how many college apps does your school allow/sanction?

[Anonymous]

For seniors applying from your public high school or private high school? Up to 6? 10? 12? Etc... Does the college counseling office restrict or strongly discourage applying to more than a certain number of colleges?

[Anonymous]

FCPS high school. As far as I know, unlimited apps are allowed. They stress to the kids that really, no more than a maximum of ten should be needed, but I don't think they put an actual cap on it.

[Anonymous]

Our guidance counselor recommended 8-10. I regret following that advice. It was a lot of work while child was trying to keep up with their schoolwork, have college interviews, etc.
It also made us consider schools we were somewhat lukewarm about. Oh, it it costs $ also (sending scores, application fees, visits).

I suggest you do 7: 2 reach, 3 target, and 2 safety. Use Naviance to keep you realistic. That is plenty.

My child--who is no superstar--has gotten into 5 already, and we have 3 more to hear from. That complicates the decision, and means we will be attending several "admitted students" days next month, while his high school is in session. 7 is plenty.

[Anonymous]

Ironically, a higher stats kid may need to apply to more schools than a lower stats kid to be assured of getting in anywhere. For a high stats kid, the schools that may be a “match” for his/her credentials may also have admit rates of 10% or less. Schools where his/her credentials are in the 75th percentile may still only have an admit rate of 15-20%. The only schools that are really “safe” might not have the level of peer group he/she is looking for. So it would be really hard for the high stats kid to pick 7 schools that they would both have a reasonable chance of getting into, and that they would be excited to attend.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is somewhat overqualified for their safety schools, or else they would be target schools. The idea is to get in somewhere that is an adequate fit. The perfect fit may be out of reach, but it can be in the mix/you can dream. If the child is disappointed, that is a lesson in itself. About managing expectations and making the best of how life worked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our guidance counselor recommended 8-10. I regret following that advice. It was a lot of work while child was trying to keep up with their schoolwork, have college interviews, etc.
It also made us consider schools we were somewhat lukewarm about. Oh, it it costs $ also (sending scores, application fees, visits).

I suggest you do 7: 2 reach, 3 target, and 2 safety. Use Naviance to keep you realistic. That is plenty.

My child--who is no superstar--has gotten into 5 already, and we have 3 more to hear from. That complicates the decision, and means we will be attending several "admitted students" days next month, while his high school is in session. 7 is plenty.

naviance must make race and recruiting status transparent if schools expect people to use it as a tool to accurately gauge the data.

i applied to 7 in 2001/2002. Today, my younger cousins and their friends are applying to 15-25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our guidance counselor recommended 8-10. I regret following that advice. It was a lot of work while child was trying to keep up with their schoolwork, have college interviews, etc.
It also made us consider schools we were somewhat lukewarm about. Oh, it it costs $ also (sending scores, application fees, visits).

I suggest you do 7: 2 reach, 3 target, and 2 safety. Use Naviance to keep you realistic. That is plenty.

My child--who is no superstar--has gotten into 5 already, and we have 3 more to hear from. That complicates the decision, and means we will be attending several "admitted students" days next month, while his high school is in session. 7 is plenty.

naviance must make race and recruiting status transparent if schools expect people to use it as a tool to accurately gauge the data.

i applied to 7 in 2001/2002. Today, my younger cousins and their friends are applying to 15-25.

This is true. The data in ours is all over the place. Without stats like race, recruits, course rigor, I can’t tell what’s what.

[Anonymous]

Our private school limits kids to 12 applications unless their are extenuating circumstances. DS#1 who was an average excellent student applied to 9 - in hindsight the results were within reason but not entirely predictable in that DS was accepted at a reach but not his most competitive reach. DS#2, who is not a candidate for colleges with a less than 20% acceptance rate, will likely only apply to 3 (a safety where he is a legacy, a match, and a reach).

[Anonymous]

My child applied to 9 and got into 8. We did not visit all of them until around now focusing on the more likely choices...and offered more aid. We were sort of amazed he got into 8! None were ivy league caliber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our guidance counselor recommended 8-10. I regret following that advice. It was a lot of work while child was trying to keep up with their schoolwork, have college interviews, etc.
It also made us consider schools we were somewhat lukewarm about. Oh, it it costs $ also (sending scores, application fees, visits).

I suggest you do 7: 2 reach, 3 target, and 2 safety. Use Naviance to keep you realistic. That is plenty.

My child--who is no superstar--has gotten into 5 already, and we have 3 more to hear from. That complicates the decision, and means we will be attending several "admitted students" days next month, while his high school is in session. 7 is plenty.

naviance must make race and recruiting status transparent if schools expect people to use it as a tool to accurately gauge the data.

i applied to 7 in 2001/2002. Today, my younger cousins and their friends are applying to 15-25.

This is true. The data in ours is all over the place. Without stats like race, recruits, course rigor, I can’t tell what’s what.

It is not that hard. For every green dot that is further down or left than the pack, assume there was some reason for it that might not apply to you.

[Anonymous]

Ironically, a higher stats kid may need to apply to more schools than a lower stats kid to be assured of getting in anywhere. For a high stats kid, the schools that may be a “match” for his/her credentials may also have admit rates of 10% or less. Schools where his/her credentials are in the 75th percentile may still only have an admit rate of 15-20%. The only schools that are really “safe” might not have the level of peer group he/she is looking for. So it would be really hard for the high stats kid to pick 7 schools that they would both have a reasonable chance of getting into, and that they would be excited to attend.

The idea that a kid with high stats can't find a "peer group" at a school with an admit rate over 20% is ridiculous.

DC's public school, to the limited extent they are involved, probably recommends no more than 10 applications My HS junior isn't interested in the process yet. I'll probably steer him towards schools where his stats are in the top 25% and with reasonably high admit rates (40%). He's probably not interested in reaches so he'll stick with 6 to 8 schools in the match range (including one safety).

[Anonymous]

My kid and kid's friends applied to 5-10. APS.

[Anonymous]

Every school is different. The right number depends on your kid:

Get it done in time for early action/rolling and you may get away with fewer.

Trying for elites and you have to do more.

I think seven to nine is plenty for your typical good student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child applied to 9 and got into 8. We did not visit all of them until around now focusing on the more likely choices...and offered more aid. We were sort of amazed he got into 8! None were ivy league caliber.

Our kid has the same story. Our best guess was he pulled together a nice package and made a big effort to make sure his recommenders were well-informed about his activities in and out of school.

[Anonymous]

this is one of the biggest problems. the common app should limit kids. it’s the only way to stop the insane acceptance rate trajectory. well, that and shutting down usnwr.