To How Many Colleges Should You Apply?

As you decide how many college applications you want to submit, keep a few important questions in mind:

• How likely are you to get accepted? If your academic record, GPA, and test scores are above the average for your top choice colleges, you are less likely to need the insurance of submitting a large number of applications.
• Do you really want to attend all the colleges to which you are applying? Don't apply to a so-called safety school if you can't actually see yourself being happy there. College is a huge investment of time and resources, so you should be applying to only those schools that you are truly interested in attending.
• When will you get a response from the college? If you've applied through early decision, early action, or a similar early reporting system, you may have an answer from your top choice college before applications are due at other schools.

While there are certainly students who apply to a dozen colleges or more, six or seven applications is often a more reasonable number. With a dozen applications, can you really give each application the personal touches that will demonstrate your interest in each school? And do you really feel strongly about that many colleges? For more information, read this article on determining a reasonable number of applications.