<p>I have one school that I'm set on, and am fairly certain I will get accepted, but I know I should apply to more than one, I just can't think of anywhere else I'd like to go. I want to study aeronautical engineering, which narrows down schools even more. Any suggestions on good schools for engineering? I tend to like public schools more than private, so anything prestigious and snobby like Harvard wouldn't be for me. Also, how many schools should I apply to?</p>
<p>May I ask which school you’re applying to?</p>
<p>Mississippi State University. I have a 28 on my ACT and my SAT is equal to a 30 (I think it was 1330 math& reading maybe? but I’m not positive). I went to Samford and the admissions counselor was literally offering me scholarships out the door, I just don’t the atmosphere at the school.</p>
<p>Normally applying to only one college is just plain stupid, but in your case it should work.</p>
<p>Have a couple reaches and a safety at the very least.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no reason to have reaches solely for the purpose of having reaches.</p>
<p>Can you apply early action or early decision? If so you could do that, so if not admitted you had time to apply elsewhere. (although it would appear a 99.9% chance that you’ll be accepted)</p>
<p>“Normally applying to only one college is just plain stupid”</p>
<p>Ummm — that’s a bit harsh, no? The majority of college bound seniors apply to one college – maybe two – because they are targeting colleges that will surely admit them. Not everyone aspires to low admit rate colleges like Duke.</p>
<p>If the OP is solidly in range for admits, gets positive feedback from the school officials, why should he needlessly toss time and money away to other school apps?</p>
<p>The majority of college bound seniors apply to one college – maybe two – because they are targeting colleges that will surely admit them. </p>
<p>…this seems to be the case at our school only with students going to Community College. Of our 160 seniors about 50% went to 4 year colleges, of those 80 probably less than 5 applied to only one school.</p>
<p>csdad, that may be true for your school, but in mine, the majority of the kids know which flagship school that they want to attend. Most will apply early to that school and maybe to the local satellite or a directional in-state university. That is particularly true of states with strong and relatively inexpensive public options. My DS is the rarity in that he has mainly private schools on his list.</p>
<p>I think it’s fine to apply to only one school if you are certain you will be admitted, and if you have really done your homework to determine if the school and the program is really the right fit for you. If it’s just the path of least resistance, then I think you should do some more work in comparing programs.</p>
<p>My son also studied aeronautical engineering and only wanted to apply to one school. He had visited and loved it and also had stats high enough to ensure admission (communicated during an appointment with admissions while on campus). We also knew we could afford the school based on anticipated merit aid offered during that admissions visit. Fortunately the school had rolling admissions and he knew he was accepted in October of his senior year.</p>
<p>We (the parents) forced him to submit two more applications, one to the parents’ alma mater. He was not interested in either school and would not have attended if accepted. Those extra applications were definitely a waste of time and money and he told us that was the case in advance.</p>
<p>If you like Mississippi State and are sure you will be accepted then there is no reason to continue the college application process.</p>
<p>If you apply to Mississippi State now and get eveything in that is needed for admission you may know the decision by October or November since Miss State has rolling admissions (it sends out decisons as applications are received). As long as that is the case, you would still have plenty of time to apply to others if rejected so your applying to only it now would be OK.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>To me “fairly certain” answers your question. Fairly certain doesn’t equal guaranteed, so I think you have three options:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>As others have suggested, see if Mississippi State has early action/rolling admissions. If so apply right away and see if you get a fast answer.</p></li>
<li><p>Apply to Samford and take their money. I know you don’t want to go there but it seems fairly certain you’ll get in and with lots of scholarships. Worst case - You get rejected by MSU, go to Samford for a year and then try and transfer to MSU.</p></li>
<li><p>You find a safety school that at least meets a few of your criteria. It’s always good to have an option, just in case things don’t work out the way you hope.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not so. A 2007 study showed 22% of students applied to one college, 15% to two.</p>
<p>[News:</a> De-Hyping College Admissions (or Trying to, Anyway) - Inside Higher Ed](<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/01/13/admissions]News:”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/01/13/admissions)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not typical. Same study: “Of students who applied to only one college, 57 percent attended a four-year college, and 43 percent a two-year institution.”</p>
<p>Applying to one school is fine IF the one school is a safety for both admissions and cost, or the implicit safety you are willing to attend is an open admission low cost community college.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Added the emphasis. Admissions is only half the battle. You had only a couple of posters who pointed out cost. Considering the cost is really, really important.</p>
<p>I’m much higher than the average scores for the school, so it would be highly unlikely that I wouldn’t get in, the admissions counselor even asked WHY I would chose their state school over anywhere else with my scores and grades, but I’ve been to the campus many times and absolutely love it. I know I will automatically get in-state tuition and some other scholarships that will bring the price down even more, so that’s not an issue. I just noticed my friends applying to tons of schools and wonder if I’m crazy for being set on one and only applying there, but I don’t want to waste money on tons of applications to schools I would never go to. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>PG … I do not think there is necessarily anything wrong with just applying to only one school. It is also great you’ve visited Mississippi State many times and loved it. </p>
<p>If you were my daughter I would also want to know … is this the only school you’ve visited or have you visited many schools and Mississippi State is the only one you loved? If you’ve only visited one school I’d suggest you visit at least 2-3 more and then if you still love Mississippi State above the other schools it feels like a more solid plan.</p>
<p>If you were my daughter I would also want to know why you visited Mississippi State many times and not other schools many times? Is there a boyfriend or your best friend from home at Mississippi State? </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>So many great advice from all the posters! Take advantage of Mississippi State’s rolling admissions early. While you wait for your decision, fill out an app for Samford and look up at least another school that you’ll willing to attend, so if somehow Mississippi States doesn’t work out, you’ll have another option.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Of course not? That’s what early action/decision is all about :)</p>