Why do some students receive a high number of college acceptances?

Hey there, I was reading through some college acception stories recently and some students are being accepted to like, 15 or more colleges. I'm just confused - how does that work? Is there a specific strategy to apply to so many colleges and get accepted? Or is it just about being a super high-achieving student who could realistically get into whatever university they want? Definitely could use some insight into this.

Certainly, students who receive acceptances from a large number of colleges typically exhibit strong academic and extracurricular profiles that would make them attractive candidates at many institutions. This high-achieving nature definitely plays a significant role in the number of acceptances a student may receive.

However, a large number of college acceptances doesn't necessarily always correlate with the student being a superstar applicant. It often comes down to effective college application strategy. Students who apply to a "balanced list" of institutions, inclusive of safety, match, and reach schools are more likely to receive multiple acceptances.

Safety schools are colleges where the applicant’s qualifications exceed the average admitted student’s profile, making it likely they'll be accepted. Match schools are those schools where the applicant fits snugly into the university's average admitted student profile. And reach schools, as the name suggests, are aspirational—these are colleges where the applicant’s qualifications are below the average profile of an admitted student.

Applying Early Decision or Early Action at some colleges can also increase the odds of acceptance. However, Early Decision should be used strategically, because it is a binding decision and commits a student to attend if admitted.

Furthermore, students who apply to more colleges can also simply have a higher chance of acceptance based on numbers. Naturally, the probability of getting accepted grows with the total number of applications sent, assuming they're well-crafted. However, this doesn't necessarily mean students should apply to numerous colleges without consideration – application quantity should not replace quality. It's essential that every application is thoroughly crafted and given ample time to ensure its effectiveness.

From an application standpoint, a student should keep personal essays engaging, unique, and reflective of their personality. Successful students generally avoid common, cliche topics and focus on making their essays memorable. Another helpful strategy is to ensure strong letters of recommendation and a well-crafted resume demonstrating depth in a few key areas of interest.

Remember, the key is not to apply to as many colleges as possible, but rather to apply strategically to a balanced list of schools. Quality over quantity should always be the end goal.