No one is saying to do this. In many cases when a poster says they/their child applied to some very large number of schools, this may include one application that covers many schools (eg the CBCA, and for many CA residents, the UC and/or CSU app systems), Common App schools with fewer supplemental essays, CTCL schools, targeted schools identified commonly by reading CDS data to find schools with high demonstrated financial need met numbers, schools where the applicant’s academic and test records put them in the comparative top of a previous year’s applicant pool’s stats so the applicant may be likely to be a target for merit aid, schools with additional merit scholarship opportunities (where the student would be seen as a qualified merit candidate) either automatically considered or via additional application, etc. It is difficult to fathom how a student could otherwise manage to write (even whenever it’s possible to recycle) so many thoughtful essays, research so many colleges, complete so many applications, do their schoolwork/keep up their grades, do their homework, their job if they have one, and get any sleep.
Glad it worked out, but it sure sounds stressful. Sure, not having viable options is also stressful, but that must have been an intense year. Hopefully much was completed in the summer before senior year. IMO its still possible to have a similar outcome (several viable options in several locations) with a shorter list.
One of mine applied to 14 (and also got a couple admits from direct admissions/niche) - they were looking at 2 different fields in fall when EA hit, so it was almost like 7 and 7! Most were likely/target schools for them and they were just very, very unsure of what they wanted in November.. Their schools mainly had few extra essays…They mainly were super competitive schools - the most selective were in the 40% admit range…. Most had sent free application codes. It was low barrier to apply.
My current senior right now has 15 on the list but is looking to drop at least 3-4 more…It is a good mix of schools, and some are highly selective, so many have numerous essays, which is a key reason they want to keep to like 11-12 if they can.
What is stressful for some, is necessary for others.
In the end, it worked out. S20 received a fine education, had an out-of-state out-of-his-norm experience, graduated on time, and bought his first home 22 months after graduating.
No complaints today about any of the effort put into the 70+ applications.
Things that are necessary are often stressful. My kids are much older now but still occasionally mention memories of stressful times from their senior year.
Many universities required only the one or two essays uploaded to the application app. I’d say maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the total apps required additional writing (sometimes just answers of a paragraph or two, sometimes a unique essay).
There were many essays, over a dozen. I can’t give an exact number because it’s been six years. Additionally, some schools (VA Tech comes to mind, and I think Reed) had multiple questions that required a written response of 2-4 paragraphs.
However, many essays were able to be repurposed because the prompts at different universities were so similar. OTOH, some universities (hello Chicago) seem to go out of their way to make their prompt so unique no parts of other essays could be repurposed.
The thing is, often the schools that might have delivered the required finaid were schools that wanted an additional essay or long form answers to questions. It may seem like a lot, but it did not feel overwhelming because the process started early. And it’s not like application essays are five pages long.
Not one of the 20 schools one of my kids applied to had automatic merit. All we knew is that financial aid would probably not happen. After merit was awarded, some top choices moved to the bottom.
Yes, discretionary merit programs are by nature hard to predict. Like if you go to one of the popular college-specific threads where things like this are discussed (I did that with Pitt, for example), you will see many people disappointed, and some people pleasantly surprised. And looking at what other people are getting or got in recent cycles doesn’t seem to be all that useful in predicting who will get what. Hence the surprises.
So I do think a bit of a wide spread on your discretionary merit applications tends to make sense. I have no hard number in mind, but I think the more merit you are looking for, logically the more discretionary merit colleges you might end up applying to.
One thing that I would point out is that students can attack their applications RIGHT NOW before high school starts.
As of August 1, the applications are live and the essay questions finalized.
My D26 REALLY attacked her applications in August of last year and knocked out 20 before high school even started.
She was not stressed at all during the school year. Her school preferences changed during the school year, however, so she ultimately applied to over 30 schools (another major round came during Xmas break).
While I don’t recommend applying to that many schools……I STRONGLY recommend using August and school breaks to do your applications.
As you note, different strokes for different folks.
If people are truly price based and don’t care about size or location, then it’s easy to narrow based on stats.
But of course, a student from NC may not want to end up in New Mexico or Kansas - and herein lies the problem.
It is true everyone’s situation is different - and some just don’t know what they truly want up front - so applying to more let’s them kick the can down the road - i.e. today, I’m open to anywhere - but when it gets close to May, maybe the student wants to be within x hours of home, etc.
So by not truly knowing up front, having more “options” can help.
If someone is solely price focused, it’d be easy to apply to a short list. But of course, most have requirements - size, location, majors offered, etc. beyond price.
Wow! School starts so early for some of your kids! My S starts at the end of August.
He is narrowing his list. He has an ED choice which has not changed since we visited campus about a year and a half ago. He has visited about 75% of the schools on his list and we are likely done with visits until he knows where he has been admitted. The one exception is the open house for the ED school this fall. I want him to visit once more before he signs that ED agreement. It is a reach school for him, but not one of the “lottery” schools. I do think he has a shot. He also has an EA school that he loves and is a likely/low target, so he is feeling pretty good about his list.
I think he has 13 or 14 schools on the list, but will focus on apps for the ED and EA schools in the first round (8 schools). If those don’t work out (he will hear back from several in December), he will apply to the other 6 or so schools in early Jan.
D25 applied to 23. But those included UCs, which is just 1 application.
Looking back from that experience forward to my D30’s college application cycle, we would be much more confident with a single safety school rather than a handful of safety schools in different areas of the country like we did for D25 to give her options. Right now that would be Univ of Oregon, which D30 will easily get into, they release decisions early, give enough merit to be comparable to in-state tuition, and is in the PNW.