It might not be enough to have good grades and test scores when you are aiming for top colleges. Only a small percentage of applicants are accepted by the most selective schools. Why are some Hardest Colleges To Get Into 2024?
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Over time, the toughest colleges have established a top-notch reputation. They have top-notch academics, a lot of money, and famous alumni and professors. This adds up to a long track record of innovation and success.
Although Ivy League schools are notoriously hard to get into, Stanford and MIT also have low admission rates. They offer top-notch degrees and research opportunities despite not being in the Ivy League.
List of Top Hardest Colleges To Get Into
There are a number of highly desirable colleges in the US that offer excellent career opportunities. Here are a few of them.
1) Caltech
According to the admissions office, five factors carry the most weight in the process: rigor of secondary curriculum, standardized test scores (in a normal, non-test-blind year), essays, recommendations, and character. Coursework at the school is perhaps even more rigorous and time-consuming than gaining admission.
- Acceptance Rate (Class of 2026): 2.7%
- Class of 2026 applicants: 16,626
- Mid-50% SAT: Caltech is currently test-blind and does not consider SAT scores.
2) Harvard University
The dream destination for countless teenage geniuses and overachievers, Harvard is the envy of other universities. 84% of admitted students enroll. Consequently, Harvard is a second-choice school for few students.
- Acceptance Rate: 3.41%
- Class of 2027 applicants: 56,937
- Average SAT: 1510
3) Stanford University
An international research university and one of the leading feeder schools for the tech industry is located in Silicon Valley. When there are so many top-notch applicants for so few spots, it’s helpful to have a hook — an area you excel at.
- Acceptance Rate: 3.7% (Class of 2026)
- Class of 2026 applicants: 56,378
- Median SAT: 1530
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4) Columbia University
There are infinitesimal chances of admission here. The acceptance rate hasn’t been double digits since 2011. The university’s holistic admissions process emphasizes seven main factors: rigor of curriculum, class rank, grades, essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and character/personal qualities.
- Acceptance Rate: 3.9%
- Class of 2027 applicants: 57,129
- Mid-50% SAT: 1490–1560
5) Yale University
The committee uses two overarching questions to guide its process: “Who is likely to make the most of Yale’s resources?” and “Who will contribute most significantly to the Yale community? The best candidates will have stellar credentials and a record of special talents and accomplishments that scream “future leader.”
- Acceptance Rate: 4.35% (Class of 2026)
- Class of 2026 applicants: 52,250
- Median SAT: 1540
6) MIT
We are seeking the brightest, most innovative minds in engineering, science, mathematics, and related fields who, one day, will create the world that we will merely inhabit. MIT also does not consider legacy status, a rarity among elite universities, so your mother, grandfather, or brother’s alumni connection has no bearing on your admissions.
- Acceptance Rate: 4.7%
- Class of 2026 applicants: 26,914
- Median SAT: 1550
7) University of Chicago
UChicago is now in the same selectivity stratosphere as Stanford, Yale, and Columbia. The university admitted 40% of applicants in 2005. In 2023–24, the university will be both test-optional and very selective.
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Class of 2026 applicants: 37,522
- Average SAT: 1545
8) Brown University
Nearly half of admitted students were valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school class. Brown’s unique Open Curriculum requires students to be intellectually curious, open-minded, and possess intangible qualities that would allow them to flourish.
- Acceptance Rate: 5.1%
- Class of 2027 applicants: 51,302
- Median SAT: 1520
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the number 1 hardest college to get into?
As per the data from the Department of Education on acceptance rates and SAT/ACT scores from various colleges, Harvard University is the most difficult to get into.
2. What is the least accepted college?
With a 1% admission rate for the class of 2026, Minerva University has the lowest admission rate. Only 208 students are accepted out of nearly 20,816 applicants for the incoming class of 2026.
Conclusion
In the US, the hardest colleges to get into say they are the best for a variety of reasons. It may be due to the fact that they are extremely exclusive. They are located in a great area. Academically, they are tough. However, they are very expensive as well.
The alumni networks of these colleges are strong all over the world. However, these hardest colleges teach us that getting in isn’t just about grades and test scores. It’s more about how talented you are outside of school and college.
