What's the Most Applied To College in the US?

Hey all, I'm starting my college apps soon and I was wondering, do we know which college gets the most applications each year? I'm trying to gauge how competitive certain schools might be.

The university that consistently receives the most applications each year is the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). For the 2023-2024 application cycle, UCLA received over 160,000 applications, marking it as the most applied-to four-year university in the nation. That said, it's important to note that a high number of applications doesn't directly correlate with the quality of education or fit for you personally.

While it's useful to keep an eye on the competitiveness of schools, remember to focus on finding schools that match your academic and personal interests, as well as your goals for the future. Competitiveness of admission should certainly factor into your considerations but finding a good match for you will make your college experience more fulfilling in the end. You might look at academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, campus culture, location, and financial aid practices to help narrow down your list.

While UCLA, and other competitive schools, have a large applicant pool, remember each application is reviewed individually. Admissions officers look at factors like GPA, rigor of coursework, essays, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. Students who stand out in these areas, even in large applicant pools, often have a good chance of admission. Also, consider applying a mix of reach, target, and safety schools to give yourself a range of options.