Which are the most applied-to universities?

I'm a high school junior trying to finalize my college list, and I'm curious about the universities that receive the most applications. Does applying to these schools increase chances due to higher acceptance rates, or do they remain ultra-competitive?

A few universities tend to receive a very high number of applications due to their reputations and broad appeal. A few that typically make this list include New York University (NYU), University of Southern California (USC), and several schools in the University of California (UC) system such as UC Los Angeles (UCLA) and UC Berkeley.

The number of applicants a school receives doesn't necessarily dictate the competitiveness of the admissions process. In fact, often the opposite occurs, as these heavily-applied-to universities are renowned and hence have a large applicant pool, but the number of accepted students remains relatively stable. Therefore, they tend to have lower acceptance rates, and admissions can be more competitive, not less.

However, don't let this deter you from applying if you feel you're a good fit for these schools. It's ultimately about finding the best match for your academic interests, career goals, and personal fit. It can be advantageous to apply to a mix of 'safety', 'target', and 'reach' schools. This approach enables you to both dream big and ensure you have secure options in your college list.