<p>I think that more than a handful is too much. It has to be contributing to the angst that these kids are feeling. The schools receive a high quantity of apps, kids are waitlisted, kids wait until the last minute to accept because they want the finaid statements. The kids are gaming the schools, the schools are gaming the kids, and the parents play the “my kids got into such and such school”. It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances that the schools and the government have contributed to as equally as the kids and the parents. I am limiting my son to 6 schools. Two reaches, two matches, two safeties. It’s working for him because his number one criteria was location. Number 2 criteria was major and third was size. He’s got three locations so he picks two schools in each location to apply to. We’ve got a prospective list of 8 maybe 9 so he’s going to have to whittle abit this summer (he’s a junior), but if he’s done a good job he’ll have a good outcome. Finaid, we’ll see, I’m sure that will come into play next year. I guess I’m a novice since this is number 1, but I do think it was easier for us 'rents…I applied to 3 schools, accepted at 3, went to the one my parents said I could!</p>