[#permalink]
15 May 2007, 20:17
I did 10, but didn't wait for decisions from all of them. In retrospect, I probably should have done fewer. My first few applications were clearly not as good as the later one. The learning experience of doing applications helped me to produce better applications later on, so in a sense that worked out pretty well. On the other hand, I probably could have just worked harder on the earlier applications and produced 4-5 really strong ones instead of 2-3 weak ones and more strong ones near the end.
I think your target number should depend on how much time you have, how early you get started, how good a writer you are and how much you might improve with practice. I think you must also consider the type of applicant that you are. If you are a typical applicant (in terms of GPA, GMAT, experience, age, etc.) then applying to 3-4 schools within your range should yield some success. If you are not a typical applicant or have substantial strengths and weaknesses, you might need to throw more out there to see which schools like what you have to offer.