How many colleges should I actually apply to without losing my mind?

Admissionscollege applicationsapplication strategycollege adviceapp process

Hey everyone! So, I've been knee-deep in my college apps and I'm curious—how many colleges should I apply to? There's so much conflicting advice out there! Some friends say I should apply to like 10, while my advisor says more like 5-7 realistic choices are better.

I'm trying to balance my time and energy with the stress of filling out apps and writing essays. Plus, who doesn’t want to have options? But I also don’t want to spread myself too thin. How did you guys figure out the right number? Any tips or lessons learned from your application journey?

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