How Many College Applications Are Enough? – Counselors (2024)

FAQs

How Many College Applications Are Enough? – Counselors? ›

It admits there is no concrete number for students to follow, but recommends sending anywhere between five and eight applications to ensure admission into a college of choice.

And how should a student decide which colleges to include? 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 circ*mstances).

Once a student meets the school's academic standards, their admissions officer will review the rest of their application package, including their essays and extracurricular profile. On average, readers spend four to 10 minutes assessing these elements before assigning the application a score.

According to the College Board, applying to five to eight institutions is generally considered sufficient to secure acceptance into a suitable institution. Similarly, U.S. News and World Report suggests a range of four to 15 applications.

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.

The ideal number of colleges to apply to varies depending on each student's unique situation. Generally, a balanced list ranges from 8 to 12 colleges, with a mix of reach, target, and safety schools. However, some students may choose to apply to more or fewer schools, depending on their preferences and resources.

So if you're wondering, do colleges read letters of recommendation? The answer is yes. Likewise, they also review each of your college essays, in addition to all of the other sections of your application. That said, approach each aspect of your college applications with care.

No, counselors cannot see your Common App after you've submitted it.

Colleges look for three things in your admission essay: a unique perspective, strong writing, and an authentic voice.

The more schools on your list, the more time you will need to invest in demonstrating interest in those colleges. More Schools = More Essays and Higher Costs What about the applications themselves? Sure it's easy to add colleges, but many schools using platforms like the Common Application require supplemental essays.

Is applying to 20 colleges too much? ›

While there isn't a specific number that is considered 'too many', it's important to focus on the quality of your applications rather than the quantity. Applying to a large number of schools can be time-consuming and may lead to less attention being given to each individual application.

Is applying to 12 colleges too much? No. Applying to 12 schools can be perfectly suitable for many prospective students. However, if you choose to submit many applications, get an early start.

College Admission Officers Can Look at Social Media Accounts

And, in most cases, it's pretty easy to find a student's social media footprint. A simple Google search can pull up a veritable treasure trove of content.

How many essays do admissions officers read a day? Every admissions office has a goal for the number of essays that must be read during any given week. However, college admissions officers and admission readers may read approximately 50 applications per day, spending approximately 15 minutes per application.

By comparison, the average number of applicants for fall 2020 was 9,071 at the 1,201 colleges that reported this data to U.S. News in an annual survey. On the other end of the spectrum, some colleges received applications in the hundreds rather than the tens of thousands.

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.

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.

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.