[bruinaphi]

How many schools you need to apply to depends upon how competitive the programs that you are applying to are in the big scheme of things. Check out how many applications they receive versus how many people they admit and the qualifications for each program. When I applied to Law Schools I went a little overboard b/c I was a very borderline candidate GPA wise but had an LSAT score way higher than my GPA would indicate. I sat down with my counselor and divided schools up into four groups: Slam Dunk, Likely to be Accepted, Slight Reach and Keep Dreaming. I actually got waitlisted at all of my keep dreaming schools but got rejected from a slight reach and a likely to be accepted. Just goes to show that you never know.

When I was in law school I was on the admissions committee for my school and I spent a lot of time review applications for people who came in after I graduated. From my stint in admissions I can tell you that I think your personal statement/essays are the SINGLE most important aspect of your application. More than recommendations, they were what set people apart within their groupings (by GPA and test scores).

Also be aware that most grad schools weight your GPA based on where you go to undergrad and how competitive your school is or where you fall in your class. This is important to keep in mind when reviewing competitive data on different schools.

Good luck on the application process (and PM me if you have any questions)!