How many PhD programs?

[Polymers! JHU!]

I am planning to apply to MIT (two departments), JHU (Two Departments), North-Western (Two Departments), Cornell (ChE), Duke (BME), UMich(BME), Columbia (BME), UC - 3 different locations (One dept), JHU (one dept). Is that too many?

PS - This is all for PhD

[navyasw02]

I am planning to apply to MIT (two departments), JHU (Two Departments), North-Western (Two Departments), Cornell (ChE), Duke (BME), UMich(BME), Columbia (BME), UC - 3 different locations (One dept), JHU (one dept). Is that too many?

PS - This is all for PhD

Not as long as you only do one at a time. If you feel good about your academic profile, it might be worthwhile to trim the list down and save money on applications. If you're just trying to cast a wide net just to get accepted then go for it.

[kaz]

Not too many as long as money is not a big concern and you do like the universities. I've picked 7 universities and I wouldn't go for more since I can't find anywhere else where I really like the research and have a potential supervisor in mind.