Well, you could close applications and then give everyone from this thread four days or a week or something to put a character together - if they haven't got one by then, they almost certainly wouldn't have had one ready for a timely start anyway even if you were just accepting everyone.
Alternatively, you could put everyone's names into a hat/assign everyone a number and then randomly select a group of your preferred size. Personally I prefer a merit judgement, which is why I initially suggested a decision based on quality/depth/potential of character sheet, but at the same time this is casual, so maybe requiring high standards of presentation and characterisation isn't the most appropriate. On the other hand, you don't have to make your standards massively high, if you're just determining between applicants...
Etc. etc.
Point is, there are options, and arguments for and against both - but realistically if you were looking for a group of 6, 14 is probably too much. 7 or 8 might be an acceptable stretch (depending on your preference), but even that many can get things really bogged down if the game runs on a more or less sequential turn order.
Honestly I'm just throwing stuff at the wall here, it's up to you what sticks.
EDIT:
This would work too. Or just run two completely separate games concurrently.
Alternatively, you could put everyone's names into a hat/assign everyone a number and then randomly select a group of your preferred size. Personally I prefer a merit judgement, which is why I initially suggested a decision based on quality/depth/potential of character sheet, but at the same time this is casual, so maybe requiring high standards of presentation and characterisation isn't the most appropriate. On the other hand, you don't have to make your standards massively high, if you're just determining between applicants...
Etc. etc.
Point is, there are options, and arguments for and against both - but realistically if you were looking for a group of 6, 14 is probably too much. 7 or 8 might be an acceptable stretch (depending on your preference), but even that many can get things really bogged down if the game runs on a more or less sequential turn order.
Honestly I'm just throwing stuff at the wall here, it's up to you what sticks.
EDIT:
@Bluetommy
How about a split then? Make two rps, set in the same setting, but at different place? Kinda like a split-off of a popular series! Both are looking for the Avatar, yet both do so for different reasons!
This would work too. Or just run two completely separate games concurrently.