• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / College Rankings / The Top 10 Hardest Colleges to Get Into

The Top 10 Hardest Colleges to Get Into

June 21, 2017 //  by Caitlin Mason

Shares213FacebookTweet

It’s like a scene from Gladiator out there. The college application process has always required blood, sweat and tears, but it’s gotten even crazier in recent years. Average GPAs and SATs are sky-rocketing, and acceptance rates seem to be playing limbo to see how low they can go. These schools topped the list of hardest to get into.

Find out where you’ll find the 10 hardest colleges to get into.

Prev1 of 10Next
Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse

10. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

caltech hardest colleges to get into
wikipedia.org

The prestigious California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California is one of the toughest colleges to get into, and the second hardest in California. With an average SAT score of 2300, an average ACT score of 34 and an acceptance rate of 8.1 percent, by figures alone Caltech can call itself incredibly selective. On top of that, the school is majorly math and science oriented, so it requires SAT Subject Tests in math and science. Add two letters of recommendation, plus lots of extra essays, then you still have to do the application.

For more college rankings, check out:

The 10 Most Powerful College Alumni Networks

The 10 Best Colleges For Freshmen

The 10 Best Campuses for Out-of-State Students

Curious about what the admissions process is really like at the hardest colleges to get into?

“The hardest part for me was writing so many essays and trying to make them good quality but not spend too much time on them so I could write all of them. I’d advise applicants to start writing their essays in the application season and not wait till December to write them all.” – Mike Solorio, Stanford University, Class of 2020.

“I think the extended essay (or uncommon essay) is the most important part of the application, and I would definitely focus on making that essay stand out and say something original. I wrote about what constitutes unique personhood. There was a prompt about cloning and teleportation, and whether a teleported person or a clone is the same person as the ‘original.'” – Ruth Selipsky, University of Chicago, Class of 2020.

“For me, doing the SAT was very hard. I took 23 practice tests then three real tests, and I ended up on the lower end of Princeton’s average. Spend a good chunk of time on the personal statements, and treat every prompt like a chance to flex all your creative autobiography muscles. Statistically, if you are someone with the drive and patience to apply to an elite university, you’ll have the drive to make the same level of success later in life. Getting into a good college is not everything and not getting in isn’t the end of the world. Study your SAT, but also make sure to go get dinner with friends, take naps, eat ice cream for no reason and catch up on some movies. Balance it out.” – Anhar Mac Karim, Princeton University, Class of 2018.

“I think the hardest part of the application was not writing the essays themselves, but choosing a prompt to write about. As you probably already know, UChicago has quirky prompts; some of the more well-known ones being ‘Where’s Waldo?’ or ‘Find X’. I found it extremely difficult to settle on one prompt because I had so many ideas for different prompts.” – Alexander Scott Zhou, University of Chicago, Class of 2021.

“Last year, I applied for Early Restrictive Action to Stanford. Because it was restrictive, I had ample time to really hone and work on my essays. My high school counselors helped out whenever I had any questions about forms. I suggest that applying students write about topics that are true to them, something that carries with it a core aspect of their personality. For example, I wrote about Jimmy Neutron (the Nickelodeon show) because I not only love the show, but also because of its message and theme of invention. This would eventually lead to all the decisions I made and the accomplishments that I held dear.” – Wilson Nguyen, Stanford University, Class of 2020.

“One of the greatest traits is to stress your individuality. It’s a strange feeling to become a string of letters and numbers that can be hard to remember, so you have to do your best to work the best of you into a very small package. Take not only the best of you but the most unique parts of you to create the most notable applicant you can be. By creating a platform to express my creativity in a way a transcript cannot, the university allowed me to display my interests in the most honest way I know how.” – Jessie Davila, University of Chicago, Class of 2021.

“My experience applying to Yale as an international student was of course a very different one. Despite the increasing number of international students applying to Yale every year, the application process is still not fully understood in England so it took a lot more time to even fully understand what was required and when. One difficulty for me was that they did not fully comprehend the exams that I took in England and how they compare to American AP exams. What I found most interesting about the application process was how it really makes you analyze yourself. Yes they’re looking at your academic accomplishments but they’re also looking at you as a person.” – Bella Hindley, Yale University, Class of 2019.

“I applied to UChicago early decision, but I also planned to apply to Barnard, Tufts, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Emory University and the University of Vermont. I was able to fill out all of my applications on the Common App, so most of the info was the same everywhere I applied, but the essays were different. They were more fun to write than the other schools, because they required more creativity and weren’t so repetitive or predictable.” – Rebecca Wixted, University of Chicago, Class of 2021.

“Make sure you’re really able to show a well-rounded image of yourself, but also, be real. I got into Stanford not because I had good grades, but due to my history of activism in my community. Show them a passion that consumes you, in all the best ways. Also, have fun with the roommate essay. I wrote about the clothes in my closet representing the multitude of personalities I donned. It was kinda silly, but also really fun and creative, and, well, it worked. So, don’t limit yourself. Make sure you have others edit. I probably wrote at least 8-9 drafts of my personal statements…Most of all, be yourself.” – Manisha Rattu, Stanford University, Class of 2019.

“Generally, students mistake the prompts for being restrictive when in reality, you can interpret the prompt however you like—and admissions officer actually enjoy reading something that adds a little twist and is unexpectedly ingenious. If you have a fantastic idea, but are uncertain about submitting, don’t be afraid to reach out to an admissions officer and ask for a clarification…Focus less on how your accomplishments can impress your reader; rather, focus on your growth from the most genuine and raw human experiences. Finally, never underestimate typos because your writing is a reflection of your effort and professionalism.” – Rimsha Malik, Princeton University, Class of 2020.

If you go to one of the hardest colleges to get into, stand out with your smarts and your style.

stressed blessed coffee obsessed tank top

hang in there tshirt

Check out these 10 Test Prep Books to Get You into the Most Selective US Colleges.

1. Princeton Review’s Cracking the ACT

2. Princeton Review’s Cracking the SAT

3. Kaplan Test Prep’s ACT English, Reading and Writing Prep

4. Kaplan’s Test Prep’s ACT Math and Science Prep

5. ACT’s Official ACT Prep Guide 2018

6. Kaplan Test Prep’s PSAT/NMSQT Prep

7.  SAT Secrets Study Guide

8.  Kaplan Test Prep’s 8 Practice Tests for SAT 2018

9. Princeton Review’s 9 Practice Test for SAT, 2018 Edition

10. College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide, 2018 Edition

*Updated on June 21, 2017 by Mariya Khan to include student quotes about the admissions experiences and links to test prep books.

Prev1 of 10Next
Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse

Shares213FacebookTweet

Filed Under: College Rankings

About Caitlin Mason

Caitlin is a senior English and Theatre major at Boston College. She likes books, theatre, and inspirational quotes, and knows way too much about cheese.

You May Also Like

Top 10 Colleges for Dual Bachelor’s to Master’s Degrees in Public Health

Top 10 Colleges With the Most Fashionable Students

Top 10 Universities for Aspiring Social Media Influencers

Top 10 Best Colleges to Attend for Women in STEM

Top 10 Safest Colleges and Campuses in the United States

girl looking at painting

Top 10 Art Education Programs in the United States

CampusLife_sm

CM’s Top 10 Schools Doing Residential Life Right

climate change protest

Top 10 Colleges Where You Can Make A Difference in the Climate Crisis

ivy league

Which Ivy League School Has the Most Dominant Sports Teams? 

food buffet

Top 10 Colleges with the Most Delicious On and Off Campus Food Options

CM’s Top 10 Most Chill Colleges in the Country

College Magazine’s Top 10 Schools for Aspiring Linguists

CM’s Top 10 Best Pharmacy Schools in the Nation

colleges for future philanthropists

Live to Give: Top 10 Colleges for Future Philanthropists

Classics Programs

I Came, I Saw, I Crushed This Major: CM’s Top 10 Best Classics Schools

spin class

CM’s Top 10 Schools for Health and Fitness Fanatics

CM’s Top 10 Colleges with the Best Dining Options

Top 10 Most Dominating Sports Schools in the Country

Top 10 Hermione Granger Approved Colleges for Bookworms

Top 10 Colleges Deserving Recognition for their Response to COVID-19

College Magazine’s 10 Best Colleges for Studying a Foreign Language

CM’s Top 10 Most Politically Active Colleges for 2020

woman leans on window

Top 10 Colleges for the New Generation of Web Designers

Move Over, Frat Parties: Top 10 Colleges with the Best Night Life

Previous Post: «what is a fellowship What Even Is a Fellowship and 5 to Keep Your Eye On
Next Post: Coming to Terms with My Mental Illness mental illness»

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

102

10 St. John’s University Finals Activities to Help You De-Stress

mental health
95

Pandemic and Academic Blues: Being Aware of Your Mental Health

23

A Gator’s Bucket-List: 21 Things to Do Before Graduating From UF

Broadway
18

10 Musical Soundtracks to Make Study Sessions That Much Easier

songs to belt out
14

21 Songs to Belt Out in the Shower

Featured Chapter: St. John’s University

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.