In the old days, students often narrowed their college choices to a few, or even one, college that they were passionate about. (In fact, I applied to only one place myself.)

These days, that's just not cutting it. Students are going for quantity, often applying to more than a dozen institutions, in the hopes of 'getting in somewhere.'

'Dream schools' are being traded in for 'any school.'

According to The New York Times, seniors a generation ago applied to three to five colleges. But now students trying to get into the most selective universities frequently apply to as many as a dozen, and the numbers are up for students applying to all types of institutions.

Jeanette Rader, a guidance counselor at Fleming, said students apply to more colleges because schools are "harder to get in now, more competitive and more students are going to school."

Is this the best way to go? Or does this method reduce the college experience to simply one more task to complete? Are students missing out on a truly passionate education?

How many schools did you apply to?

(Photo Source: Lazy Students)