College Planning:
How many colleges should I apply to?
Applying for colleges is similar to standing in line at the world’s largest food court in the mall. There are so many choices. One place may serve your favorite food, but it’s incredibly pricey. You can afford this one, but the food isn’t what you’re hungry for. And there’s a lot of generic burger joints in between the two. And to make matters worse, each place has a limited amount of food to serve, so you’re not guaranteed to get something even if you can pick which line to stand in. So you wait there with your tray, lost in a sea of choices…
How many colleges should you apply to? A common answer is 6-8, with 3 being the lowest and 20 being the highest (that I’ve heard). The truth is, there really isn’t a set answer. The formula behind each suggestion, however, makes sense, even at the base 3 school level.
Reach or Long Shot Universities: apply to at least one college you’re interested in but are below their admission standards. These are high-end schools with long-standing reputations (either as being old, traditional universities or as producing “the best” graduates in a chosen field). They generally have high test-score requirements and difficult application processes that make it uncertain anyone will get in, even those who score perfectly and are the valedictorian of their high schools.
Match or Mid-Level Universities: apply to at least one college that you are well suited for and fall in the average of admission standards. These schools are ones that fit what you want to do with your degree, they fit your personality and lifestyle; they have high standards and strong reputations, but they’re not impossible to afford or get into.
Safety or Assured Universities: apply to at least one college that you are almost guaranteed to be accepted into because you are above their aver
age admission standards. These are usually basic level state schools. They’ll generally have low tuition and be on the lower end of the admission standards, meaning people with low test scores can get in. There is no shame in attending these Safety Schools. In fact, sometimes, it’s the best option, especially for first-generation college students because it allows them to experience college life. If you have low grades that hinder you from going to a higher-level school or earning scholarships and loans to help you pay for higher level schools, then go to a safety school for a year or so and consider transferring later.
Some students have known their whole lives that they would go to college – money wasn’t an option, there’s family history of it occurring, etc, so perhaps a 3 school application process works for them. But more and more students are graduating high school and going off to college as first-generation college students, so they don’t necessarily have the same familiarity with colleges and applications. If this is you, then consider the 6-8 option, with 2-3 schools in each level of Reach, Match and Safety universities. Applying to more schools lets you see the diversity of affordability, enrollment options and financial aid so that you can make a better decision.
Applying to 10 or more schools, however, can be overkill. Yes, statistically the more schools you apply to, the better your odds of getting accepted, but it also means the harder your decision may be on which one to attend. Being able to narrow down your options means that you are critically looking at each school to decide which one will be the best fit for your personality, abilities and desires in terms of what you plan to do with your degree. Limiting the number of applications you send by careful choice and consideration of the universities also means that you become familiar with those institutions. You understand what they require, expect and cost so you know that, if accepted, you could attend that university.
Applying to a large number of schools also has other problems than just repeating that feeling of standing in the buffet line and not knowing which to choose when you get to the counter. There is a cost involved. Safety schools generally don’t have application fees, but several colleges do. Some universities have application fees of $60 or more. There may also be extra testing costs –different schools may require you to take something beyond the ACT/SAT to apply (such as the GRE or Single-Subject GRE). And these tests usually allow you to freely report your scores to 5 schools – after that, an extra-reporting fee is charged.
You also have to take into account the time involved. Even with streamlined, online application processes, or application services, like The Common Application (to be discussed below), you have to commit a great deal of time to applications. Several universities want personal essays or communication about why you feel you’d be a good match for the school or what made you want to apply to their institution. To truly make an impact in these essays/letters, you need to know the schools. You need to be able to speak in specifics. That level of personalization takes time and, when dealing with 10 or more applications, can become exhausting. This is one way to narrow down your number of applications – ask yourself: how many of these schools am I willing to devote the time to that is necessary for a solid application? If some of the schools don’t merit your time, then don’t apply to them.
I mentioned application services, like The Common Application. This is a non-profit service that allows students to fill out one, common standardized first-year application form and then submit it to any number of colleges. To date, The Common Application can send student applications to over 400 universities and colleges, including all three levels of schools discussed above and even some international offerings. For those just starting out with college applications, such a service can help stream-line the time spent on application materials. If you’re interested, you can check them out at: https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Default.aspx.
Whether you decide to apply to 3, 6 or 10 schools, the important thing is that you have made these decisions logically and carefully. Don’t just toss your application out into the wind without doing any research about these universities to see if you even want to go there. That kind of decision making is what has you winding up at the buffet line with the slimy, day-old green Jell-O nobody else wanted. That’s not how you want to start your college career.