The risky bet
Imagine putting all your chips on one school. That’s what some students consider—just sending in one application and hoping it works out. On paper, it sounds bold. One student explained, “If you’re planning to go to your state flagship and you’re very confident you’ll get in, then sure, it’s fine.” But another voice quickly balanced that optimism: “It’s not foolish if you’re okay with the possibility of not getting in and needing to wait a year.” That’s the gamble. It’s not just about confidence—it’s about being okay with what happens if the plan doesn’t land.
The what-if spiral
The biggest fear everyone circles back to is the dreaded what-if. A student broke it down perfectly: “The problem is if you don’t get in, you’ve wasted a year. It’s like not applying to jobs because you think you’ll get your dream one. Maybe you will, maybe you won’t.” Another added that applying to more schools isn’t just about rejection—it’s about options. “You never know how things will shake out, and having a couple backups keeps you sane.”
The emotional side
It’s not just strategy—it’s also about peace of mind. Someone put it bluntly: “You don’t want to be that person crying in April because you only applied to one place and it didn’t work out.” The stress of waiting on a single yes or no is next-level. Having more applications in play gives you a sense of control when everything else feels unpredictable.
When it makes sense
That said, one-application plans aren’t always reckless. For example, if your top choice is a rolling admissions safety or a guaranteed admit with your stats, the logic holds. As one student summed it up, “If you’re 100% committed to a school that’s basically a safety, then you’re fine applying to just that one.”
The takeaway
At the end of the day, applying to just one school isn’t automatically dumb—but it’s definitely a bet. If you’re cool with the stakes, go for it. But if you’d rather sleep easier, having at least a few apps in the mix is the way to go.
