“How many colleges should I apply to?” is a question that many students worry about. Is there such a thing as too many? How little is too little? Even among professionals, there is so much dispute on this subject that many students are left puzzled and bewildered.
We aim to clear up this confusion in this article. We will give you an idea of how many institutions you should apply to and discuss the things to consider when making this decision. After reading this advice, you’ll be comfortable putting together your own college list and determining how long it should be.
There is no such thing as the right number
The number of colleges to which you should apply is determined by your unique circumstances. You could apply to anything from one to fifteen colleges. Counselors typically recommend that the average college-bound student apply to 6–8 colleges: 2-3 reach colleges, 2-3 target colleges, and 2 safety schools. Aside from your top choice, categorizing your schools can help you limit your options.
- Reach School
These are the colleges where you know you don’t meet all of the requirements. There’s a chance you’ll be accepted. You apply with the understanding that the school will look at other areas of your application if you don’t meet all of the requirements. Due to the high level of competition, you may not be admitted, or you may be placed on a waiting list. Having one or two of them on your list is a good idea. - Target School
You meet all of the admissions requirements for these colleges and are excited about the prospect of attending. These may not be your first choices, but they are viable options. Even if these aren’t your first selections, you’ll be glad to attend. Make a list of about three target schools. - Safety School
Academic and financial safety schools are the two types of safety schools. You may be accepted into an intellectually sound school, but it may be out of your financial reach. In that situation, you might want to apply to a school that is financially secure. You should expect to be accepted into safety schools. Perhaps the admissions requirements are less stringent than at some of the other colleges on your list. One or two safety schools should be on your list.
It’s fine to have more than one school in each category, especially when you’re just getting started.
Why you may want to apply to more schools!
If you’re set on attending a highly selective institution, you might want to apply to more schools than the average student. If you apply to ten universities with a 25% chance of acceptance, you’ll almost certainly be accepted to at least one of them. In contrast, if you apply to 16 universities with a 25% chance of acceptance, you will statistically have a 99 percent chance of being accepted to at least one of them.
However, if you pursue this route, you should mentally prepare yourself to be rejected from the majority of the schools you apply to. If you’re less concerned with selectivity and are confident that you’ll be accepted to at least a couple of the colleges you apply to, you may just need to apply to two to four universities.
Why you
A few criteria may limit the number of colleges to which you should apply:
Applications cost – Money and Time
Applying to college can be expensive unless you qualify for price discounts based on financial need. There may also be charges associated with sending standardized test and AP results to schools. If you apply to 20 universities, you may have to pay more than $2,000 in application fees. When determining how many schools to apply to, think about your budget.
Furthermore, the application process is lengthy. Many institutions still have their own forms or demand additional essays, despite the fact that more and more colleges are embracing The Common Application, which allows you to apply to multiple schools with one application. Each extra essay-required college application will likely take you at least a few hours longer to finish. Make sure you have enough time to finish all of the applications without losing the quality of your studies or disregarding any other outside-of-school commitments.
You have unique requirements that only a few colleges can meet
If only a few universities are a good fit for your needs, you don’t need to apply to a lot of them. You may only need to apply to 3-5 universities if you want to be in a specific location or pursue a major that only a few schools offer.
You don’t have much time to decide on a college after receiving your acceptance letters
Most colleges send acceptance letters out in early April, and you normally have until May 1 to decide which institution you want to attend. If you’re choosing between numerous institutions at this time, you’ll only have a few weeks to go on campus visits, evaluate financial aid packages, and conduct any necessary research before making your decision.
If you’re still undecided about which college is right for you, the more universities that admit you, the more stressful and tough these next few weeks will be.
Applications with Rostrum
It takes a lot of time, effort, and money on your part, as well as your family’s, to apply to colleges. You’ll need to get prepared if you want to apply to a lot of institutions. At Rostrum, we aim to help you every step of the way. From shortlisting schools to keeping a running record of universities to which you’ve applied, where you still need to apply, and where you’ve already received a response, your personal mentor at Rostrum will help you with everything. It is not necessary for everyone to apply to a dozen different colleges. You can be confident in your choice if you’re happy with the few you’ve chosen. You’ll also need to prepare files for each application and, in many cases, compose fresh essays to accompany them. But don’t worry, Rostrum is here to help you with every single aspect of your applications.
