application list.</p>
<p>It’s fine to start with a long list, but I recommend cutting it down to seven or so by application time. Consider that the costs of applications alone will really add up if your child actually applied to 26 schools. THere’s also a lot of work in that many apps.</p>
<p>My D cast a wide net in search of merit aid. She was in the top quartile of every school she applied to (11). But, due to admission rates, the list shook out like this:</p>
<p>1 Reach
3 Matches with merit aid long shots
3 Matches with good merit aid
3 Safeties with good merit aid
1 in-state super safety</p>
<p>She had 10 acceptances and 1 WL (a merit long shot). The merit aid came through pretty much as we anticipated. </p>
<p>In hindsight, 11 was too many. She could have eliminated 2 and still had plenty of options.</p>
<p>My kid also cast a very wide net. It worked out well in the end but sometimes it was a logistical nightmare during the process with various deadlines for apps, financial docs, extra merit scholarship essays, etc. Some colleges want FAFSA only, some also need CSS, some want an IRS transcript which takes time, some use their own financial forms, some use IDOC and others don’t.</p>
<p>thanks. there’s a definite in state super-safety (both financial and admission) on the list, and a few others that would be ok financially. (Unfortunately, our in-state tuition is pricey, and there are really only 2 that could work for DD academically - one that she’s keeping on the list.)</p>
<p>What would you consider a match selectivity wise - for a student at or above the average academics admit,
or in the top quarter?</p>
<p>These schools are all a mixed bag on financial aid. Because of our situation (single parent with mid-income) the NPCs don’t work for Profile schools (only FAFSA-only schools.)
Profile schools vary as well in how they count noncustodial income/assets so could really vary. Most of the schools on the list are ones where merit aid is possible.</p>
<p>anniezz, it depends on the level of the schools that you are talking about. If it is an ivy or other highly selective school, even kids who are at the top of the score range still have to consider the school a reach.</p>
<p>I’d set 10 as a high limit…but that’s me…I don’t want to deal with multiple FAFSA submissions and I set a financial limit for the kids so that helps with the “cull.” They all three ended or will end junior year with about 15 and I guarantee you they can trim it down. S1 trimmed from 15 to 4, S2 trimmed from 15 to 6. We have yet to “trim” with S3…but we will. A well thought out, well researched list by kids and parents should yield. With all the calculators today it’s not that difficult to come within plus or minus $5000 on the costs. But that’s just my opinion. I agree with Doug Betsy if you want a pretty sure admittance deal, look at the list an figure out where the student is in the top 25%, that can also cull the list way down…how many of those does one kiddo really need?</p>
<p>D applied to around 10. Many of these were match/reaches and as we knew we would not get need-based aid we wanted to compare any merit awards she could get. More than that would have been too much even though most used common app there were still supplements that were needed.</p>
<p>I think when you are a single parent looking for good FA…you have to cast a wide net. My D applied to 15 schools. She had 6 denials and 1 WL school. That left her with 8 schools to select from. FA was a big concern for us too. </p>
<p>I will say that it took a lot of planning and organization to complete the applications, get essays complete, submit scholarship aps, submit FA info, interviews, college visits…the list goes on. It was hard, difficult and even stressful. That being said, D is SO happy and excited of her school. It is all done and we are both happy. Just be prepared for a wild ride when you apply to that many. </p>
<p>My suggestion…if you can’t meet deadlines for things…don’t apply to that many. EARLY is better as most schools will give better scholarships and FA for early applications, especially rolling admission schools. So if you don’t have the time to work with your child on this together…then don’t do that many applications. You’ll just be wasting your time and $ and won’t accomplish what you are trying to do by applying to that many schools in the first place.</p>