Most applied to colleges in the US?

Hey, I'm a junior and the college application process has started getting real for me. One thing I'm wondering is which are the most popular colleges that US high school students apply to? Could it influence my own list of considerations?

In the US, the vast majority of students apply to colleges that are relatively close to home, often state public universities or colleges. Therefore, the most popularly applied-to schools tend to be large state institutions. If we look at data from the most recent application cycles, you'll find that the University of California (UC) schools tend to be some of the most-applied-to. This is likely due to a combination of their respected academic programs, their accessibility to in-state students, and the ease of application considering one application can be sent to all nine campuses.

On the East Coast, schools like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Michigan, and University of Florida typically see a high volume of applicants. Private institutions with large undergraduate populations like New York University also get a lot of applicants.

However, it will be important for you to structure your application list based on your own preferences and fit. The popularity of a school does not necessarily equate to its suitability for you. Understanding why certain schools are popular can guide you in identifying what factors make a school attractive to you, be it academic programs, location, school size, or other factors. An insightful way to proceed in your college search would be to take a look at the factors that draw a lot of students to apply to these popular schools, and then cross-reference those factors with what you're searching for in a university or college.

Model the learning environments where you think you would thrive best, and consider factors like the location of the university, the demographics, the offered courses, the student-faculty ratio, and the availability of financial aid when deciding where to apply. Many students find it helpful to make a list of priorities or a "dream college criteria" that can serve as a guiding tool in your college selection process.