Whether you have one dream school or many options, you probably know that you need to send out a few college applications. But how many should you send, and is it possible to send too many?

The ideal number of applications ranges from 5 to 12, depending on who you ask. The Common Application allows for up to twenty applications at one time, most sources agree that twenty is probably more than necessary.

The reality is that there’s no magic number, but there are some ways to maximize the potential of your applications, regardless of how many you send out.

Here are some tips to help you apply to all the right schools, whether you apply to three or twenty.

Consider the cost

Everyone knows that college is expensive, but even applying to college comes with a hefty price tag. It’s important to have a budget when sending out applications.

Some colleges don't charge application fees, and some students will qualify for fee waivers.

However, the majority of schools require application fees, which are:

• Between $50-90 per application on average.
• $100 or more for elite or private universities.

Even if your budget allows for unlimited applications or you qualify for application fee waivers, college applications have other associated costs. If you’re serious about a school, you should try to visit the campus, and depending on the location relative to you, that could mean some serious travel expenses.

In the end, the application fees and travel costs will be just a small fraction of your actual college expenses, which is why it’s important to take the process seriously. The number of applications you send should be a balance between your budget and your desire for options.

Balance your list

Even if you have one dream school, and you’ve successfully planned all of your high school studies with that school as your goal, you should still consider applying to a few additional schools.

Most experts group college applications into four types: dream schools, good matches, reaches, and safety schools.

Unless you're willing to forgo attending university or you're accepted to your dream school, it's a good idea to have a few of each kind on your application list.

💖 Dream schools

Dream schools are usually the school or schools that an individual applicant hopes to attend.

• A dream school should match your academic goals, as well as ideals for social and living situations.
• You should feel passionate and excited about attending your dream school(s).

For most students, their dream school comes with some potential hurdles – grades, tuition fees, distance, or competitive programs.

It's okay to have more than one dream school on your list, but you should balance that with good matches and safety schools.

🤝 Good matches

Good match schools are options with programs that fit your academic goals and have reasonable admission and tuition requirements that align with your grades and budget.

When it comes to good matches, you should:

• Be reasonably confident that you'll be admitted to your good match schools.
• Feel positive about attending.

A good match school might not meet all of your criteria for a dream school, but it shouldn't leave you feeling disappointed if you're accepted.

Most of your application list should be made up of good match schools.

🛟 Safety schools

Safety schools are schools where you're very likely to be admitted.

You may not feel particularly enthusiastic about the location, or perhaps you would have to change the focus of your major, but attending a safety school shouldn't leave you without career options.

Make sure your list includes 1-2 safety schools so that you know you'll have options.

🚀 Reach schools

A reach school is one that you know is probably out of your reach, either because you don't meet the admission requirements or because the tuition fees are outside your budget.

You don't have to include any reach schools on your list, but a reach school might also be a dream school, and including 1 or 2 on your list might lead to an amazing surprise.

If you do get accepted to a reach school, but don't think you'll be able to afford tuition or living expenses, remember that there are lots of scholarships available!

Find your specialty

If you're set on your major but unsure where to study, try to find schools that offer programs that are specific to your interests.

For example:

• Most universities offer history courses, but not all have faculty and courses dedicated to Cold War espionage.
• Maybe you're a budding documentary filmmaker who wants to major in film studies with a minor in geology. In that case, a school with a strong media studies and science department would be an excellent choice.

Whatever it is you want to study, take the time to do a bit of research and find the best school for your academic and career goals. Specialty schools could be either good-match schools or safety schools. Or one may just be your dream school.

Listen to the experts

There’s no formula or algorithm for determining the correct number of college applications, but most college admissions officers advise students to apply to a minimum of 5 schools and a maximum of 12.

💡 Your list should include at least 1 dream school and 2 each of good-match and safety schools.

Admissions experts also warn against applying to too many schools. Apart from the expense and time constraints, applicants who apply to too many schools are unlikely to have the ability to consider seriously all their applications, let alone the potential flood of acceptance letters.

It's better to do thorough research on a few schools than to apply a scatter-shot method and end up in a school or program that offers little more than a degree.

Conclusion

In the end, it’s about keeping a level head. College applications are stressful, and some colleges and universities can be very competitive. But the reality is that the majority of colleges accept a large percentage of their applicants, and as long as you make a few, well-informed applications, it’s very likely that you’ll be accepted to one or more suitable schools. So take a deep breath, spend some time researching, and make a list that’s right for you. And don’t forget to take some chances - you never know where you might end up!

Read more:

• When Are College Applications Due?
• An Admissions Officer's Top Tips For Applying to University
• Study in the USA: A Complete Guide