Which colleges are the most applied to?

Hey guys, I'm a junior starting my college applications soon, and I'm kinda curious. Does anyone know which colleges get the most applications every year? I'm trying to get a sense of where my chances might be more favorable.

The colleges that typically receive the most applications each year are often large state universities, as well as some prestigious private institutions. As of recent data, some of the colleges that receive the most applications include:

1. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): Notably one of the most applied-to colleges, with more than 140,000 applicants per year on average.

2. University of California, San Diego (UCSD): Also attracts a high volume of applicants, in the range of 130,000.

3. University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley): Continues the UC trend attracting over 125,000 applicants.

4. University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine): Roughly receives around 120,000 applications.

5. University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara): Often sees over 110,000 applications.

Private universities like Stanford University, Harvard University, Cornell University, and New York University (NYU) also receive significant amounts of applications each year, ranging around 70,000 to 100,000 depending on the specific university and year.

However, keep in mind that a school with a large number of applicants might seem more competitive, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have a lower chance of getting accepted. Admissions officers look at a lot more than just numbers - they consider the strength of your academic profile compared to those of other applicants, your extracurricular activities, essays, and more. So don't let application numbers deter you from applying to a school you're interested in! It's always a good idea to apply to a mix of reach, match, and safety schools to maximize your chances of admission.