I used a private admissions counselor to help me determine which schools I should apply to and during which application rounds (early or regular decision). The counselor worked with me to determine which schools would be considered "safeties" and "matches." After establishing a "safety net," the counselor helped me form a list of "reach" schools. My counselor suggested that I apply to less competitive colleges during the early application round, as I would be more likely to gain acceptance to one of these colleges, thus easing the “burden” of my regular decision applications. I was accepted to three institutions (University...