Which are the most selective colleges?

I'm trying to form a list of reach schools for my applications. Can anyone help me figure out which colleges are considered the most selective?

Sure! Selectivity in colleges refers to the percentage of applicants who are admitted. Colleges that are most selective typically have a low acceptance rate, admitting a small percentage of their total applicant pool. Here is a list of some colleges that are typically considered the most selective:

1. Stanford University

2. Harvard University

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

5. University of Chicago

6. Princeton University

7. Yale University

8. Columbia University

9. Brown University

10. Dartmouth College

11. University of Pennsylvania

These are just a few examples and accept less than 10% of their applicants. Keep in mind, however, that the concept of 'reach', 'target', and 'safety' schools should be personalized to your academic profile and specific application (GPA, standardized test scores, extracurricular involvement, etc.).

Remember, being competitive for these highly selective colleges generally involves more than just exceptional academic statistics. These schools are often looking for individuals who demonstrate a highly-developed specialty (a "spike"), since they've proven to be successful in that field. Additionally, compelling essays, reach experiences and/or leadership roles in a few extracurriculars, strong recommendations, and, in some cases, demonstrated interest can all play a role in these schools' admissions decisions.