Why not twenty? or fifty?

Applying to College
1

<p>So I've been visiting schools...by the end, I will have visited about twenty of them, with the intent to narrow it down to eight to which I will apply.</p>

<p>The other day, my parents said that I should apply to as many as possible, especially to all the top schools, to increase my likelihood of getting in somewhere...the whole strength in numbers thing.</p>

<p>I tried to argue that this was too much, but couldn't find an argument other than I didn't want to, because then it would make all my college research meaningless if I were to apply everywhere anyway.</p>

<p>So why not apply to ten colleges, or twenty, or fifty?</p>

2

<p>Generally speaking, 10 is about enough. When people apply to fifty, it's an indication that they mainly are just applying to the top schools to see who will accept them. You have to go to colleges that you actually like, not just the "top" colleges. For example, MIT is amazing, but I'm not so sure that I want to be a science major, so I didn't apply there.</p>

<p>I like the UK's system of limiting how many universities one can apply to.</p>

3

<p>Well you could just not even bother visiting all the top schools if you're thinking there's a good chance you won't get in. Save the time and money instead and apply to those fifty schools. Odds are you'll get into at least 5 or 6 and then you'll have 5 or 6 amazing schools to choose from.
This is kind of what I did except I only picked 8 top schools and then had 4 fully researched safety schools.</p>

4

<p>$60-70 per app. Multiply that times 50. You'll have to take out student loans just for the apps!</p>

5

<p>^ hahah yea lol</p>

6

<p>imagine having to do 50 interviews...</p>

7

<p>I would have died if I had to write 50 supplements (even if some of them are similar) and all those 'why' essays.</p>

8

<p>^50 X 3 essays and all that paperwork. Yuk! I think 10 is a good # if you include some good safeties.</p>

9

<p>The OP mentioned visiting a ridiculous number of schools. Save the travelling expenses and just apply. THEN travel if you actually get in.</p>

<p>My philosophy for the far away schools that I probably won't get into anyway but that seem like perfect matches. After all, I don't want to get my heart set on them if I'm going to be rejected anwyay.</p>

10

<p>2-iron, once you start writing those supplemental essays, as heartless_tin has related, you will really start wishing you only applied to one. The sheer volume of work, combined with the pricey application fees, creates both a significant dent in both your schedule and your bank account. Some schools have no supplement or application fee, but many of the top schools do. Eight, I think, is a fine number.</p>

11

<p>My top reason would be that I don't have that much money.</p>

<p>Also, there is NO WAY I could write supplemental essays and why essays for all those schools, do all the interviews, fill out all the finaid forms (which can differ from school to school), etc. It'd just be a crazy mess.</p>

12

<p>yeah that's why some countries limit the number of applications...for UK it's 5 (or 4) and South Korea it's three (kind of cruel in my opinion)
and, internationals also have to send TOEFL scores in most cases - more money needed!</p>

13

<p>Go ahead and tackle fifty if you want to. Just be sure to put the schools you really want to apply to up at the front of the line. Because I guarantee that you will get tired and overwhelmed and give up long before you ever get to fifty.</p>

14

<p>My main reason would be that I can't be bothered. I would be sick to death of visiting universities after the third or so tour group/information session at any rate.</p>

15

<p>i think over ten is ridiculous. i just cant imagine all that work, oplus school, ecs etc. Stick with 10 and youre good. I did 8 or 9. and was sick of those haha</p>

16

<p>If you are right handed u will become left handed and vice versa I assure you. Because your dear hand will start to give out before you can even reach the 25th university's why essay!
Hopefully 2009 would not make the same mistakes the class of 2008 made. Don't let the craziness continue :)</p>

17

<p>I agree w/ all of you...I'm shooting for 8-10 schools out of the ones I'm visiting...it's just my parents.</p>

<p>If I tell them that that's WAY too many essays, they say, "You're capable of doing it" and that my stance indicates I'm lazy.</p>

<p>If I tell them it's too much money, they don't care. They have spent their ENTIRE LIVES being frugal in order to pay for me to go ANYWHERE without one cent of financial aid...they're very proud of that...I've got a lot of pressure on me to perform and put those savings to good use.</p>

18

<p>^ Sorry. Class of '09 is already planning on letting the craziness continue. Not intentional, of course.</p>

<p>Like every one else said, applying to 50 schools would be ridiculously expensive, as well as the 100+ essays you'd have to write.</p>

19

<p>Put in all the applications...just go through the motions on apps for schools you don't really want to go to.</p>

20

<p>why not 50?</p>

<p>application fees.</p>