Common App Colleges: How Many & Which Ones?

Hey guys! I'm a junior in high school and starting to look into colleges on the Common App. I was wondering how many colleges should I consider applying to and what criteria I should consider when selecting them? Thanks in advance!

Hey there! You're off to a great start in thinking about your college list, and the Common App is a convenient way to apply to multiple schools. As for how many schools to apply to, a good rule of thumb is around 8-12 colleges, but this can vary based on your individual preferences. It's important to have a balanced mix of reach, match, and safety schools in your list:

1. Reach schools (2-4): These are colleges where your academic profile might be slightly below the admitted student average, making acceptance more competitive. However, they're still worth applying to if you're passionate about attending.

2. Match schools (3-5): These colleges align well with your academic profile, extracurricular achievements, and other application components. Your chances of acceptance are relatively strong.

3. Safety schools (2-3): These are institutions where your chances of acceptance are significantly higher because your academic profile and achievements exceed the typical admitted student.

When selecting colleges, consider the following criteria:

1. Location: Think about whether you prefer an urban, suburban, or rural setting; proximity to your hometown; and the surrounding area's climate, culture, and resources.

2. Size: Do you thrive in a small, close-knit community or prefer a larger campus with diverse opportunities? College sizes can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of students.

3. Academics: Research each college's offerings in your areas of interest, including specific programs or majors, research and internship opportunities, study abroad options, and class sizes.

4. Campus culture: Consider the social dynamic, extracurricular activities, sports, clubs, and Greek life to determine how well they align with your personality and passions.

5. Financial aid: Explore each school's affordability and financial aid packages using their Net Price Calculators. Keep note of whether the school is need-blind, meets full demonstrated need, or offers significant merit scholarships.

6. Graduation and retention rates: Investigate each college's graduation and retention rates to get an idea of students' overall success and satisfaction.

7. Career outcomes: Look into each college's career services, alumni network, and post-graduation outcomes to understand the support you'll have while entering the workforce or pursuing graduate studies.

Ultimately, choose colleges that align with your personal, academic, and financial goals. Good luck with your college search!