<p>Okay, so I've been thinking about which colleges I want to apply to since last year and I have about 8 right now. I've done research on many of them but can't really go to many of the campuses. I've been to 4 out of the 8. So I was wondering if 9 is too much. These are the colleges:</p>
<p>Stanford- this is my top choice but I think its a reach</p>
<p>Harvard- most definately a reach but I want to try (if I get in I will most definately go)</p>
<p>Yale- I don't really like the campus but otherwise it seems pretty good (not sure I would go if I could)</p>
<p>University of Virginia- I don't like the campus much but its better than Yale. The main reason I'm applying here is because I have a really good chance of getting in and my sis goes there. Other than that I don't like it.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech- this is just a safety and will most likely be dropped if I get in anywhere else</p>
<p>William and Mary- again a safety but its better than Tech</p>
<p>University of Penn.- I don't know too much about it but it is supposed to have a good medical program</p>
<p>Duke- Its also supposed to have a good med program</p>
<p>So I have three big reaches, two reaches, one comfort, and two safeties. Is that too much? I'm willing to drop W&M but it doesn't require essays or interviews and very few teacher recs so its not much of a load off. I could also drop UPenn and Duke but that would be cutting colleges I want to go to that I might have a shot at.</p>
<p>If you don't like your safeties, then you need to acquire a few new ones. W&M and VA Tech are very different. Apply to the one which you prefer, and get another safety.</p>
<p>Drop UVA - if you don't like it, you might be better off at a different school, even if it isn't as highly ranked. </p>
<p>Apply to one or two of H, Y, or S. Why all three? They are very different. Drop Y if you aren't crazy about it - it's mad hard to get into and you aren't enthusiastic about it. </p>
<p>Add a few more matches & safeties in - make sure that they are schools you like and ones that are affordable.</p>
<p>Okay. I think I'll drop W&M but keep Tech because my parents are making me apply there. I'll look for another safety.</p>
<p>I can't drop UVA for the reason that my parents are making me apply there. Also it has a good med program as well so if I don't get into Duke, UPenn, or HYS then this my best choice hands down. And I'm limited to the number of out of state schools to apply to.</p>
<p>I might drop Yale but Harvard and Stanford are most definately staying because they are my top 2 choices. I've actually been juggling with whether to drop it and after talking to my mom I decided I should at least give it a try.</p>
<p>There are a few other schools I've heard of but haven't looked into that might be matches so I'll look more into those.</p>
<p>If you prefer W&M to Tech, then apply there as well. It seems more like Stanford... smallish school, a few grad programmes, nice location (which is not Blacksburg), etc.</p>
<p>Have you considered small liberal arts colleges that have good med school acceptance rates? You could try to track down Carolyn or Mini for that information.</p>
<p>So... drop Yale. Consider dropping Penn if there is nothing attaching you to it save for the med school thing, and add in a liberal arts college or some form of match/safety instead.</p>
<p>9 schools are fine, I'm applying to ten others 15.</p>
<p>Butlooks like you should drop Yale, and I wouldn't attend UPenn, until you know physically how it is.</p>
<p>You need to really look closer at the campuses before you apply so you're not disatisfied. Try going to CollegeDirt.com, Virtualtour.com, **************.com, or the admission homepage for the campus map, online tours, & photo galleries.</p>
<p>Use your logic. If you really, REALLY do not like anything about the campus, drop it! You don't want to be completely miserable for 4+ years, do you?</p>
<p>Get a big college guide, and loosen up your criteria. That's a great way to find more matches (which you desperately need) and good safeties. Usually these safeties will be less known, but hey, you might love them!</p>
<p>Was there something about the campus visit that made it unusually irritating? Was it raining (I know how that makes a visit feel like, I kind felt sad while on Rutgers grounds)? Was it REALLY REALLY REALLY hot? Things like that just get in the way of actually seeing the campus.</p>
<p>And yep, it's alright to have 8 colleges. I have 10+ :D.</p>
<p>I don't think undergrad med program matters too much, its only like 8 or so courses that you can take anywhere</p>
<p>I'd look for the best overall experienece and grade inflation lol
After all, its easier to complete all your work if you enjoy the place you are in</p>
<p>9 schools are ABSOLUTELY fine. I know kids who would do anything if they could go back in time and apply to more schools. "Good pre-med" is a ridiculous concept, all the Ivies are about the same, Penn is no better than brown, etc. </p>
<p>If anything alter your list to include more schools you like and less you dont, and add a couple. Start choosing when you actually get in and go to admitted students weekends. Truthfully that is when people really choose schools, over-filtering beforehand is a huge mistake. A good family friend who was valedictorian, 1550 SAT, and should be at a top 10 school is going to Emory simply because she didnt apply to enough places and assumed she would get into Duke.</p>
<p>If you like Stanford, Penn, Duke you will also like Dartmouth, Princeton, Northwestern, and ,maybe Brown.</p>
<p>Your ratings imply that you are a Virginia resident and have superb gpa, test scores and ECs. If not, you need a bunch of less selective schools on your list.</p>
<p>And first, you need a true safety. . .that's a school where you are a lock for admission, would be happy to attend and one your family can afford. Your comments on the less-selective (relatively speaking) schools on your list lead me to believe that you don't have a true safety school.</p>
<p>As mentioned on another thread, you should ensure that you also apply to a couple of schools you are sure you would like, fit in, and get into without significant worrying. If your stats are in the top of the range or in the range of merit money, you should be fine. I have a couple schools I like and am pretty sure I am a lock for (one is in-state), and this allows me to compile a list of "reaches" without feeling like I am letting myself down if I don't get in.</p>