Shotgunning—I'm very confused

Sam-I-Am
Mon, 29 Jun 2020 19:16:12 +0000

Focus on the schools that have programs that seem to fit your interests best. Apply to those few schools first, throw in a safety school, and then add some more applications to T-15 schools if you still have the time, energy, money and desire. Keep an eye out for schools that provide merit scholarships and try not to miss the extra essays and earlier deadlines for some of those opportunities.

As you go through this process you may well fall in love with a few schools. Consider an EDI and EDII strategy if that is possible for you to raise the likelihood of admission. But only do this if you find a good fit. ED is the opposite of the shotgun approach. It is focused. However, you can still send out a bunch of non ED applications as backup knowing that you are supposed to pull those applications if admitted ED and you can afford the FA package you are offered.