Is applying to 10 universities too much?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey Guys,</p>

<p>I am applying to 10 universities this year, is this too much? What's the ideal amount?</p>

2

<p>Personally, I think the ideal amount is about 6 colleges. 1-2 safeties, 3-4 matches, 1-2 reaches.</p>

3

<p>I’m applying to 10. I think it depends a lot on what schools you’re looking at</p>

4

<p>It depends. I had eleven colleges on my initial list (good luck in the early rounds meant I ultimately didn’t apply to that many), but I felt I needed that many.</p>

<p>Things to consider:

  • How selective are your target schools? There are schools where being safely in the accepted students’ range statswise basically guarantees admission. There are schools where being in range gives you maybe a one-in-five chance of getting in–so if you’re looking mainly at schools in this category, you want to apply to more to give yourself a better chance of getting in.
  • How conventional/well-rounded of an applicant are you? If you have a lopsided application–high scores/low grades or vice versa, high academic stats but no/few ECs, lower academic stats but really impressive ECs–or something unusual in your file that might be read very differently by different adcoms, applying to a higher number of schools is a good idea.
  • Financial aid. How likely are you to get a doable aid package? Do you need generous need-based aid, are you chasing merit aid, are there unusual circumstances (parents self-employed, divorced parents, significant assets, medical expenses) that might lead different schools to view your financial situation very differently?
  • How much do you like your safety? </p>

<p>I applied to very selective schools, had a somewhat unusual profile (few ECs but high scores; UW GPA on the lower end of acceptable but with a sharp upward trend and very good course rigor), and also had to accommodate my mother, who had somewhat different ideas about what kind of school would be best for me–if this had not all been true I probably wouldn’t have gone for so many schools. It all depends, really. For some people the right number is one–EA to a state flagship where you easily clear the minimum bar, for instance. For others it might make sense to apply to many different schools. Use your good judgment.</p>

5

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<p>For many students (especially those who are “Ivy-caliber”), applying to more reaches is best, given the significant unpredictability of competitive admissions.</p>

6

<p>Agreed, if my horrible mean counselors allowed, i’d apply to exactly those many (10). If you would genuinely LOVE to go to any of them, including your safties and are willing to put the effort to write good essays for all, I don’t see the problem. Infact, if the above criteria are filled, I wouldnt even judge someone who is applying to 15.</p>

7

<p>I think 10 is about right. If you have some stretch schools (at lower end of there accepting criteria) I would even make it 12 or so</p>

8

<p>Awesome… I thought I was going a bit overboard with my school selections… I only have two reaches and matches and safeties are split 4/4…</p>

9

<p>i’m applying to 7 which i think is perfect. ideally, it’d be 6 but stuff happens</p>

<p>personally i think 10 is stretching it a bit</p>

10

<p>no. 10 is fine. Its the norm. Even 12 is okay.</p>