How Many College Applications Are Enough?

I want to start filling out college applications now so I won't have to do it during the school year. Everyone says it will be a breeze for me to get into college, as I'm always on the honor roll and have good SAT scores. But I hear that loads of good students aren't getting into the schools that they want. How many schools should I apply to? -- Future College Student
Answer: It is definitely true that getting into college is now more competitive. Unfortunately, there is no agreement on how many colleges students should apply to. The optimal number seems to range from three to 10. However, some admissions people say that you should apply to as many colleges as you want. One thing that you need to consider is the cost. Application fees for each college range from $50 to $100, although some financial help may be available to you. Another thing that you have to think about is time. You can't just dash off an essay in a few minutes, and some schools require several essays. And the overall quality of your application definitely counts.
The application process can be made simpler if you apply to colleges accepting the Common Application. This lets you fill out just one application and submit it to several schools. Some Common Application colleges, however, do require the submission of supplemental forms.
The most important thing is to apply to a range of colleges. First of all, you must choose one or more that you are almost certain will accept you. This is just common sense. Some students include a community college in this category. Then you can choose one or more schools that you really like and have a fairly good (75 percent) chance of acceptance. Finally, there are what are called the "stretch" or "reach" schools, where your chance of getting in might be quite low. This includes Ivy League and other top-tier schools that you may wish to include on your list.