Colleges with the Highest Number of Applications?

Just out of curiosity, and maybe to temper my expectations, I'm wondering if there's a list somewhere of the colleges that get the most applications. Could help me understand the competitiveness better!

Sure, it's a good approach to understanding the level of competition. The number of applications a college receives can indeed contribute to its selectiveness, though keep in mind that "selectiveness" often considers multiple factors such as GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and essays, not just the raw number of applications.

But to answer your question, here are some universities that typically receive among the highest number of applications each year:

1. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

2. University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

3. University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)

4. University of California, Irvine (UCI)

5. University of Southern California (USC)

6. New York University (NYU)

7. University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

8. University of California, Davis (UC Davis)

9. California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)

You'll notice the University of California (UC) schools and Cal State schools consistently have high application numbers, largely due to their large size and the fact that they serve a high-density population area: California. However, these application numbers can fluctuate each year, and it's important to also get a sense of the acceptance rates of colleges you're considering.