What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Toughest college to get into worldwide?

Hey guys, I'm wondering, what's considered the most difficult college to get into worldwide? I've heard about Harvard and Stanford, but I'm not exactly sure which one (or if another university) holds the title as THE toughest institution to gain admission to. Any ideas?

8 months ago

Hi! The difficulty of college admissions tends to vary from year to year, as application numbers and institutional focus shift. However, among the many competitive institutions worldwide, some consistently rank as the most challenging to gain admission to.

In the United States, the top contenders are often Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Each of these has an incredibly low acceptance rate, often ranging between 3% and 6%, making them the most selective American universities.

Globally, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both in the United Kingdom, are renowned for their admissions competitiveness. They employ a rigorous selection process that includes specialized exams and interviews, contributing to their reputation as tough universities to gain admission to.

Keep in mind that these are just a few examples, and there are many other outstanding institutions globally, each with its own unique admissions process. The "toughest" institution may also vary depending on an individual's background and qualifications. While these universities are known for their competitive admissions, remember that selecting the right college is ultimately about finding the right fit for you, not just chasing prestige or difficulty.

8 months ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.