Quantity does improve odds, but without quality then quantity is pretty useless. To get through early stages, the application needs to stand out - and I guess unless you can do this at a big quantity, then it's better to take more time.
It’s so interesting because the applications I spent the least time on, and that weren’t particularly well researched, ended up getting the most positive responses. Meanwhile, the ones where I really took my time, did loads of research, completed FYS, attended open days, etc., haven’t been successful at all.
I do think quality is important, but I don’t think it matters all the time. That definitely hasn’t been the case for me, and I think quite a few other people have experienced the same thing.
I also wonder if luck plays a huge role. Maybe it’s not always about how many applications you submit or how strong they are, but factors outside your control, like applying at the right time, your application being read by the right person, or even mentioning a detail that happens to resonate with the reviewer.
