How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?

If you’re applying to colleges this year, you might be wondering how many colleges you should apply to — the answer is that it varies by applicant. We’ll break it all down.

Introduction

Creating your college list is an important step in every student’s college admissions journey, which is why many students and parents have questions about how to do it “correctly.” The truth is that it is not a one-size-fits-all process.

The goal is to create a balanced college list with reach schools, target schools, and likely/safety schools tailored to the student’s profile and goals. There is no set number of schools a student should apply to — many students end up applying to only one and are immediately ready to accept the offer, and some circumvent the process altogether through programs like direct admission. But nowadays, with the ease and efficiency of the Common App, many students end up applying to 20-30 colleges, even tacking on new schools with no supplemental essays right before they finally hit submit. 

So, how many colleges should you apply to? We’ll break down all the factors to consider.

Why There Is No Perfect Number of Colleges

If you’ve asked, “How many colleges should I apply to?” before, whether you’ve asked your college counselor or simply Googled it, you’ve probably gotten a variety of answers. A common rule of thumb is usually to have five reach schools, ten target schools, and five safety schools. CollegeBoard recommends a number on the lower end, like 5-8 schools total, whereas college counselors often say students, especially those with strong academic and extracurricular profiles, have lists of 20+ schools. 

If you haven’t gathered from this wide range of advice, there is no perfect number of schools to apply to, and it’s highly unlikely that two students will have the exact same college list (or, if they do, the same process for arriving at that list). Every student is looking for something different in the college search, so the number of college applications that they need to submit will, naturally, be different. 

A Practical College List Structure

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a college list, there are a few strategies that most (if not all) students can employ to create a strong list. First, you’ll want to find the statistics for the last admitted class, specifically the acceptance rate as well as the mid-50 for test scores and GPA. This will give you an idea of the typical accepted applicant and how you compare against them — Niche.com is a great resource that will allow you to do this quickly and efficiently.

Once you have an idea of the typical accepted student and how you compare against them, you’ll want to categorize each potential school into one of three categories:

• Reach Schools. These are the schools with exceptionally low acceptance rates (under 10-15%) and/or places where the average accepted applicant’s profile exceeds your own. Extremely competitive schools, such as Ivy League schools, MIT, and Stanford, will fall into this category for every student, even if your profile is on the high end of the spectrum for GPA and standardized test scores.
• Target Schools. These are schools that match your profile well — for instance, you might not be the most competitive applicant, but you fall somewhere in the middle of the accepted applicants’ statistics. For many students, these are schools where the acceptance rates range from 20-60%, but that can vary widely depending on a student’s profile.
• Safety Schools. Also known as likely schools, these are schools where your statistics exceed those of the average applicant. For many students, this might be a state school where the acceptance rate is 80%+, but again, this can vary widely.

Once you have each of your potential schools categorized this way, see how you can balance the list. Many students start out with too many reach schools and need to add more safety schools that would still meet their school preference. It is usually wise for the target schools category to be the largest, or at least larger than the reach schools category.

Why Applying to Too Few Colleges Can Be Risky

It may seem somewhat obvious, but if you apply to too few colleges, you risk ending up at a school that is, ultimately, not a good fit, and/or you could end up rushing at the last minute to apply to schools with rolling admission just so you have somewhere to go in the fall.

Don’t put yourself in that position — ensure you balance your college list and give yourself a wide range of options. Also, you might be surprised about the schools that are most appealing to you once admissions decisions finally come out. Many schools can offer scholarships and programs that you didn’t initially know about that can make the student experience more enticing. But protect yourself by building a robust college list!

Why Applying to Too Many Colleges Can Hurt

On the flip side of that, applying to too many colleges can stretch you then over the course of your college application process. Even if the Common Application has streamlined the process of applying to multiple schools, you still often need to complete supplemental essays and complete adequate research on the school, which takes time. 

This can take time and focus away from your applications for your top-choice schools and disadvantage you in the long run. Even if you do end up getting admitted to a large number of schools, you might’ve missed out on special programs and scholarships because you were rushing to get all of your applications finished. Don’t overwhelm yourself unnecessarily; plan ahead so you can work efficiently during a stressful time.

How to Decide Whether a College Belongs on Your List

When you’re looking for your best-fit schools in your college application process, it’s important to identify whether or not a school belongs on your list at all. Here are some initial questions you can ask when making this decision that, if the answer is no, should take that college off your list.

• Would you be comfortable living in the area where the school is located?
• Is the school a financial fit, i.e., can you afford tuition upfront, or would you require financial aid, student loans, or merit-based aid? If the latter, is that feasible for your financial needs?
• Does the school offer programs in your desired major/subject?
• Is the campus culture a fit? For instance, if you’re dead-set on joining Greek Life, you won’t want to attend a school that doesn’t have fraternities and sororities.
• Do they offer adequate career resources for your possible profession?

Once you’ve ruled out these important questions, then you can get more into the details to determine whether that school is a fit. Not all schools on your list need to be perfect match schools — they just need to clear the bar of being a college you could feasibly attend, afford, and enjoy.

How to Use Admissions Data Correctly

The college admissions process is full of numbers — acceptance rates, mid-50 test scores, GPA ranges, and more. How can you use all of this school data to your advantage as an applicant?

The key is to use admissions data as a guide, not a guarantee. Acceptance rates can help you understand how selective a school is, while GPA and test score ranges can give you a sense of how your academic profile compares with recently admitted students, as described in a previous section. However, these numbers don’t tell the whole story, especially when schools practice holistic admissions. 

Instead of focusing on whether you meet a specific “average,” use admissions data to build a balanced college list. Flip the script — how does this school fit what you’re looking for in a college experience? Look for schools where your academic profile is competitive, but don’t rule out a school simply because your numbers fall outside its typical range. By doing so, these statistics are just one tool on your applicant toolbelt and not a prediction of your admissions outcome.

Special Situations That May Require More Applications

There are certain circumstances that could justify applying to a larger number of colleges. If you find yourself in any of these situations, you might consider widening your application net to ensure that you have ample opportunities:

• Competitive Programs: If you’re applying to particularly competitive programs, such as those in the Ivy League or top-tier public universities, casting a wider net can increase your acceptance odds. For example, programs in fields like aerospace engineering, medicine (especially BS/MD programs), or drama can be highly selective, with acceptance rates well below average, so applying to more schools can be a strategic move.
• Uncertainty in Major:  When you’re undecided about your major or interested in a diverse range of programs, applying to schools that offer strong departments in your areas of interest can be beneficial. This allows flexibility should your academic focus shift during your college journey.
• Financial Aid Concerns: Different schools offer varying levels of financial aid, and not all packages will meet your financial needs. By applying to more colleges, you increase your chances of receiving offers that are financially possible.
• Geographic Preferences: Should you have geographic flexibility but no specific location in mind, you can create a list that gives you lots of options once it comes time to pick a school. It really does matter where your school is located — you’ll be living in that town for four years!

When a Smaller College List May Be Enough

Sometimes, having a smaller, more focused college list is the move for certain students. For example, this might be true for student athletes that might only be getting recruited by a handful of specialized schools. Students who are very likely (i.e., they received a likely letter from the school) to get accepted via Early Decision might have a short initial college list, but make sure you’re not in a position where you need to add a bunch of new applications in mid-December.

A small college list is often the result of focused, strategic planning that takes place well before your senior year. If you’re not sure if that is the right move for you, consult your college counselor during your junior year so you have ample time to adjust if needed.

Common College-List Mistakes

Many students make the same mistakes during their senior year college search, including:

• Only considering college rankings. Just because a school is well-regarded in national and international college rankings doesn’t make it a good fit. For instance, a student who would thrive at a larger state school like UT Austin might not be as successful at a smaller Ivy League. Don’t be swayed by the power of a name or low admission rates!
• Not considering a school’s financial aid resources. It can be tempting to go into substantial debt just to finance your dream school because they don’t offer great financial aid packages. Don’t — and you’ll thank yourself later. At the very least, consider additional financial resources such as outside scholarships and Pell Grants over student loans.
• Not utilizing Early Decision and Early Action programs effectively. Early admission programs are the way to go in the college admissions process. Curious about how they work? Read our blog post on the topic.
• Applying to schools across multiple application platforms. Many schools use either the Common App or Coalition App, but just as many schools do not. Each platform usually has its own standards and requirements, so make sure you’re aware of each before adding a school to your list.

How H&C Education Helps Students Build a Strategic College List

At H&C, we help students create a strategy for college applications that stand out from the crowd and get students closer to reaching their goals. All of our consultants are Ivy League graduates who have not only have gone through the admissions process themselves but have worked with many students with a wide variety of passions and strengths.

When it comes to the college list, every H&C college counselor knows that that is the first step in a successful application process. We begin that work early on in students’ high school careers so once students are facing pressing application deadlines, they’re certain of the direction of their application strategy. And the results speak for themselves: our proven strategies have helped 98% of our students gain acceptance to one of their top three best-fit schools.

Final Thoughts: Apply to Enough Colleges, Not Every College

Every student’s college admissions process looks different, even those that end up at the same school. While there isn’t one number of schools to which you should be applying, you can use the advice above to get a better handle on your own list and overall application strategy. Not all colleges are created equal, so there are many that you may have considered that won’t be a realistic fit. But if you’re clear on your own preferences and goals, you’ll end up exactly where you’re meant to be.

Looking for help with your college applications? Set up a free consultation with one of our experienced college admissions counselors.