How many colleges should I apply to regular decision?

Every year, prospective college students wonder, "How many colleges should I apply to?" As a general rule of thumb, some admissions experts recommend submitting applications to 4-12 schools.

Is 12 colleges too many to apply to?

In general, most students apply to between 8 and 12 colleges. This is a good range to aim for, provided that the applications you submit represent a broad variety of colleges. Ideally, you want to apply to at least two safety, four target, and two reach schools.

Is 20 colleges too many to apply to?

While there's no cap on the number of schools you can apply to, some students, especially those from affluent backgrounds who want to go to a selective college, can go overboard, applying to more than 20 or 30 colleges. Personally, I would strongly discourage any student from applying to more than 15 colleges.

Is applying to 7 colleges enough?

There is no magic number, but five to eight applications are usually enough to ensure that a student is accepted into a suitable institution (depending, of course, on the individual student's record and circumstances). This number should be made up of a combination of “safety,” “match,” and “reach” colleges.

Is applying to 15 colleges too much?

There's no magic number for the number of colleges you should apply to, but there are some general guidelines. Apply to 5-8 colleges. If the schools you're interested in are extremely selective, then you may want to fill out more applications, but going over 15 isn't recommended.

73 Questions With A Former IVY LEAGUE ADMISSIONS OFFICER | New York Times Published Author

Is it crazy to apply to 20 colleges?

The College Board recommends that high school seniors narrow down their application list to five to eight schools. It's okay to stray a little outside this range, but as a general rule of thumb you should aim to reach those numbers because sending more than ten applications can have drastic consequences.

Is 17 colleges a lot to apply to?

It all depends on the student and their needs. At IvyWise, we advise that students apply to about 10-15 best-fit colleges, with as close to an even distribution of target, reach, and likely colleges as possible. For some students, one is all they needed to apply to because they were accepted Early Decision.

What is the #1 top college?

Is 9 colleges too many to apply to?

Experts disagree on a specific number of schools applicants should aim for, with recommendations ranging anywhere from four to 15. The College Board suggests students apply to between four and eight colleges.

Is it bad to only apply to 4 colleges?

Still, you also should avoid applying to too few colleges. In general, it's a good idea to apply to a minimum of five schools. Submitting more applications increases the likelihood of an acceptance and the odds of receiving financial aid offers.

Can colleges see how many colleges you apply to?

Rest assured they won't find out unless you tell them. That being said, you want to make sure that every piece of your application to each college screams, “I want you!” Colleges are shockingly insecure about whether a competitive student would enroll if admitted. Your interest in them can factor into the decision.

Is applying to 3 colleges enough?

A general rule of thumb is to apply to 2-3 reach schools, 4-5 target schools, and 2-3 safety schools. However, you may choose to apply to as few as 1 reach school, 2 target schools, and 1 safety school.

How many colleges does the average person apply to?

Most students submit 1-5 college applications

It is skewed toward a lower number of applications with a slight uptick in the number of students submitting 20. The share of students applying to more than 10 colleges shot up from 8% to 17% between 2014-15 and 2021-22.

Why does common app limit to 20?

You're absolutely right about the Common App having a limit; the platform allows for up to 20 college applications. Think of these 20 as an ample ceiling to aim for a diverse range of colleges — from 'reach' to 'match' and 'safety' schools.

How many colleges can you apply early decision to?

You can apply early decision to only 1 college. If the college accepts you and offers enough financial aid, you must go to that college. That's why these plans are referred to as “binding.” Some colleges have 2 early deadlines, called early decision deadline I and early decision deadline II.

Can a 3.5 GPA get into UCLA?

Academic Preparation

The average GPA of admitted transfer students is above 3.5 and admitted students have completed most or all major preparatory courses. We give highest priority to applicants from California community colleges and other UC campuses. UCLA admits students for fall quarter only.

Will UCLA accept a 3.0 GPA?

UC has a specific way to calculate the grade point average (GPA) it requires for admission. California applicants must earn at least a 3.0 GPA and nonresidents must earn a minimum 3.4 GPA in all A-G or college-preparatory courses to meet this requirement.

Do you need straight A's to get into UCLA?

With a GPA of 3.93, UCLA requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

What college has the lowest acceptance rate?

The lowest admission rates, for the class of 2026, is Harvard University with 3%.

What is the most elite college?

What is the smartest college in the world?

View the World University Rankings 2023 methodology

The University of Oxford tops the ranking for the seventh consecutive year. Harvard University remains in second place, but the University of Cambridge jumps from joint fifth last year to joint third.

Should I apply to multiple colleges at once?

You should apply to the colleges you really want to attend as well as at least one safety school. Most experts recommend you apply to a couple of reach schools, several schools you feel are a great match for you academically and otherwise and a couple of safety schools.

What happens if I apply to too many colleges?

It's great that you're being proactive about your college search. Having a lengthy list of colleges is not necessarily a bad thing, but applying to too many schools can be both time-consuming and expensive. When it comes to application fees, cost can quickly add up.

How many Ivy Leagues should I apply to?

The simple answer is this: You should apply to as many Ivy League schools as you want to, and applying to all of them neither increases nor decreases your chances of getting accepted (aside from the diminishing returns factor we just discussed, of course). More > > > What Factors Distinguish One School From Another?