How Many Reach Schools Should You Apply To?

Short answer: As many as you’re willing to write supplemental essays for and where the application fee isn’t cost-prohibitive.

Longer answer: This is a personal choice, often predicated on which tier of schools you’re targeting. If your profile makes you competitive for Top 20 schools, you’re likely applying to several Ivy League schools and a handful of others. Make sure you know all the supplemental prompts for every school before you start writing — it may be a larger number than you think.

Fun fact: Apply to schools you want to attend for more than just their name.