9 Steps to Choosing a College:
Step 7 - Applying to Your Final Selection of Colleges

This is Step 7 of the 9 Steps to Choosing a College. Go back to the main page, or return to Step 6 or move on to Step 8.

Step 7: Apply to the schools that made the cut after the first six steps.

How many schools should you apply to?

Of course, this decision partly depends on your financial situation (since most colleges have application fees), but most college-bound teens generally apply to one or two dream or "reach" schools (where they have a small chance of getting admitted based on a realistic appraisal of admissions criteria), two to four schools where they want to go (and can expect to be accepted), and at least one "safety" school (where they are a shoo-in for admission).

How many schools you choose to apply to depends on what's best for you; some people don't apply to safety schools, and others apply to only the best schools that have made the cut from the first six steps.

Move on to the next step!

Step 8: While you're waiting, start searching for scholarships. (If you're lucky enough not to need them, skip this step.)

Have questions about some of the terms used here? Find some answers in the High School College-Bound and College Planning Glossary -- the definitive source for learning about high school, college-bound, and college planning terms -- from the team at Quintessential Careers.