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When students start planning for college, one key question to ask is: How many colleges should they apply to? There are several factors to consider when deciding how many applications to send out, which is why this article is the perfect guide to get you started on your journey.
This article explores the ideal number of universities to apply to so you’re neither overwhelmed nor underwhelmed when planning your college life. It discusses the differences between these three categories: Safety, Target, and Reach Schools, the priorities you should look into when finalizing your list, the risks of overapplying and underapplying to institutions, and some tips and tricks to take note of during the whole process.
What is the Difference Between Safety, Target, and Reach Schools?
We usually recommend 5 to 12 applications for your tentative list of school choices, but there is no strict number to follow. Before you narrow down your list and work on your applications, there are three important categories you need to know about:
Safety Schools
Safety schools are institutions where you are likely to be admitted and have little to no hindrance to entering. These are schools where your GPA, standardized test scores, and overall profile score are above average. Their primary function in your list is to be safeguards to fall back on, so that you are assured of having a school to attend. Usually, students apply to at least 2 to 3 safety schools for reasons such as academic profile sufficiency or financial need.
Target Schools
Target schools are institutions where your academic profile closely aligns with the admitted student profile. Your GPA and standardized test scores are solid and a good fit for you. These are schools that align with your goals, capabilities, and potential. You either meet their admission requirements, exceed the norm, or fall slightly below it, but these generally yield successful applications. It is recommended to apply to 3 to 5 schools under this category.
Target schools are institutions where your academic profile closely aligns with the admitted student profile, giving you a realistic chance of admission.
Reach Schools
Reach schools are institutions with highly selective admissions and a competitive applicant pool. These are often called the “dream schools,” such as the Ivy League and Ivy Plus institutions, where high performance and output are expected. Moreover, schools reported last year that their acceptance rates were 10% or less, making it extremely hard to get in, but not impossible. Applicants should aim for around 2 to 4 reach schools.
How Do Your Priorities Align with Your Dream School?
When finalizing your college application plan, one of the most important aspects of the process is recognizing the factors to consider when planning where to study, while considering back-ups and top goals. Here are four things you should take note of:
1. Academic Goals and Background
Start identifying what you envision your college experience to be like and how these align with your current profile. Reflect on how you’re performing in your academics, if these are compatible with the schools and their environments on your list, and if you want a private or public school, especially for your target schools. Start building a strong academic reputation early on in high school and maintain community engagements. You can also check this guide on how to thrive in competitive high schools.
2. Deadlines and Commitments
There is more to college applications than just creating profiles, writing essays, and passing exams. Depending on the timeframe you plan to adopt when applying, you can narrow your list based on those applications with non-binding commitments: Early Action and Regular Decision, which means you can apply to as many as you can, or those with binding commitments, Early Decision, which should mean that you’re sure about this option (but it is still recommended to make a list).
3. Socioeconomic Status
Oftentimes, your family’s financial standing is also a determining factor for which college you should apply to. College applications can be costly, especially when you’re applying for multiple schools. Fortunately, there are options for financial support from different sponsors, either from external or from the institution itself. There are scholarship options based on standardized test scores, financial capabilities, or merit. For example, Ivy League schools offer numerous financial aids, such as Yale University’s Zero Parent Share program. You can check this article for a more comprehensive guide on financial aid and scholarship.
4. Program Requirements and Admission Policies
Certain programs have specific requirements that go beyond general admissions requisites during the application process. It is important to keep track of these to avoid confusion or getting overwhelmed, especially when you’re planning to apply to many institutions. Furthermore, some colleges have policies that can limit how many colleges you can apply to, especially in Early Decision institutions with a binding commitment.
5. Check for Application Fees and Fee Waivers
Always check the school’s website and your school counselors for application fees and how to apply for a fee waiver. Application fees can vary from $50 to $100, depending on the application. Aiming for 10 or more schools can reach up to $1000 or more. Aside from the tuition of your tentative college choice, you may need to look into testing and miscellaneous fees.
“The More Is Better” Myth in College Applications
While there is temptation to apply for as many colleges as you can to assure absolute admission, that’s not always the case. The myth of “more being merrier” does not apply to college applications for multiple reasons, but it also does not mean that you should underapply to only a few schools. Quantity does not necessarily equate to quality, increasing the risk of burnout or other issues. Some of these can be the following cases:
Avoid Risks of Overapplying
1. Application Quality: Your foremost problem when overapplying to schools is the quality of the work you’re delivering. You may start rehashing your supplemental essays for prompts that work, which makes it less authentic and specific.
2. Poor Time and Stress Management: Of course, the more applications you’ll be preparing for, the more your time will be divided among each university. There are many things you’ll need to process aside from essays and tests. You might get overwhelmed and struggle with your decisions as you try to manage your applications all at once.
3. High Application Costs: Application fees are costly, especially when they pile up. With the risk of possibly rejection in many schools, covering the costs of application fees may be a heavy financial burden to you and your family.
Avoid Risks of Underapplying
1. Inadequate Options: Having an application pool that is too small can be risky, with limited options and uncertainties about admission. Even with a relatively high GPA and standardized test scores, you can never be too confident about getting into the several schools you applied to.
2. Fewer Financial Aid Opportunities: While it is true that applying for too many schools can affect your finances for financial aid, scholarships, and merit-based funding, it’s better to have a balanced number of applications. Long-term expenses such as tuition and other fees can be managed if several schools you were accepted into offer multiple benefits and programs you can avail of.
6 Tips to Remember When Applying for College:
1. Do your research on the school and your compatibility with the environment
Choose the right institution that you know will unlock your academic potential and more. Prioritize how your environment makes you competitive while ensuring that it aligns with your goals.
2. Use the Common Application
The Common Application is a platform that allows applicants to apply to multiple colleges more efficiently, despite its lengthy process. Taking this route helps you submit to multiple institutions more conveniently.
3. Don’t simply focus on highly selective schools
When building your college list, avoid prioritizing ranking alone. A school’s ranking or name recognition doesn’t always reflect whether it is the right fit for you. Instead, look closely at factors such as the strength of your intended major, research or internship opportunities, class size, and overall learning environment. A school that is slightly less selective may actually offer stronger resources and better alignment with your goals than a more prestigious one.
4. Always tailor-fit applications to the school
Admissions sometimes present very similar or identical prompts or questions to their applicants. This often leads to rehashing or recycling essays that are already written for another purpose. It’s best to tailor-fit applications to the school’s expectations while highlighting your persona. Here’s an option to achieve this.
5. Monitor and record your applications neatly
Keeping track of your application details, especially their deadlines and requirements, is a must, especially when you have applied to many institutions. It is more convenient to have previous steps recorded to plan the next ones.
6. Communicate with your counselors
Check in with your school counselors. They can offer their expertise and guide you towards better college planning to meet your academic goals.
Sample College Application List
Safety Schools (3)
| School | Why It’s a Safety |
| Ohio University | In-state school, well above average admission profile |
| University of Dayton | Strong Political Science program, high acceptance rate |
| Kent State University | In-state, affordable, and well within her academic range |
Target Schools (4)
| School | Why It’s a Target |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Her statistics align well with their typical admitted student profile |
| Indiana University Bloomington | Strong international studies program, competitive but attainable |
| University of Georgia | Slightly above her average, but highly compatible with her profile |
Reach Schools (2)
| School | Why It’s a Reach |
| Georgetown University | Highly selective, but a dream fit for her interests |
| University of Michigan | Competitive out-of-state applicant pool, but worth the shot |
Need Help Narrowing Down Your College Application List?
Being unsure of how many colleges to apply to while planning ahead and considering your circumstances can be overwhelming without more focused, targeted counseling from experts. Here at Ivy Talent Education, we offer guidance and consultations that not only help you narrow down your list according to your priorities but also strengthen your application and overall college experience. You can contact us to schedule a free consultation today!
