Selectivity in colleges throughout the 2020s

I've been hearing a lot about how colleges are getting more and more competitive. Could anyone fill me in on which colleges have become particularly selective in the 2020s?

College selectivity has indeed increased across many institutions in the 2020s. Selectivity is often assessed by looking at acceptance rates which can tell a lot about how competitive the admissions process is. The lower the acceptance rate, the more selective the college is considered to be. Here are some schools that have become particularly selective:

1. Ivy League Colleges: These schools have always been highly competitive, but in recent years they've become even more so. For example, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia Universities have seen their acceptance rates decrease significantly, reflecting their increased selectivity.

2. Stanford University: Stanford has consistently been one of the most selective schools in the U.S., often rivaling the Ivy League universities. It tends to have one of the lowest acceptance rates each year.

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Noted for its STEM programs, MIT is incredibly competitive, with a notably low acceptance rate.

4. University of Chicago: Known for its emphasis on rigorous intellectual discourse, the University of Chicago's selectivity has increased considerably.

5. California Institute of Technology (Caltech): This school is highly selective, particularly for students interested in the sciences and engineering.

6. Duke University: A top-tier school with particularly strong programs in public policy and environmental science, Duke University has become increasingly selective throughout the 2020s.

7. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn): Especially known for its Wharton Business School, UPenn continues to be highly competitive.

8. Elite Liberal Arts Colleges: Schools like Amherst College, Williams College, and Swarthmore College have remained highly selective with very low acceptance rates.

Each of these colleges has its unique application process and criteria for admission. Although acceptance rates can provide some insight into how selective a college is, it’s important to remember that each applicant’s experience will be different. For example, applicant pools can vary from year to year, sometimes resulting in lower or higher acceptance rates.