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Is There an Optimal Number of College Applications to Submit?Aug 23 '06 (Updated Aug 30 '06) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Applying to a good number of schools, including a few that are prestigious and some that are not, is a good approach to take in the application process. So you’re about to graduate from high school and you have decided on a field of study. You have a good idea what direction your career will take and you look forward to advancing to the next phase in the educational process. You know about some colleges in your local area, but you are unsure where to apply and how many colleges to send applications. What do you do? Selecting the Right Schools: First, you must decide which universities are right for you. Judging “rightness” is different from one student to the next but there are certain factors that can apply to anyone: Selected Major- Depending on your field of study, the best schools for you will likely be very different from others. The more specialized/unique your selected major, the fewer colleges there will be to send applications. The less specialized your field of study, the more selections there will be. Many universities may not even offer your desired major (especially if it’s one the more unique) and will have to be eliminated from consideration. Proximity to Home- This may not seem important, but for some students, being close to their parents gives them a feeling of security and contentment. For others, the distance doesn’t matter- they can always book a flight home for holidays and summer. If you’re the type who wants to remain close to where you grew up, your choices for higher education will be limited. Cost- The consideration of expenses is one not to be ignored. Granted, financial aid award packages are computed based in part on the overall cost of attending a specific school so just because university “a” costs $10,000 more than university “b” doesn’t mean your out of pocket costs will be $10,000 greater if you enroll at university “a”. But it does mean it will cost you a little more and for some students, the expense alone could be a deal breaker. How Many Applications?: Now that you have a general idea of what schools offer your selected major, how close you want to be to home, and the overall cost threshold you can withstand, there is the important decision regarding the number of schools to apply. What is the optimal number? Does it depend on the selected field of study? Does it look bad to apply to a very large number of schools? There is disagreement on what constitutes the “optimal” number of colleges to send applications. Some say four or five is plenty. Others say that a student should send out as many as he/she wishes. Here are some general guidelines to follow: Prestige of College- Many students have dreams of walking into their dorm room at Yale or Harvard and starting their studies at a school that is highly regarded for academic excellence. Most students, however, do not have the qualifications to get accepted at colleges at this high level. Still, there are other schools that may not rank as high as Princeton or Brown but still are considered very good (Top Tier) and should be considered by those with above average credentials. It is ok to apply to a couple of these, just to see what happens. Acceptance Rate- This ties in with the points made above. If a university has a high level of prestige and thus a low acceptance rate, the chance the student will receive a rejection letter is elevated. Thus, students need to be realistic when applying to these types of institutions. It is ok to apply to one or two, but applications should also be sent to colleges that are less prestigious so that at least one acceptance letter will be received. Outside Influences- These are the miscellaneous factors that contribute to the decision to send an application to a specific school. It could be that your mom/dad/brother/sister or other family member(s) attended a certain university and the student feels pressure to do the same. Friends can also exert a tremendous influence. Some students will base their entire decision to apply on whether or not their friends are going to attend the same school. Another possibility is sentimentality. A student who grew up in or near a college town with a popular sports program might be inclined to apply to that school, even though it may or may not be a good fit for his/her selected field of study. Final Thoughts: Deciding where and how many universities to send applications can be a daunting task and there are many factors that need to be considered. Once a field of study has been defined, a student has to find the colleges that offer that particular field of study and then narrow down to a select list of schools to send applications. The desired major and dozens of other factors will need to be weighed before applications are submitted. When I was an undergrad, I submitted applications to four different universities and was accepted to all of them. At the time, I didn’t really know what I was capable of doing and what I wasn’t so I didn’t target colleges the way I should have. Unfortunately for me, my parents knew little or nothing about higher education so they were unable to provide any guidance. I was on my own and even though I was satisfied with my final choice, I often wonder what other universities would have accepted me if I had applied. I don’t think I could have gotten into the most elite schools like Princeton, Harvard, MIT, or the like. But maybe I could have with the right encouragement. Even if I couldn’t get into these schools, I probably could have been accepted to more schools in the Top Tier had I bothered to put forth the effort. Applying to the more prestigious schools brings up some important points. I think it is a good idea to apply to the more highly rated schools and submit at least one or two applications, just to see what happens. The worst that can happen is that you will get a rejection letter. Nothing else negative can result so I recommend applying to a couple universities of high prestige. As a ACT test prep teacher myself, it is surprising how many high school students underestimate their abilities and don’t bother to apply to higher ranking colleges because they feel they “don’t have a chance”. I’m not talking about students with moderate grade point averages and average test scores- I’m referring to students with higher than average academic achievements who are still obsessed with self doubt and a general sense of pessimism. I can recall talking to students with these high credentials who were not even considering applying to the better colleges even though they had a good chance to gain acceptance. I don’t know why this is, but many high school students seem to think they have little or no chance to succeed, even when they do. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT would look great on a resume but the other important point to stress to students is that they need to be realistic when it comes to college application submissions. If you have, say, a 3.5 GPA and a 27 ACT score, you are certainly above the average but this alone will not likely be enough to get accepted into these and other Ivy League schools. This is why it is imperative that students always have a backup plan. Apply to a couple of colleges like Princeton, Vanderbilt and the like if you wish, but also send out a few applications to universities where you know you have a very good chance to gain acceptance. One or two rejection letters doesn’t matter, but five rejection letters out of five application submissions would be embarrassing, not to mention time consuming and risky. If this happens, there may not be enough time to apply for the fall semester/quarter at other good universities. You may be stuck waiting until the next term to try again. One nice thing about applying to a large number of universities is that the process is much easier now than in the past, thanks to the invention of the internet. A student can whip through several applications in a short time and submit them directly on- line. In the past, one had to call to get the applications mailed to them, then fill them out, then mail them back with a check to cover the fees. Now, the internet has taken over the college application process making it as simple as it could be. All you need is the ability to type and a valid debit credit card to complete the transactions. Soon to be college freshman have plenty of things to stress about. The thought of leaving the nest for the first time; departing from old friends; and entering into a new environment are enough to cause some students to worry excessively. The decision regarding where to apply and how many schools to apply shouldn’t cause as much stress as it does and the process can be smooth and painless with the right research and preparation. Decide how close you want to be to home, which colleges are best for your selected major, and how many schools to apply and you will be on your way. Applying to a couple of the more prestigious schools is a good idea, but don’t let yourself get carried away and think realistically. Princeton, Brown, and MIT would be great places to attend but the odds are clearly against gaining a letter of acceptance. For More Educational Reading, Click on the Links Below: Advice on College Admissions: Choosing a College or University How to Help Your Child Choose a College How to Apply to College Should I Transfer Schools? Should I Take Time Off? Should I Go to Grad School? How to Create a Resume for a New Graduate How Many Schools Should I Apply To? Advice on College Life: College Survival Tips What is College Really Like? What I Should Know About Dealing with College Roommates What Should I Know About Greek Life in College? What I Should Know About Alcohol Abuse in College What I Should Know About Spring Break Planning What Should I Bring to School How Can I Succeed in College Academics? How to Manage Your Time How Should I Deal With Tough Times in School? How Should I Prepare for Life After Graduation? Advice on College Finances: Should I Take a Part Time Job? How to Pay Off Student Loans How to Manage Your Budget How to Negotiate Financial Aid Packages How to Apply for Financial Aid Reviews of Test Prep Materials, Services, and "How To": 800Score.com How to Take the GMAT How to Take the GRE Kaplan GMAT On- Line Course Princeton Review GMAT On- Line Course Reviews of Specific Universities: Wright State University University of Dayton  |
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