Concerned about being accepted, high school seniors are "multiple apping"--applying to multiple colleges and universities. It's common for students to apply to 5 or 6 schools, and some private high schools report that their students are submitting as many as 15 college applications.

There are several reasons why this trend toward multiple apping has increased: stiffer entrance requirements mean students may not get into the college of their choice; increasing tuitions encourage students to shop for the best deals, and online sites make sending multiple applications easier (one web site, in fact, permits students to fill out one form that is accepted at 241 schools).

Many colleges report an increase in the number of applications received, but they realize that while applications are up that doesn't mean all of the students accepted will enroll. As Gina Monson, Admissions Director at Minnesota State University Moorhead, points out, although the school experienced a 20% increase in applications over last year, "Students are shopping, looking for the best deal. We don't know how serious they are."

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