How many universities should i apply to

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Dori Zinn Contributor. Brianna McGurran Editor. These schools are so difficult to get into because their acceptance rate is extremely low- think Ivy League. That means only a few students get accepted, and even the best of the best sometimes get rejected.

Those five courses can be at one university or five different universities or something in between. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to just choose five! Many factors play into this decision. Here are our top tips for college selection. Crimson helps students just like you select colleges that are just right for you. We help you determine which schools are safety, target and reach and the number of colleges you should apply to. In general, we see the highest success rates when students apply to one or two safety schools, three target schools, and three reach schools for a total of schools.

Interested in learning more about how Crimson can help you determine how many colleges you should apply to and how to create your college list? Schedule a free consultation with one of our academic advisors today. They are looking forward to meeting you and showing you how Crimson can help you reach your university admission goals.

With nearly 3, four-year institutions in the US , it might be tempting to apply to as many as possible. The more applications, the better chances of getting in, right? So, how many schools should you apply to? While there is no exact formula or a perfect number of schools to submit your applications to, most students apply to universities.

So, how do you narrow down your options to create the perfect college list? Is there a limit on how many colleges you can apply to? Is there an advantage to applying to too many colleges? Factors to Consider Before Applying to Colleges Before you begin applying to colleges, you should consider the following factors: Application Fees: How much do you want to spend on your applications?

Time: Filling out college applications takes time. The Common App and Coalition App both have their own set of essay questions, and many colleges require applicants to answer additional supplemental essay prompts. Each of these responses requires not only thoughtful introspection but extensive writing and editing. Program Availability: Not every college offers the same majors or programs. Some colleges specialize in a particular subject area, making them more desirable to students interested in those specific areas.

Research your top colleges to ensure they offer your desired courses and programs. Ideally, your college list should include schools that specialize in your particular area of interest. Size and Location: Do you enjoy four seasons or prefer a location that stays warm year-round? Do you prefer a college in a large city or one situated in a rural setting?

Additionally, the application process takes time. Even though more and more colleges are using The Common Application , which allows you to apply to many schools with one application, many colleges still have their own applications or require supplemental essays.

Each college application that requires additional essays will probably take you at least a few additional hours to complete. Make sure you have enough time to complete all the applications successfully without sacrificing the quality of your schoolwork or neglecting any other priorities you have outside of school.

Filling out applications and writing good college essays take time. Even before I started doing college research or waited to see which schools recruited me, my options were very limited.

I believe I ended up applying to 4 colleges, and admittedly, I only applied to one of those because I wanted to go on another recruiting trip. If you want to be in a very specific location or pursue a major that only a few schools have, then you may only need to apply to colleges.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit.

We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Follow these guidelines, regardless of the exact number of schools you end up applying to. Here are a couple of hypothetical examples to illustrate some of the concepts that I explained above. Josie wants to go to a very selective college in the South. She has a 3. She doesn't want to be too far from her home in Atlanta, but she is willing to consider schools that are a little further away, but still in the South, if they're a really good fit.

She qualifies for application fee waivers, but she has limited time to complete applications due to her job, school, and extracurricular activities. She doesn't know exactly what she wants to major in, but she's interested in science.

How many schools should Josie apply to? In this case, you can only apply to one college and if you get in, you are required to attend. These applications are generally due in November and decisions are released by December, before regular decision application deadlines.

If you apply and are accepted to your top choice early decision, you will only have applied to one school. Sometimes, cost is a consideration. In addition, college applications take time. Even if you apply to schools that accept the Common Application or the Coalition Application, you will often need to write supplementary essays for many schools.

Finally, sometimes a student will have very specific needs that automatically narrow the college list to just a few colleges. For example, if you need to live at home during college, you might simply apply to the colleges within commuting distance. The same is true if you are considering a super unique major or field of study.