Which are the hardest colleges to get into?

Hey guys, I'm stretching for the stars here. I'd love to know, which are some of the most difficult colleges to get into. Like insanely hard, Ivy-level stuff. Shoot!

Sure, let's delve into this! So, when we talk about the most difficult colleges to get into, we're primarily referring to colleges and universities that have very low admission rates. Also, bear in mind that just as important as the admission rates are the admitted students' profiles, which usually feature stand-out GPAs, high test scores, and impressive extracurriculars.

Naturally, the Ivy League schools fall into this category. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton typically maintain admissions rates below 7%. Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania aren't far behind, with acceptance rates often below 10%.

Some other non-Ivy schools also hold extremely rigorous standards and therefore low acceptance rates. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford usually have sub-5 % acceptance rates, much like our aforementioned Ivy League universities. The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) also falls into this category, with a generally below 6% acceptance rate. University of Chicago and Northwestern University, meanwhile, often have admission rates below 10%.

Be aware that these numbers can fluctuate from year to year – the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, led to an increase in applications at many top-tier schools, which in turn lowered acceptance rates.

Finally, remember that while these schools are undeniably prestigious, it's important not to equate selectivity with quality. There are hundreds of excellent colleges and universities where a student can receive a top-notch education and have a fabulous college experience, without necessarily having to stress about extremely low admission rates.

Here's a final tip if you're considering applying to these highly competitive schools: show specialization in your application. As I mentioned above, these schools often look for students with a "spike," or a highly developed specialty. They look for students who've shown significant aptitude and accomplishments in a particular field. So make sure your application highlights your personal "spike" and how it sets you apart.