A portion of the book, New Rules for College Admissions, states:
There is, however, a ratio that should be taken into consideration when deciding how many schools to apply to:
- 2 Dream schools
- 3 Just right schools
- 2 No problem schools
If you really want to apply to more dream schools, make sure you add another school to each of the other two categories, to maintain a balanced ratio. Based on my experience, seven is the ideal number of schools you can focus and complete the best applications possible. Completing fewer than five applications is too risky, in my opinion. And if students are completing more than ten applications, they are usually spreading themselves too thin. As long as a student has a good range of schools, do not worry about applying to more than seven schools (Kramer and London 81-82).
Listserv Discussion Question One (PLEASE RESPOND): Agree of disagree with the above statement. What is the most strategic number of colleges to apply to? Explain. What needs to be talked about in this discussion?
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
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21 comments:
I definitely disagree with the book's advice. Students have the right to apply to as many schools as they desire, because many different parts of the country contain promising, yet often unexplored options. Even though the book states, "Being clear on a desired geographic location can help eliminate hundred of schools and drastically narrow down a large list of options", students may never realize the golden opportunities that exist in all fifty states if they feel they must apply to a limited number of schools (Kramer 61). For example, if a student who applies to ten schools obviously owns more of a chance to explore a different part of the country than a student who applies to a few school just in his/her backyard. Applying to more schools than seven creates the following benefits: greater chance of acceptance, diversity of selection, and most importantly, the opportunity to discover a new setting. In sum, sometimes people do not realize how much they will enjoy a new place until they experience it firsthand! I would like to hear more comments concerning the benefits and risks of applying to school located in completely unfamiliar territories.
(THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE!)
Please playa, for real! You know shorty only wants to apply to her dream school. So Kim says, go for broke and just apply to one baby! If you don't get in, then sink or swim!
(THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN INAPPROPRIATE LISTSERV RESPONSE!)
I think students should apply to about 10-12 schools. As everyone else mentioned variety is very important. I believe students should have a lot of options in order to make the right choice. The right choice would be the school that best fits what the student is looking for. As Donya mentioned, it would be easier for a student to transfer within a year of an accepted application. I disagree with the books advice because a students options would be really limeted. I believe the ratio should be 3:3:3:3 Meaning three dream schools,3 with a 50% chance of acceptance,3 CUNY's, and three extra ones just in case. As young adults we dont know exactly what we want. I know many students will change their mind about what school they want to attend. Maybe you decide to go away for college, later on you realize home is the place for you. You might have applied to a school nearby your hometown and would perfer to attend there.Therefore my ratio will fit everybodies needs.
I agree that one should apply to
- 2 Dream schools
- 3 Just right schools
- 2 No problem schools.
We need to reach for the stars, find the middle path, and be safe as well. Don't be afraid to take risks! I agree with Yenisse, "As young adults we don't know exactly what we want. I know many students will change their minds about what school they want to attend. Maybe you decide to go away for college, later on you realize home is the place for you." No problem. I switched my major and my college midway. I was happy to have discovered what I needed and wanted to do. And I did it! As they say, the hardest step on any journey is the first one. Your college journey will take you many places.Go for it! Don't forget to work closely with Mr. Archibald. He has the inside scoop on all the colleges and scholarship programs. Thanks for the blog, Mr. Schuman. You rock!
I agree with this ratio, this ratio makes perfect sense and should be used among graduates of high school. The two dream school that you really like, then the three schools that your grades and SAT scores are ask for and fit their requirements, and the other two schools that would be easy to get into.
Though there is no right answer to this question, a strategic number of colleges, to apply to would be ten. There are pro's and con's to how many colleges you apply to. When entering high school we had an option of, I believe ten schools to apply to and one would accept you. As to where college multiple schools can accept, which gives you an option of where you really want to go. However, college applications cost about $60 and filling out the application is not a picnic with that said I think that to ratio 2:3:2 is more realistic.
Strategically there is a certain amount of colleges you should apply to in this day in age. Due to the economy, and high application fees, one might not have and exorbiant amount of money to apply to the 2:3:2 college choices ratio. But, if you put that aside, and just forget about these prices, it should be more. In my case, I want to have the luxury in deciding what colleges acceptance letters to respond to. Also, if you think about it the higher amount of colleges you apply too, the higher the chances for acceptance. But, on the other side of the argument you may not have the time to apply to your desire amount of colleges.If you fly through it, it may not live up to it's full potential. But, since I know myself best i would increase that amount, because i know i would put all my effort to complete them as best as i can.
12 colleges- 3-5-2
I do agree with the statment of
- 2 Dream schools
- 3 Just right schools
- 2 No problem schools
The reason being is that out of all the schools you apply to you are onlly going to attend one. Out of all the schools you researched this ratio will help shorten your list. lets say you applied for 12 schools. Out of the twelve schools you get accepted to 6. out of the only 3 are your dream schools. Now you have to do more research and make an overall descion. All of this could be avioded if you simply use the ratio in the statment. So in the long run you wont have to be worrying about making decisions of the schools you want to attend. Lets be realistic if you had multiple of choices you would not do your research on point. this ratio breaks it down for you. According to collegeboard.com "If you are applying to 10 or more schools, you probably don’t have a deep-rooted interest in all of them." Which also helps prove the statement as well as the follwing statment "school counselors recommend that students apply to five to eight colleges. That number allows for a range of colleges, giving you the likelihood of being accepted by at least one of your top choices." Both of the quotes from college board prove the statement.
Cite
-- http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/151680.html
I partially agree with the "2:3:2 ratio" Although using that kind of mindset when choosing colleges to apply to is a good one, it somewhat limits a students choices. In class we discussed that choosing and applying to more than 7 colleges can be time consuming, getting in to and attending a college that really doesn't fit you can be far worse than losing a few weeks out a month. Instead of the ratio being, 2:3:2, it should instead 3:3:3. Applying to more schools only benifits YOU.
I disagree in my point of view colleges should be researched and maintained possible applications for new or different experiences different categories can't be that risky usually the more school's applied the more opportunity even though a subject may not be best of interest the more information for one to consume the better understanding and balanced skills acquired from open mindedness probably becomes beneficial for future reference
I disagree with this statement, However agree with the same number of colleges that should be applied to. I believe a student should apply to a decent number of colleges around 5-10, but should not try to apply for colleges that are, "alright" or, "okay" in terms of what the student wishes to do in the future. For example; if a student wishes to work with technology in the future, i believe they shouldn't apply to a school that has little opportunities for that course, and that the student should try to apply for all of there, "dream colleges" so that in the future they may just achieve there dreams. - Mohamet diakhate
I honestly feel there's no correct answer to this question, everyone will have their different opinions about how many colleges a student should apply to. The 2:3:2 ratio is a great way to overview this topic, it makes perfect sense to have 2 reach schools, 3 safety schools and 2 match schools but I feel as if a student would limit themselves of all the colleges that they would want to attend. I think that students shouldn't worry about the numbers and apply to as many colleges that they find great interest in.
Francis and Anthony make strong points about how financial circumstances and limited time to research make it difficult for some people to apply to a wide variety of colleges. These points, however, illustrate the glaring fact that the college application process is a competitive one. At this point in the conversation thread, I would like to put forward a new theory, one known as the shotgun approach in other parts of the world. People who use the shotgun approach target as many people or opportunities as possible. For example, if a man who is desperate for a date walks into a bar, he might try to obtain the phone-number of every single girl in the bar. He will reason that even if ninety-nine women reject him, his chances of meeting that one who will accept him are only greater if he asks every single person. College applications work the same way. Some people will inevitably be given acceptances to the school you really want to go to. They'll turn these acceptances down and go to another school, while you don't even get accepted at all. The only way to remedy this unfairness is to use the shotgun approach. There is one school out there that you will end up going to. Why not increase your chances of finding that school by applying to as many schools as possible. The competitive nature of our country today dictates such rash action. What I wonder is whether or not the effort to find that one school is worth sacrificing the research to find another school that may fit a person better.
I disagree with this statement of ratio, mainly because maybe students have bigger ideas about dream schools they would love getting into. They should leave it up to their destiny of what they think is a correct amount of schools to apply to. As long as they are going to give it all they've got to each and every one of the schools the sign up for, there shouldn't be a problem. I strongly agree with the "no problem schools" ratio, simple because no student should lower their standards to a minimum.
As some students already stated, i partially agree with the 2:3:2 college ratio. It is better to apply to AT LEAST 5 colleges or more .. you'll have a better chance in getting into at least 1 college. But, i personally feel that it shouldn't be a specific number of colleges to apply to. I feel that people should apply to as many colleges as they want. They should not be limited to their decisions that can affect them for the rest of their life.
Even though there is no correct answer to this question, I do agree on the 2:3:2 in certain areas. With this ratio, you certainly do save a lot of money and time. Applications are expensive and time consuming, as the other students stated so with this there's no need for struggle. Also with this ratio, you narrow down your choices significantly. The colleges you are intrested in are put into the front, while the others you aren't certain of, aren't necessary. But there are disadvantages to this ratio, as well. Students like myself, who have no idea which college to apply to can struggle with this. Because in reailty they don't yet have a dream school, a just right school, or even a no problem school. So applying to as many colleges as they can, can actually be comforting. Also, as the others said there's difficulty with region. Some students might be undecided whether they want to broaden their horizons, or cross the street to go to school. And if you don't do the 2:3:2 ratio, you'll have more colleges to choose from, therefor not completly focusing on location just more on the school. Again, there's no right answer to this because both options are acceptable.
i think that students should apply to at least 8-10 schools at least. in middle school they tell you to choose at least 8 schools to apply to for you can have a good chance to geting excepted i think its the same way for picking on a college for you can have a goood chance in getting pick.
I partially agree with the 2:3:2 ratio because when your applying to college you should apply to colleges that you always dream of attending,however, you should include colleges that you know for sure that you will be accepted into whether if you are an honor student, average or below average student because there is a college out there for everyone. My opinion is that I believe students should be allowed to apply to 10 schools for the most,not every student is at the top level in school that way its easier for them to get into a college average and even below average, it would be harder for them to be accepted into any college if they just apply to seven schools.So I think students should choose 10 because all students will have a better chance of getting accepted to at least one college or if their lucky more.
I think.... you should come visit me at iHop.
Well, I agree with the 2:3:2 ratio. When applying to colleges you should feel comfortable with the schools you chose. I would say 2 just right schools, 3 dream schools and, 2 no problem schools for my own personal view, just to be on the safe side. Some students are very picky, and, perceive like myself when having to chose significant matters especially one so important as this one. This method is an organized way of getting your college applications done and staying on track with the schools that fits your best interest.
I agree with the above statement, the 2:3:2 ratio shows sensibility, reality, and optimism. Proving all aspects of a reasonable college application ratio. Anything more then this ratio will not improve your chances, but rather plateau after 2:3:2 ultimately wasting your time. By following the 2:3:2 ratio you will gain a balance that will stabilize your ratio, setting yourself up for optimal results, that will put you on the path to being accepted into a college that suits you the most.
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