Tough nut to crack - Australian universities

G'day guys, hoping for some clarification here. Which Australian universities are infamously the toughest to get into? And why would that be the case? Are we talking mind-bogglingly high ATAR scores, or some other factors?

There are several Australian universities that are recognized for having competitive entry criteria, thus making them arguably the "toughest" to get into. Often cited are the Group of Eight (Go8) universities, which are some of Australia's leading research universities.

The University of Melbourne, Australian National University, and University of Sydney are examples of universities that traditionally have high entrance score requirements in terms of ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank), often demanding scores above 90, and even 99 for some courses.

The reason why these universities are challenging to get into primarily revolves around their reputation and academic strength. These universities often have rigorous curricula and a strong emphasis on research and globally recognized faculty, which make them attractive to high-achieving students. Consequently, they can afford to set high standards for their applicants, leading to a high ATAR cutoff.

However, it's important to remember that the admission process is not solely dependent on the ATAR. Universities also consider factors such as extracurricular involvement, leadership experiences, and occasionally, performance in interviews or supplementary exams. Some programs, such as Medicine or Law, often require students to take additional entrance tests like the UCAT, LSAT, or GAMSAT.

Again, it's not just about achieving a high ATAR score; the admission officers also look for students who can bring a diverse set of experiences and talents to their campus. Still, a high ATAR is typically the first step toward admission at these demanding institutions.