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2023 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in America

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About This List

Explore the hardest colleges to get into ranking based on acceptance rates and SAT/ACT test scores using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Compare the most selective colleges with the lowest acceptance rates and highest SAT/ACT test scores. This year's rankings have reduced the weight of ACT/SAT scores to reflect a general de-emphasis on test scores in the college admissions process. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Where Niche Grades come from and how Niche calculates rankings.

The Hardest Colleges To Get In

While meticulously comparing your SAT score and GPA to the norms of colleges you’re applying to can usually give you a good idea of your chance of acceptance, that tactic doesn’t work on top colleges. Some schools are so competitive that they aren't safety schools, or even target schools, for anyone. These are the schools where 1580s and 5.0s are commonplace.

How to Increase Your Chances of Getting into a Top College

We won't waste your time telling you to take the hardest classes, get the best grades, and ace the SAT/ACT. Those are givens. Beyond excelling in high school, here are some tips to help boost your chances of getting into the colleges with the lowest acceptance rates. Keep in mind, sometimes even with the best stats, it's difficult to get accepted to these competitive colleges.

Apply for early decision

If the college of your dreams offers early decision/early action, consider applying for it. Most selective schools that offer it have a much higher acceptance rate for early applicants. For example, Harvard's normal 5% acceptance rate jumps to 13.4% for early-round applicants.

Focus on your essay

In a sea of applicants with great stats, crafting a compelling essay can help you stand out. Your essay is one thing you can completely control, and it can have a significant impact on how admissions officers view you.
Avoid cliche topics when you’re writing your essay. Although writing about how volunteering in Costa Rica the summer after sophomore year changed your life can be a compelling essay, it’s more likely to come off as cliched and privileged.
Don’t be afraid to choose an unusual topic for your essay. Tami Kabiawu wrote about decapitated cows’ heads for his essay. Backed by his stellar stats, his unusual essay topic garnered him over a dozen acceptances to colleges, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Cornell, Columbia and MIT.
However, even if you don’t have an unusual or dramatic experience to write about, you can still impress admissions officers with mundane topics. Brittany Stinson wrote about shopping at Costco for her essay and landed a spot at Stanford, the most competitive college on our list, as well as Yale, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, and Cornell.

Get strong letters of recommendation

Don't go for a bland recommendation letter from a teacher who barely remembers you. Admission committees want to get to know you through your letters of recommendation. The best way to make that happen is to ensure the people who write them know you and believe in you.
Make your letters count by asking teachers and leaders who’ve spent more than one semester with you and will take the time to write meaningful letters about your contributions and potential.
To avoid getting a hastily-written generic letter, make sure you ask for it well in advance of crunch-time. If you’re applying for early decision, ask at the beginning of your senior year. If you are applying regular decision, don’t wait any longer than mid-November.

Start Your College Application Process

Much of the admissions process may seem opaque and out of your control, but you can take concrete steps to stand out. By applying for early action, writing a stand-out essay, and submitting enthusiastic letters of recommendation, you’ll give your application the best possible chance of getting noticed by even the toughest admissions’ officers.