Graduated from an 800 person HS in Pennsylvania in 1991. Most college-bound students ended up at an in-state school, with a few at LACs in the Northeast and maybe one to an Ivy. Was pretty sure I wanted to get out of the state, and head south. Scored 1430 on the SAT and was in the top 5% of the class. Unlike many at the time, I applied to 11 schools (and typed each application on a typewriter). UPenn, Dickinson, Gettysburg, UVA, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, Wake Forest, Duke, George Washington (NM scholarship), UNC, US Naval Academy (withdrew my application the day after we invaded Iraq…).
Toured most of the schools on a long Spring Break trip down South (last visit was Washington & Lee and was so tired of touring that I barely got out of the car - big regret, as I think that may have been a great fit). Visited Wake Forest as an Elementary-aged kid because my dad was golf-obsessed and wanted to see when Arnold Palmer went to school.
My absolute top choice was UVA. Applied ED and was deferred, then waitlisted. Accepted at Dickinson, Gettysburg, Virginia Tech, GW, Wake Forest. Chose Wake and had an amazing 4 years there - met my spouse. Fast forward a few years and finally got to go to UVA for MBA school.
D19 only applied to 3 schools, including ED at my alma mater (after insisting she had no interest in going where mom and dad went 
) She got in and withdrew her other applications. D21 applied to 4 schools, chose a small LAC in South Carolina but ended up transferring to a much larger school in TX after Freshman year. D24 is a junior in HS and is focused on LACs where she can play one or both of her sports. Has narrowed her list to a small handful.