First kid, one ED and done.

Second kid will probably do three or four, has the stats for the first choice which does not offer ED, will do a few others to be safe.

More than that seems strange to me. Are people not doing the research and narrowing down the picks before applying?

2025: 9 schools including two schools abroad, will attend in-state public

in at 4 (safety, target, and both int'l), WL at 1 (target/reach) rejected at 4 (reaches)

7 and 6

2023 12 (high stats kid-2 rejection, 2 WL, 8 acceptances)

2025 7 (low stats kid-2 rejection, 5 acceptances)

1. Recruited athlete.

2022 D: 7 (accepted 5, waitlisted 2)
2025 D: 10 (accepted 4, waitlisted 4, rejected 2)
2025 S: 8 (accepted 5, waitlisted 1, rejected 2)

SCEA 1 and done

2025 grad. Applied to 6. Accepted at 3. Waitlisted at 3. Rejected at 0.

If you choose well, there’s no need to apply to many.

We cap at 10. The main purpose is to cut intra school competition, preventing one top kid getting acceptance from all ivies.

Among 10, there must be at least 5 safeties and targets.

Class of 2025: one rolling (so had admission to safety in hand), two EAs, one ED.

If you build your list thoughtfully, there is no reason to apply to more than 12.

Our public school counselors say 20, but it’s a true middle-class school so a lot of kids are negotiating financial aid offers.

10 is too many unless you're reaching.

20 even

2022 MCPS grad: 11 (accepted 8, WL 3)
2024 MCPS grad: 1 (recruited athlete, ED)

My 2027 MCPS grad will likely end up applying to 10-12.

Curious how many colleges kids are applying to ? Our private college counselor is saying 10- this seems low to me.