Hardest Colleges to Get Into According to US News

I'm planning out my college application journey and really trying to aim high. I've heard US News puts out a list of the hardest colleges to get into. Can anyone tell me which schools typically top that list?

Certainly! Every year, the list might shift a little, but as per recent years, some top schools have consistently been difficult to gain acceptance to due to their low acceptance rates and high academic profile of admitted students. Here are a few:

1. Stanford University: Stanford is notable for having one of the lowest acceptance rates in the country.

2. Harvard University: Thanks to its prestige and Ivy League status, Harvard receives a high volume of applications every year, contributing to its low acceptance rate.

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Known for its emphasis on STEM fields, MIT has a highly competitive admission process.

4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech): Just like MIT, Caltech is renowned for its STEM programs and thus receives a large number of applications from superbly qualified students.

5. Yale University: As another Ivy League, Yale tends to top the list of difficult schools to gain acceptances to.

6. Princeton University and the University of Chicago: These are other schools which have extremely low acceptance rates and high average SAT/ACT scores, making them among the most competitive institutions.

Remember that among these and other highly selective colleges, they are not only looking at academic prowess, but also at extracurricular involvement, leadership, and other "soft" factors. And even if you have impressive credentials, acceptance is far from assured due to the large number of applications these universities receive from equally talented students each year. Ensure you balance your college list with match and safety schools, along with these reach schools.