As aspiring graduate students embark on the journey of advanced education, a pivotal question arises: how many graduate schools should one realistically apply to? This inquiry is layered with complexity. On one hand, there lurks the pervasive fear of rejection, which often leads applicants to cast a wide net in hopes of increasing their chances of acceptance. But on the other hand, does an excessive number of applications dilute one’s focus and weaken the quality of their submissions? What factors should weigh heavily in this decision-making process? Should the prestige of the institutions, the specific programs, or even the geographic locations come into play? Moreover, how can candidates judiciously assess their own qualifications against the competitive landscape of graduate admissions? As academic aspirations intertwine with personal circumstances, what constitutes a balanced and strategic approach to selecting the optimal number of schools for one’s applications?