The results threads are sobering, for sure. And you know there are a disproportionate number of people who don’t post results because they didn’t get in anywhere - so the results posts are actually deceptively acceptance heavy. It is tough from the parent-who-has-been-through-it standpoint. I want to be an optimistic cheerleader for everyone applying, but I know the heartbreak that is looming out there, too. And I have a small fraction of the experience that @PhotographerMom has. Please please please listen to her. I love the enthusiasm in the Chance Me and Freakout threads, but the naivete also gives me heart palpitations.
Cast a wide net. Apply to as many schools as you can muster, and with a wide variety of acceptance rates. You won’t regret it. We did 8 total, but they weren’t all super competitive. We were grateful to have options after M10, but it could have easily gone differently.