Most Challenging Universities in the U.S.

What are some of the most challenging universities to get into in the U.S.? I'm trying to create a well-rounded college list that includes some reach schools.

Creating a well-rounded college list is an excellent strategy. In the U.S., the most challenging universities to get into—often referred to as "reach" schools—are usually those with the lowest acceptance rates. These often include the Ivy League institutions: Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Pennsylvania, and Cornell.

In addition to the Ivies, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) are also particularly competitive. In fact, Stanford and MIT often have lower acceptance rates than some Ivies.

Other highly selective institutions include University of Chicago, Duke University, and top liberal arts colleges like Williams College, Swarthmore College, and Amherst College. Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt are also in the mix and have acceptance rates often hovering around 10%.

Furthermore, a number of public universities, while not as selective overall, have extremely competitive honors programs or specific departments. For example, the University of California, Berkeley and University of California, Los Angeles have both been known for their competitiveness, particularly in majors like Computer Science.

Keep in mind that these are just a few examples and there are many others. Remember that while getting into these schools is challenging, it's not impossible! Additionally, choosing a college should be more about fit—academic, social, and financial—rather than prestige. Lastly, remember that even if a school is challenging to get into, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the best fit for you or that it will offer the best education for your specific needs and goals.