Over-Applying to College Could Mean Lower Admission Odds
Posted 11 Mar, 2008
Though your student may not think so, it is much easier to apply to college now than ever before. Gone are the days of
filing and mailing each application individually. The advent of the Common Application and, new this year, the Universal College Application, means students can apply to over 300 schools with just one application. In fact, almost every school in the country now accepts online applications.
With the process simplified, more and more students are taking advantage of the new application ease-but some may be taking it too far.
Over-Applying
The Star Tribune recently printed an article about this increase in college application volume, in which the author stated that “the idea of a double-digit list of schools is a lot less unusual than it used to be.”
Many students hope to widen their options by applying to 10, 12, or even more schools-but this may not be the way to go.
Higher Numbers, Lower Odds?
Colleges are beginning to catch on to this excess application process, and it could affect students negatively as colleges see more of it. Highly selective colleges already look for students who have shown interest in their school long before submitting an application (as soon as a student takes the PSAT or PLAN.) They want to admit students who not only fit their freshman profile but also have a strong desire to attend that college. Arbitrarily applying to a dozen schools may not be the best way to get admitted if it appears the student isn’t focused on a particular outcome.
One way a school gets a clue about how many schools are on a student’s list is through the federal student aid application (the FAFSA), which every student should submit. Each school can see the other schools in which the student is interested, and if there are too many schools, a college could assume that the student isn’t serious about attending their institution.
The Right Numbers
To both open up options and keep their odds good, students should ideally apply to less than ten colleges total-a few “safety” schools, a few “target” schools, and a few “reach” schools. Keeping applications to around six to ten schools still gives the student a chance to look at alternatives while still appearing to be seriously considering each college.
And remember, applying to competing colleges can sometimes give you leverage to get a better financial aid award!
All the best,
Deborah Fox
Deborah Fox is the founder of Fox College Funding, a nationwide company that helps families find creative ways to reduce their college costs.
photo: crowd in park 1 by John Nyberg
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Though your student may not think so, it is much easier to apply to college now than ever before. Gone are the days of filing and mailing each application individually. The advent of the Common Application and, new this year, the Universal College Application, means students can apply to over 300 schools with just one application. In fact, almost every school in the country now accepts online applications.
With the process simplified, more and more students are taking advantage of the new application ease-but some may be taking it too far.
Over-Applying
The Star Tribune recently printed an article about this increase in college application volume, in which the author stated that “the idea of a double-digit list of schools is a lot less unusual than it used to be.”
Many students hope to widen their options by applying to 10, 12, or even more schools-but this may not be the way to go.
Higher Numbers, Lower Odds?
Colleges are beginning to catch on to this excess application process, and it could affect students negatively as colleges see more of it. Highly selective colleges already look for students who have shown interest in their school long before submitting an application (as soon as a student takes the PSAT or PLAN.) They want to admit students who not only fit their freshman profile but also have a strong desire to attend that college. Arbitrarily applying to a dozen schools may not be the best way to get admitted if it appears the student isn’t focused on a particular outcome.
One way a school gets a clue about how many schools are on a student’s list is through the federal student aid application (the FAFSA), which every student should submit. Each school can see the other schools in which the student is interested, and if there are too many schools, a college could assume that the student isn’t serious about attending their institution.
The Right Numbers
To both open up options and keep their odds good, students should ideally apply to less than ten colleges total-a few “safety” schools, a few “target” schools, and a few “reach” schools. Keeping applications to around six to ten schools still gives the student a chance to look at alternatives while still appearing to be seriously considering each college.
And remember, applying to competing colleges can sometimes give you leverage to get a better financial aid award!
All the best,
Deborah Fox
Deborah Fox is the founder of Fox College Funding, a nationwide company that helps families find creative ways to reduce their college costs.
photo: crowd in park 1 by John Nyberg
Subscribe in a reader
Subscribe by Email
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