Why do people apply to so many colleges?

Applying to multiple schools increases your chances of acceptance and good financial aid packages.

Is it good to apply to a lot of colleges?

In general, prospective students should apply to multiple schools to increase their odds of getting accepted. However, there are cases when applying to just one school makes sense. For example, college applications can be costly, and a single application may be your only option.

Why are there so many more college applications?

There are more students, and many of these students are applying to more schools. Many of today's college applicants are part of what's referred to as the “Echo Boom” – kids of Baby Boomers and beyond. There are just more kids out there. Four years ago, there were 2.5 million high school graduates.

Is 30 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.

How many colleges should a person apply to?

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).

Two Strategies: How Many Colleges Should You Apply To?

Is applying to 20 colleges a lot?

Even the Common Application recognizes this and only lets students apply to a maximum of 20 colleges. However, many students get around this by creating multiple Common Application accounts. But when it comes to making smart application choices, even 20 colleges is too many to apply to.

Why shouldn't you apply to a lot of colleges?

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. I would suggest aiming for a balanced college list, typically around 8-12 schools.

Is it OK to apply to 12 colleges?

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.

Why can I only apply to 20 colleges on common app?

Has anyone been in this spot before? How do you manage or get around this limit if you're looking at more than 20 places? The Common Application does indeed have a limit of 20 colleges, and that's intentional to encourage students to focus on applying to schools they're truly interested in attending.

Is it bad to only apply to one college?

Not all students need to apply to more colleges. But for the majority of applicants who currently plan to apply to four or fewer schools (or even not apply at all), it's important to consider the potential benefits of putting yourself out there, just a few more times.

Why is it so hard to get into college?

Together, these factors–the increases in selectivity, the focus on rankings, the intensified stress on test scores, the lack of clarity around each school's enrollment priorities–has made the college admissions landscape feel treacherous, littered with obstacles to potentially thwart applicants' aspirations.

Do colleges look at every application?

The short answer is that it depends on the school, and a lot depends on the selectivity of the institution. All schools take a look at the application, but the rigor of the institution can dictate the amount of time spent reviewing it.

Can colleges see how many colleges you are applying to?

Some schools can ask.

There is a group of highly selective colleges that shares their Early Decision student list among each other, but only AFTER those students have been accepted—so no worries about affecting the odds there. But again, for the most part, the answer to this burning question will be: no.

Is applying to 14 colleges too many?

14 is not CRAZY but it will be a lot of work and money that probably is not necessary! Just apply to schools you would actually attend if you got in, whether your list is 10 or 20 doesn't matter (if you can afford it and have time to do apps) as much as only spending time on a school you see yourself at.

Is applying to college too stressful?

If working on your apps is stressing you out, take a break and do something that reduces anxiety. According to the National Institutes of Health, going outdoors, getting more sleep, doing activities you enjoy, exercising for 30 minutes, journaling, and seeing friends all alleviate stress.

Is it stressful to apply for college?

More than 60% of students reported that college application advice had overwhelmed them, and nearly half said they felt pressured to apply to colleges they weren't interested in attending.

Is 12 colleges too many to apply to?

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.

What's the max amount of colleges you can apply to?

Although Common Application allows students to add 20 colleges to their “My Colleges” tab, many professionals in the field would agree that actually applying to 20 colleges is excessive.

How many colleges do students apply to on average?

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.

Can you apply to the same college twice after being rejected?

Yes. While students certainly can ask a university to reconsider, these are rarely, if ever, successful in changing an admission decision. Many counselors only recommend that students appeal their decision if an important piece of information was missing from their application.

At what age can you not apply for college?

There is no age limit. There are often a few students at most universities that are much older than the median age. I've had classes with students who were past retirement.

Does it matter what college you apply to?

Research, then, concludes that for most students, where you go to college doesn't typically matter to others – but it may matter to you. So… take a deep breath, and try not to stress about it. Choose a college that meets your academic and social needs, and make the most of your college experience.

Why am I getting rejected from so many colleges?

Poor fit and lack of demonstrated interest are among the common reasons college applications are rejected. Given the volume of college applications each year, admissions officers have tough decisions to make when it comes to filling limited seats.

What will make colleges not accept you?

What if I get rejected from every college I apply to?

Don't Panic and Don't Give Up

First, allow yourself to feel your feelings: you need time to sort out your feelings and thoughts to decide your next steps. While getting rejected from every college you applied to is a less-than-ideal situation, take a deep breath and understand you have other options to consider.