<p>Your friend isn’t being a jerk or a trophy hunter. He’s applying to the schools he wants to apply to. There is no cause and effect relationship between your applications; either you’re good enough to be accepted or you aren’t. Even if there was a direct effect it’s not your “friend’s” responsibility to help your application efforts. </p>
<p>It’s all well and good to act like your ‘friend’ is scheming to hurt you and will be responsible for your rejections but for all we know he’s sitting around saying, “Can you believe woahgosh? He’s applying to all my schools and hurting my chances. What a trophy hunting jerk.”</p>
<p>Apply where you want to and stop worrying about things you can’t or shouldn’t try to control.</p>