<p>So I will be applying to schools this fall and i need help narrowing down the list of colleges that i will be applying to. I have a few questions, so please answer one or all... or something unrelated that you think i should know, all advice is welcome.</p>
<p>So here are my questions:
1) about how many schools should i apply to? how many are you applying to/ did apply to?
2) should i apply to more safety schools than reach, more reach than safety, or an equal amount?
3) i am interested in joining a sports team, preferably not club or intramural. should i choose which colleges i apply to based on if they have that sport or should i apply and then after acceptance/rejection letters narrow it down by sport?
4) if i apply for early acceptance and i am accepted does that mean i have to go there? if i am rejected does that mean i cannot apply during regular acceptance and have been completely rejected?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>1.) It’s different for everyone, I personally applied to 8, which might seem somewhat high to many on here. I would rather have many choices instead of being forcibly pushed into 1 or 2 schools. Application fees might seem kind of expensive, but remember this is one of the most important choices of your life so keep all doors open.
2.) Depends on how many apps you send out, but personally I would do no more then 2 reach schools and the rest safety schools. But when applying to safety schools, don’t just apply to apply…choose ones that are interesting to you (you might actually end up liking it more then your dream school).
3.) I assume you would be a walk on? Consult the NCAA for advice, I am no athlete 
4.) I avoided early acceptance, so really I can’t answer this.</p>
<ol>
<li>it depends, i’m applying to 10, but if there are only 4-5 that you see yourself being happy at, then only apply to that many. i would recommend no less than 5 and no more than 15 (and talk to your parents about how many they’ll want you to apply to since application fees and such are expensive). it’s up to you though.</li>
<li>i would say try going for an equal amount, and try to have at least 2 safeties so that you still have a choice in case your reaches don’t admit you.</li>
<li>you have to decide how important sports are to you and how much to factor that in. if it’s super important, then consider just applying to colleges that offer it, but you can make it as much of a factor as you want it to be.</li>
<li>it depends. early decision means that if you get in, you have to go. early action means you just turn in your app earlier and get a decision earlier, and it’s not binding. and if you get rejected, you’re rejected for the year. if you get deferred, they’ll consider you again in the regular decisions pool.</li>
</ol>