Application Boom

Three colleges, I applied to three colleges. (I guess four if you include the college I applied to simply to not break beloved grandpa's heart, even though I had no intention of going.*) It felt like a lot, but enough at the same time. Many of my high school classmates applied to one, maybe two schools. That is no longer the shape of the college application landscape.

This past application season, marked another increase in both total applications and applications per student. The total number of applications submitted grew by 9% (as of Dec. 1, 2025) to 6,237,325. The average number of applications per student also rose to 5.38, an increase of 5% over the previous year. The applicant pool has also become more diverse, with increases in applications from students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. With all the increases in application rates, it can be easy to assume that this means it will be inherently more difficult to get into competitive institutions. However, the opposite is more likely true because the number of 18-year-olds is generally declining, which means less competition.

That's a lot of information to throw at you in one paragraph, but the part I want to focus on is the amount of applications being submitted per student. An average of 5.38 applications might not see like an astronomical number, but you have to keep in mind that many students apply to one or two colleges. In Dream School, author Jeffrey Selingo references an example from Minnetonka High School (shout out to the Skippers!). "The number of applications filed by each senior class of 900 students since 2019 has doubled to nearly 7,000." (pg. 34) This is an even more startling statistic, given that "[a]bout half the [Minnetonka senior class] goes to community college or trade school or is a "one and done" applicant." (pg. 34) That means that the 7,000 applications are coming from roughly 450 students. That equates to (conservatively) 13 applications per student in that group. That is an objectively large number.

A very natural reaction to hearing that other seniors are applying to a large number of colleges is to think that you need to match that number. RESIST THAT URGE! The focus should be on building a balanced college list for applications, not trying to meet an arbitrary number set by your fellow students. More does not mean better. The goal should be quality over quantity—both in content of application and the colleges to which you are applying. Don't apply to more, just for the sake of applying to more. Rather than focusing on the amount on your list, I urge you to keep the following in mind when finalizing a college list:

1. Make sure your list is balanced!

Don't fill up your list with extreme reach schools. With the sheer number of applications out there, don't think that by sending more applications to more extremely selective schools your change of acceptance is greater. That's not how statistics work. Balance your list between match, maybe, reach, and extreme reach colleges. But make sure that all of the colleges on the list are ones you want to attend.

2. You should be excited to attend every college on your list.

There might be some colleges that excite you more than others, that's natural. However, there shouldn't be any colleges on your list you are applying to simply because they are "safety schools." If you don't like the college and can't see yourself there, you should not be applying.

Don't succumb to the application boom panic. Keep your focus on the colleges that are the best fit for you.

P.S. — One interesting statistic among the application numbers is the significant drop in applications from international students. While it is not necessarily a surprising statistic given the current geo-political atmosphere in the United States, it will be interesting to see how this affects the financial bottom line of colleges (especially as cutbacks to state and federal education funding has made many colleges more tuition-funding reliant). Many international students pay full-freight so decreases in this demographic can cause financial challenges for colleges.

...But that's a blog topic for another day.

*Going back in time, I would make this decision again, but present-day-college-consultant me strongly cautions against applying to a college a student doesn't see as a fit, regardless of the reasoning.

If you're looking to create a well-rounded college list, you've found the perfect place. One of the services I provide is College List Building, and I'd be delighted to assist you in crafting a list that reflects your individuality.