<p>Hello! I'm an international student who will be applying for financial aid, so I've decided to apply to 27 colleges to enhance my chances. But recently I found out that I can only add 20 colleges to my common application list. I searched for the same question here; there were advice to make another account and to submit the application to 20 colleges and then add other, but there were no information about how it turned out in the end and does it really work. So, my question is, can I actually do something like this?</p>
<p>I wish I had known about this restriction earlier because then I would have been able to submit my applications to the other 7 colleges by snail mail, but I hadn't known, I haven't even asked my teachers to write recommendations yet...</p>
<p>What should I do now? (Please, do not suggest to cut down my list and do not tell me that it is crazy to apply to that many colleges)</p>
<p>Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>It says on the Common App:
</p>
<p>You will need to look at which schools allow you to apply without using the Common Application. Many US institutions do not even use it.</p>
<p>I checked, all of them require common application…</p>
<p>What if you mail the application to 7 schools? Would that help?</p>
<p>Did you check each college’s website. Maybe they all ACCEPT the common app, but if you look on the college’s website sometimes they will say they accept the common app or their own individual app - they give you a choice. If they don’t even for an international 27 seems a bit excessive. I’m sure it would not be that difficult to cut down.</p>
<p>Yeah, I looked and only Harvard accepts Universal College Application.
I know that 27 may seem like A LOT, but I don’t have perfect grades, ECs and my SAT isn’t something that will definitely get me in.
I guess I will have to mail my applications to the other 7 colleges, which have later deadlines, so that I can write my essay and my teachers can write recommendations in time.
It’s a pity that I can apply to 20 schools only :(</p>
<p>if you are considering harvard, your grades must be pretty close to perfect. are the remaining 26 schools all that caliber? If so you should have some other alternatives on your list that are a step below - that way you would not need 27 schools. If you are applying to 27 ‘harvard like’ schools, it is not in your best interest to be doing just that.</p>
<p>No, I’m applying to some ivies just in case. But since I’m an international who needs financial aid all colleges to which I’m applying are reaches for me, that’s why there are 27 schools in my list.</p>
<p>See if you can mail/fax some of the applications in. Or alternate applications. Two which I know for sure have their own apps are Georgetown and MIT</p>
<p>Thanks! I think I’m gonna mail some applications.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am also an International Student, in the same boat.</p>
<p>Wanted to know, as to where you finally got in, with Full Financial Aid ?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>