When a parent asks me “what’s the best number of schools for my kid to apply to?”, I often respond with a well-rehearsed, “anywhere between 8 to 12”. But as high as that number is, most parents aren’t surprised – it’s a number they’ve heard from other parents and in-school guidance counselors. And there are several reasons for this. But frankly, I wish for the students’ sake that I could say no more than 4.
I wish this because I remember my own experience as a high school senior, applying to a baker’s dozen of colleges and universities – it was my first encounter with the feeling of madness. Anyone reading this who applied to even 6+ schools at that age can probably relate. Granted, the Common App makes applying to 10+ colleges a lot easier, but we can’t forget all the extra work that goes into supplement essays and preparing for interviews. On top of a healthy, senior-level course load, applying for college is not easy.
In my work, I’ve found that most college-bound seniors (and their parents) are overwhelmed with so many applications (the essays especially). While there are many ways to simplify the process (again…especially with the essays), I nevertheless recommend that most students apply to no fewer than 8 schools. For the majority of students, it’s a wise strategy. Here are the reasons why:
- Applying to at least 2 desirable ‘safety schools’ – schools with a high likelihood of acceptance – ensures that your son or daughter will land somewhere. If you’re working with a good college counselor, you’ll find a host of excellent and reputable safety schools that excite and inspire your kid.
- Applying to at least 4 ‘reach’ schools, meanwhile, increases a student’s odds of being accepted to a very selective school (and all the benefits that come with that). The number is higher here, because the top 75-100 schools in the country can be quite unpredictable. Ambitious students often choose more.
- Applying to at least 2 ‘target’ schools – schools that are likely to accept, but not guaranteed – is like having a backup for the ‘reach’ schools. Again, a good college counselor will show you great target schools that are great fits for your kid.
- Lastly, applying to many schools has the surprising effect of increasing the likelihood of receiving “merit aid”, which may make tuition much more affordable for your family.
But what is a ‘merit scholarship’, and why does applying to so many schools increase your odds of receiving one?
Merit-aid is different from need-based aid, but to say that it’s solely about merit is a stretch. The best way to look at it is as a ‘discount’ – in fact, most admissions officers and college administrators look at it this way. Why are colleges offering discounts? Because they’re trying to increase their yield (# of students who enroll/# of students who are accepted), it’s a viable strategy to prevent one student from enrolling at a more selective school. Offering a discount in a “merit scholarship” box can convince families that our college (compared to those other colleges) is worth the price.
You might be asking yourself: how could an admissions office possibly know the price tag that will persuade me to choose their college over another? And how could they know the number of schools my son or daughter is applying to, let alone which schools?
The way that these ‘gift packages’ are doled out is complicated and fascinating. The short answer is: predictive modeling, data analytics, and a billion dollar consulting industry. For now, all you need to know is this: the more colleges you apply to, the better your chances of getting a great ‘discount’, (*ahem*), “merit scholarship”.
To better understand how merit aid scholarships work, and what the implications are for the college application process, see my next blog post.
Henrik Herb - Education Consultant 