<p>Well, it depends on if you are willing to write all those essays. The more the better really. You’ve got nothing to lose (except for $50-$75) and everything to gain.</p>
<p>Applying to 10+ isn’t out of the norm anymore.
Be sure to have at least 2 safeties and a few matches. After that, apply to as many reach schools are your heart desires.</p>
<p>Typically people do 5-12</p>
<p>I concur with applicannot… You should only need to apply to two safeties at most, and even one should suffice. After all, if it’s a true safety, you should be near-guaranteed (or actually guaranteed, based on stats) to get in. What’s the point of having like 3 or 4 schools you are certain you will get into?</p>
<p>I’m applying to 2 safeties (one is more of a low, low match I guess), 3-4 matches, and 3-4 reaches.</p>
<p>@PBush</p>
<p>It wasn’t that I was overly confident, I just knew where I wanted to be. I applied to one safety school, UT Austin. A good rule for safety schools is to ask yourself that if that was the only school you got into, you would be perfectly happy. That’s how I felt about UT. I made all of my arrangements there; I paid my deposit, had a roommate lined up, applied to the honors program. I didn’t really apply to a “match”, since I would’ve been okay with UT Honors. The next school I applied to was Rice, because they waived my app fee so I figured what the heck. And then, I found my dream school! UChicago! Hooraaay! I was absolutely in love with it when I applied, and I still am. </p>
<p>But yeah, don’t feel pressured to apply to like, 9000 colleges like all the people on CC. For the most part, it’s unnecessary. Find schools you love, schools where you’ll be happy. Have a couple good backups, a few mid-range schools, and your dream school. Don’t apply to schools you can’t picture yourself attending. Research, and you’ll know where you want to be.</p>
<p>Students: a strong bit of advice for you would be to talk w/your parents. People who are applying to 8+ colleges – where do the app fees come from? Even if you’re wealthy, spend your $ wisely or give it to charity. Don’t just flush money away because of indecision or lack of prep work now.</p>
<p>I was fortunate admittedly. I applied early to U-Mich rolling admissions and had a sweet offer in October of my Sr year. I spent the remaining time researching other schools and eventually applied to two top engineering prgms and two Ivies – all without sweating b/c I knew my fall back would be awesome.</p>
<p>Spend the time now and research by talking to adults, counselors, your HS alums. Don’t just listen to your buddies who are freaking out applying to 15 schools. That’s crazy IMHO and I would definitely not approve my daughters’ doing that. Frankly, I know that some high schools will only assist students with up to six colleges. Afterwards, they impose a processing fee. It imposes some discipline. You gotta know that about 80% of college bound seniors are only applying to one or two colleges. Obviously those seeking selective college admissions need to do more – but realize that you’re in a rarefied group. Don’t overdo it.</p>
<p>Good luck – especially at narrowing the choices.</p>
<p>Our son’s counseling dept. recommends at least 9; his list is now down to 10. I find it impossible to fit them neatly into the reach/match/safety boxes, so I’d label them something like this:</p>
<p>1 “Hail Mary” reach – almost no chance
2 high reaches – unlikely but not entirely unrealistic
2 reach/matches – decent but probably <50% chance
2 matches – good chance, but rejection would not shock
2 match/safeties – rejection possible but unlikely
1 true safety – he’s totally in</p>
<p>As far as the app fees, part of the reason we’re willing to apply to so many schools is the fact that we don’t have a lot of money and we’ll need substantial aid. We don’t want to apply to six colleges, have him get accepted to three of them and then find that his safety is the only one we can afford. The more acceptances he gets, the better the chance that at least one of them will offer a workable aid package. An extra couple of hundred $ spent now could save us thousands later.</p>
<p>night: very good point — I hadn’t considered that possibility — I may need to adjust my thinking when it rolls around for me in a few years (unless a winning powerball tic falls into my lap!) LOL</p>
<p>Good point nightchef. Thats kind of my reasoning also.</p>
<p>KMad - how did you get Rice to waive the fee? My daughter wrote admissions and asked them if they would and they just sent a canned answer about counselor fee waivers. </p>
<p>Due to financial need, my daughter’s list is 18. She is guaranteed at the state U but would have to take out fairly substantial loans. We’re hoping one of the match/reaches will offer more aid.</p>
<p>I agree with mayfair. 8-10 is a good range. Over that, I think it is a waste of time. IMO, do your research now, not once you get the acceptance letters.</p>
<p>I personally would only apply to four but the recommendation I have is do not apply to more than 7-8 schools. Why? Because the money, time, and work is not worth it also it’s only undergrad.</p>
<p>don’t underestimate undergrad. Not only are those years the best of a person’s life, it is also key to finding good jobs, making good friends, as well as paving the way for your future.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That’s what they said about kindergarten.</p>
<p>^^LOL.</p>
<p>honestly, i’d apply to 4-9. depending on what you want.</p>
<p>if your grades are good(good shot at top 20s) then there is no such thing as a match, because at that level its all a crapsh00t.</p>