What is the Perfect Number of Colleges to Apply to?
What is the Perfect Number of Colleges to Apply to?
This is the time of year when rising seniors begin to get really serious about where they want to apply to college.Lists that once contained dozens of prospects start to be whittled down to only the most serious contenders. Students are trying to find their perfect match and building a strong college list is crucial in making this dream a reality.The question is: how many schools should be on your final list? Is there a right number of colleges to apply to that will guarantee you success?The answer: yes and no.Applying to the right number of colleges is less about quantity and more about quality. There are some important questions you should ask yourself as you decide how many schools, and which ones, should make your list.Let’s take a closer look.
Do You Know Your First Love?
When you close your eyes, is there one campus in particular where you see yourself? Do you already own the sweatshirt?Many students have a clear first choice university. It’s perfectly normal to have strong preferences. If after visiting the campus, speaking with an admissions officer, and consulting with your parents, you find that one school stands out above the rest, then early decision probably makes sense for you.Students who fall into this category may not need a very long list. You might be well served to apply to your dream school and have applications ready for a few target and safety colleges that you would also be happy to attend.Instead of writing supplemental essays for colleges you aren’t excited about, reinvest your time in your academic work, extracurricular activities, or service to the community.
Do You Have a Really Specific Passion?
Though it is common for students to enter the college process undecided about their majors, some have a firm sense of what they want to study. In certain cases, the interest will be so specific that most colleges don’t offer an appropriate major.It’s a lot easier to find a university that has a business program than one that offers a restaurant management degree. Likewise, history is a much more accessible discipline than paleontology.Listen to your passion. If what you’re really interested in is paleontology, then find colleges that offer it and build your list accordingly. In some cases, this will automatically keep your list short.That’s okay. Don’t feel pressured to apply to other colleges just to round out the number. As long as your list includes safety schools that you would be happy to attend, feel free to keep it short and specialized.
How Hard Do You Want Your Decision to be in April?
For some students, opening decision letters (or emails, as is increasingly the case) is a thrill worth the gamble. Others fear the sting of rejection.Think about your typical response to poor news. How will you feel in April if a majority of the colleges on your list deliver disappointing decisions within the same two weeks?We always hope for good results, but part of the process is being prepared for bad news as well. Regardless of how wonderful a student you are, some schools are a reach for everyone.You will maximize your potential for positive news by making sure the bulk of the schools on your list fit into your target range. Look for colleges that accept many students with similar statistics and characteristics as yours.You will increase the potential for being placed on the waitlist or denied admission if your list is comprised of mostly reach schools. Either they belong to that tier of highly selective colleges mentioned above, or your test scores and grades fall below their typical range.Your results in April depend on the choices you make when putting together your college list. Before you add those final few reach schools, think about how you’ll feel in April if the likeliest outcome occurs.
Do You Have Personal Factors You Must Consider?
Many students approach the application process with personal and family obligations that must be considered.Perhaps you need to be close to home to help take care of a younger sibling. Perhaps your faith is important, and you want to be near a certain community. Maybe you need to be able to weigh several financial aid packages before making a final decision.These reasons vary for every student, but the point remains: identify the things that are important to your college search and let them guide the creation of your list.If, for example, financial aid or scholarships will be a major factor in choosing a college, then select more schools that appeal to you from the target and safety categories of your potential list. These are the ones most likely to admit you and sweeten the offer with scholarships.Perhaps you really want to attend college in a certain geographic region. That will restrict the number of colleges to which you apply. Even with this self-imposed boundary, be selective and investigate schools to make sure they fit your learning style and future goals.
Avoid These Traps
For most students, it will make sense to apply to 6-12 schools. That allows for 2-3 in each tier of selectivity, with room left over for a few others that are of interest.Don’t feel bound by those numbers. Remember, your list has to make sense for you. As you’re figuring out where you want to apply, avoid these common traps.
1. Easy Applications
Some colleges make it so simple to apply that it’s almost too good to be true. They will offer you an “easy” or “fast” application that requires little more than the push of a button. Many times, these applications are free.Before you click submit just because it’s easy, ask yourself if you can really imagine attending that campus. If you can’t see yourself as a student there, then don’t apply.Colleges offer this pathway to increase the number of applicants they receive. Not only does that make it statistically more selective for you to gain admission, but you give yourself one extra choice that you don’t need when it comes time to pick among your acceptances.
2. The “No Supplement” Bliss
A number of colleges on the Common Application have no additional requirements beyond what’s asked for in the main forms and personal statement. If extra work isn’t necessary, then you might as well apply, right?Wrong! Again, you should be able to see yourself at that college before you apply. Don’t even give yourself the option of attending somewhere that doesn’t fit your needs.Before you send in that application fee or give a road-weary admissions officer one more file to read, gauge your genuine interest in that school.
3. Panic Mode
The pressure of not knowing where they will study after high school causes some students to act against their better interests. Don’t let panic drive your process. If you apply smartly, then you will have appealing college options.Being excited about the target and safety schools on your list will help safeguard against making fear-based decisions. Take all the time you need to identify places that you like and that admit students similar to you.Then, put your best self forward in filling out your applications and be confident that good things are coming.
There is a Right Number of Colleges to Apply to
And that number will be different for every student. Rising juniors should be in the early stages of figuring out which schools make sense for them. Rising seniors should have a clearer sense of where they will apply.The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute conversation today!Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.See what others are saying about us