How many colleges should I apply to 2023?
Asked by: Vicky Towne | Last update: January 12, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (16 votes)
There is no magic number, but five to eight applications are usually enough to ensure that a student is accepted into a suitable institution (depending, of course, on the individual student's record and circumstances). This number should be made up of a combination of “safety,” “match,” and “reach” colleges.
Is 12 colleges too many to apply to?
That said, most college admissions experts recommend submitting 8-12 college applications to create a balanced and effective list. This range allows you to diversify your options while avoiding the pitfalls of applying to too many schools.
What is a reasonable number of colleges to apply to?
College applications: How many should you complete? We recommend that you apply to 5-10 colleges. It's important to remember that each application takes a lot of time. Between your classes, exams, extracurricular activities, and social events, applying to more than 10 schools could create unnecessary stress.
Is applying to 20 colleges too much?
Even the Common Application recognizes this and only lets students apply to a maximum of 20 colleges. However, many students get around this by creating multiple Common Application accounts. But when it comes to making smart application choices, even 20 colleges is too many to apply to.
Is applying to 10 colleges enough?
In general, most students apply to between 8 and 12 colleges. This is a good range to aim for, provided that the applications you submit represent a broad variety of colleges. Ideally, you want to apply to at least two safety, four target, and two reach schools.
extracurricular activities that top colleges DO/DON'T want to see
What is the top 10 rule when applying for college?
Texas House Bill 588, commonly referred to as the "Top 10% Rule", is a Texas law passed in 1997. It was signed into law by then governor George W. Bush on May 20, 1997. The law guarantees Texas students who graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class automatic admission to all state-funded universities.
Is it OK to apply to 5 colleges?
The closest thing to a one-size-fits-all recommendation on how many schools to put on your list is five to eight. That range, according to The College Board, is “usually enough to ensure that a student is accepted into a suitable institution.” College Board also notes that “there is no magic number.”
Is applying to only three colleges bad?
The College Board recommends that high school seniors narrow down their application list to five to eight schools. It's okay to stray a little outside this range, but as a general rule of thumb you should aim to reach those numbers because sending more than ten applications can have drastic consequences.
How many colleges does the average person apply to?
Most students still submit fewer than five applications, the Common App finds. But a growing handful submits as many as 20. Students send in more college applications today than they did eight years ago, according to a Common Application analysis released Monday.
Is it bad to apply to 16 colleges?
As you consider the advice I've shared, you can see that most students are going to want to create a college list with between 9 to 16 schools, total, and students who really want to boost their X-Factor are typically going to apply to 16 to 20+ schools, balanced across a range: 6–8 Reach Schools. 4–6 Target Schools.
How many universities should I apply to in Canada?
So, how many schools should you apply to? While there is no exact formula or a perfect number of schools to submit your applications to, most students apply to 4-8 universities.
What if I want to apply to more than 20 colleges?
If you want to apply to more than 20 schools, you have a few options: 1. Coalition Application: Some schools accept the Coalition Application in addition to or instead of the Common App. You can use the Coalition App to apply to schools that accept it, saving your Common App slots for other colleges.
How many times does the average student change their major during college?
First of all, it's extremely common to not know what you're going to major in at college. About 80% of students change their major at least once and, on average, students change their major up to three times in their college careers.
What is the ideal number of colleges to apply to?
Overall, you should be applying to around fifteen colleges; fewer than if you were applying to the most competitive schools, but still a significant time investment. Again, this is about managing risk more than anything.
When should you start applying for colleges?
Simply put: You'll apply to colleges in 12th grade, and it's a good idea to be ready to apply by Nov. 1 of your senior year.
Is 15 too many colleges to apply to?
15 should be fine, especially if you have a lot of reaches. The average number of colleges applied to just exceeded 10 last year. For students aiming for T20s, you often need to cast a wide net. For example, I had a student last year who got into Stanford, Penn, Cornell, UCLA, UCB, and Georgetown.
Is 10 colleges too many to apply to?
If you do the necessary research before you apply, you should be able to limit your list of schools to 15 or fewer. Honestly, anything more than 10 feels excessive to me, but I understand that some students are capable of applying to more and want to give themselves more options.
Which colleges get the most applications?
1. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): Notably one of the most applied-to colleges, with more than 140,000 applicants per year on average. 2. University of California, San Diego (UCSD): Also attracts a high volume of applicants, in the range of 130,000.
Is 7 colleges enough to apply to?
Narrowing the List. By the end of junior year, students should have five to 10 colleges under consideration. This allows for some flexibility in choice of major, career plans, and potential financial aid or scholarship options.
Can colleges see how many colleges you apply to?
They cannot see other schools to which you are applying. Once you submit an application to a school, that school will have access to all the information on the specific application.
Do most colleges accept a 3?
Generally, more selective universities often require a score of 4 or 5 to grant credit, while less selective schools may be flexible and accept a 3. You should look up the AP credit policy of each college on your list to see their specific requirements.
Why do kids apply to so many colleges?
Applying for college has become much more competitive in the past two decades. Just because you meet a school's minimum entrance criteria does not guarantee you an acceptance letter. Applying to multiple schools increases your chances of acceptance and good financial aid packages.
How many colleges can you apply to in Canada?
You can select up to 5 program choices on your application, with a maximum of 3 choices for any single college. It's not possible to pay extra or to submit a second application for more choices.
How many colleges should I apply to early action?
You can apply to as many schools EA as you'd like, and you're under no obligation to attend if you're accepted.
Is 6 colleges enough to apply to?
Although there is no right number, most students stick to 6-12 colleges. You'll have enough options in this range without making the process too stressful. If you apply to too few schools, you might limit your choices, but applying to too many can take up too much time and energy.