unhelpful restrictions: 20 apps max, 10 versions

[tallgirl]

<p>Why did the Common App lower the number of versions of applications you can have from 20 to 10 and why did they restrict the # of colleges you can apply to to 20? </p>

<p>With how much more ridiculously competitive college admissions is getting each year, with increased international competition and given the economy, kids realistically need to apply to more places, sadly. </p>

<p>I had strategically planned to apply to about 2 dozen schools -- half of which are huge reaches/lottery chances for anyone (even with my very strong profile) due to their single digit % acceptance rates and the other dozen to attempt to secure the best aid packages and hopefully institutional merit scholarships. </p>

<p>The restriction to 20 apps will limit my financial explorations.</p>

<p>The restriction to 10 versions limits customizing the app to the college, which hypothetically increases acceptance chances given the opportunity to thus convey institution specific knowledge/"why X college" and thus good one's match to X college.</p>

<p>Any insights anyone? Anyone "official"? ... Any recourse?</p>

<p>Thank you for listening</p>

[Tappman]

<p>You can show specific knowledge of a college in the supplement. You are not supposed to personalize an essay on the Commonapp for a school. </p>

<p>And if you are applying to more than 20 schools, you are probally just going for the shotgun tactic of applying. Try to narrow it down, and think about why you are choosing each school.</p>

[Hunt]

<p>Some of those schools will take paper apps, or the Universal app, or have their own online app.</p>