Hey folks, I'm in the process of creating my college list and was wondering, does anyone know which colleges or universities get the most applications each year, both public and private? It would be really helpful to know as it might affect my choices.
It's a smart idea to take into account the popularity of the colleges on your list, as this may somewhat reflect their degree of selectivity. Also remember, though, that a high number of applicants doesn't necessarily mean that a college is the best fit for you, so always consider a range of characteristics when creating your list.
That being said, the institutions that typically receive the highest number of applications fluctuate from year to year. However, on the public side, the University of California system consistently sees high application numbers. In particular, UCLA typically leads the pack, with over 140,000 undergraduate applications in past years. UC San Diego, UC Irvine, and UC Berkeley also receive loads of applications.
On the private side, New York University has been known to receive a very high amount of applications, frequently exceeding 80,000. Furthermore, the Boston University, University of Southern California, and Northeastern University have also been known to attract a high number of prospective students.
Keep in mind that these figures represent overall applications and not admit rates. A school with a high number of applications may still have a high or low admit rate depending on the number of spots they have available. It's also important to remain mindful of the institution's fit with your academic interests, financial situation, and overall lifestyle preferences when building your college list.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.