4 or 5 VA public's. Not UVA, it's an unrealistic reach.

9
2 safeties
4 targets
3 reaches

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only issue I have is that your kid basically ruins the chances for other kids when they submit a throwaway to a place like VT it JMU or some other state school.
There isn’t a reasonable reason to apply to more than ten schools because after that pint, you can’t tell me that he would rather go to number 12, 13, 14 if he got into any of 1-10.
And 1-10 should include a balance of reach, target, and backup. (3-2-2….or 2-3-2)

With yield protection, safeties don’t exist.

State schools do not usually yield protect. It doesn't make sense for them to. (I know privates do)

Anonymous wrote:The only issue I have is that your kid basically ruins the chances for other kids when they submit a throwaway to a place like VT it JMU or some other state school.
There isn’t a reasonable reason to apply to more than ten schools because after that pint, you can’t tell me that he would rather go to number 12, 13, 14 if he got into any of 1-10.
And 1-10 should include a balance of reach, target, and backup. (3-2-2….or 2-3-2)

I answered above. My kid applied to 20. I agree with comment though I think we approached it in a different way. I felt like my kid only needed one true safety, which he was happy to attend, and a small number of likelies. His likelies were private so I do think you need to worry about yield protection, so he had 4. All the rest were reaches. Given the lottery ticket experience, if you are willing to do the work and willing to be rejected, I don't think there is anything wrong with this approach. I wish the system were different but given what it is, why no?

So far 11

4 reach (3 EA, 1 Ivy ED)
Have an ED2 plan not included yet but ready

2 target EA

5 EA likely. already in at 2 of those, and waiting on a 3rd auto admit

Will probably add 3-5 reach RD

So, will end with 15-17 if ED1 is a no.

To be honest don't waste time on more than 2 safeties.

DC ended up applying to 4 safeties and was admitted into all 4 - Knox, HWS, Allegheny and Gettysburg. Regretted later on wasting time / slot.

13 total. 7 in so far.
2- EA safeties
3- EA targets
1- EA reach
2- RD targets
5 - RD reaches. Several are very long shots.

Ten on the list, then did some with free applications.

Anonymous wrote:The only issue I have is that your kid basically ruins the chances for other kids when they submit a throwaway to a place like VT it JMU or some other state school.
There isn’t a reasonable reason to apply to more than ten schools because after that pint, you can’t tell me that he would rather go to number 12, 13, 14 if he got into any of 1-10.
And 1-10 should include a balance of reach, target, and backup. (3-2-2….or 2-3-2)

With yield protection, safeties don’t exist.

Applying widely to see how costs shake out:

4 reaches
6 targets
3 likelies

11 for DC:
1 safety (already admitted);
1 reach ED;
1 target EA;
3 reach EA;
2 target RD;
3 reach RD.

9 total: 3 safeties, 3 targets, and 3 hard target/reaches.

DC applied to 10 total - 8 public and 2 private, 8 EA or rolling and 2 RD because they do not offer EA. It was supposed to be just 9 but after finishing them DC decided to throw a last minute Hail Mary at one more reach because why not. It’ll be a no, which won’t upset her that much, but she can say she tried.

Anonymous wrote:

That sounds about right if a bunch are reaches.

It sounds like random prestige hunting as it's unlikely those schools have much in common, unless only applying for CS or engineering.

OP here. The public strategy made sense to me. 2 are safeties (SUNYs), one a likely (McGill) and 3 are tough OOS admits. His GC said there seems to be almost no rhyme or reason to who Mich, UVA, and UNC accept with similar stats, so try them all. Okay.

The privates are where I think DC should cut down. He's got a big-reach ED, Northeastern for no supplement, and then 6 others around 12% - 18% acceptance rates. He claims to like them all a lot, though, for different reasons. Still, it seems like a crazy amount of work, for what exactly?

The first application is the most difficult, then after that it's much easier. DS has applied to 8 schools ED/EA, and will apply to 6 more either ED2 or RD.