How many colleges should I apply to?

The school year is under way, and our students are hard at work! Seniors are submitting college applications, while sophomores and juniors are learning about careers that are a good fit, preparing for the SAT & ACT, and researching colleges. It is a very busy (and exciting) time!

In looking back at our results from last year's seniors, I was struck once again by how critical it was for our students to apply to the right number and the right balance of schools.

Today, let's revisit the importance of the college list and why having the right schools can make a huge difference.

As most of you have heard me say many times by now, we recommend applying to 8-10 schools. Why so many? Let's start by taking a look at some interesting numbers:

On average, our students who applied to 8 or more schools versus those who applied to only 5 schools ended up with more than double the number of acceptance letters and nearly $8,000 more from each school.

Students who applied to only 5 schools could expect to pay $23,429 per year at their #1 school ... while students who applied to at least 8 schools had significantly lower out-of-pocket costs at just $17,087.

But remember, it's not just about having the right number of schools. Having the right balance of schools is equally important.

Your final college list should include a mix of public and private schools, some with a good track record of offering students generous need-based aid and merit aid. Different schools take different approaches to the financial aid process, so applying to a variety of schools means you have a better chance of seeing a variety of offers. A variety of offers can make a difference during the negotiation process.

We also encourage you to think about schools' difficulty of admission when finalizing your list. Ideally, your final list will include 2-3 safe options, 4-5 solid matches, and 1-3 reach schools, based on your GPA and test scores. (More on this next week!)

Ultimately, our goal is to help you maximize your financial aid opportunities while finding the college that's the best match for your career goals.

Let's have a wonderful school year!

Erin, Director of Student Services