26 Colleges with Lowest Acceptance Rates
When applying to college, many students challenge themselves by applying to the hardest schools to get into. They look at lists of the lowest acceptance rate colleges and dare themselves to be one of a select few who are accepted. If this sounds like you, this is just the article for you.
In this guide, we’re focusing on the top 26 lowest acceptance rate colleges in the country. But we’re doing more than simply telling you which ones they are. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the hardest colleges to get into, including:
- How college acceptance rates are calculated and what they mean for you
- Why college acceptance rates are so low and trending downward
- Our list of the 26 Hardest Colleges to Get Into
- The lowest acceptance rate colleges: Ivy League Edition
- Applying to the lowest acceptance rate colleges (and how to strategically include the lowest acceptance rate colleges on your college list)
- Early Decision vs. Regular Decision at the lowest acceptance rate colleges
- And, of course, tips and resources to help increase your admissions odds at top colleges
But before we dive into our list of the 26 lowest acceptance rate colleges, let’s start with the basics. To fully understand the numbers behind the list, we’ll first need to look at how acceptance rates are calculated.
How are acceptance rates calculated?
If you’re planning to apply to the lowest acceptance rate colleges, your main concern is likely beating their low admissions rates. To make these percentages less daunting, it’s important to know how acceptance rates are calculated. So, let’s ask the important questions: what is an acceptance rate and how is it calculated?
An acceptance rate is calculated by taking the number of accepted students and dividing by the total number of applicants. This is the same process used to calculate admissions percentages at colleges with the highest acceptance rates and at colleges with the lowest.
Early vs Regular Decision acceptance rates
However, these numbers aren’t set in stone. Even at the lowest acceptance rate colleges, the college acceptance rates can vary based on whether you apply Regular Decision or Early Decision. In most cases, the college acceptance rates are higher Early Decision than Regular Decision. While some colleges report both acceptance rates, the average of the two rates is generally considered their official acceptance rate.
How school size affects acceptance rates
Acceptance rates aren’t calculated based on available spots, meaning that smaller schools won’t necessarily be the lowest acceptance rate colleges. However, the size of the school does affect the rates. Since larger schools have more spots available, they will generally have higher acceptance rates than smaller schools. On the list of lowest acceptance rate colleges, you’ll find few genuinely large schools—schools that have over 10,000 undergraduate students.
Many colleges with the highest acceptance rates are large, state schools, like the University of Kentucky. However, not all colleges with the highest acceptance rates are large. Let’s look at one of the colleges with the highest acceptance rates: Adams State University. This university has an 100% acceptance rate and has fewer than 2,000 students. Therefore, while size provides important context when looking at a school’s acceptance rate, it is not necessarily a defining factor.
Now that you know the answer to what is an acceptance rate, let’s talk about why acceptance rates are so important.
Are acceptance rates important?
If you’re going to throw your hat in the ring for one of the lowest acceptance rate colleges, be honest about why. Before applying, you should first think through how important having a low acceptance rate really is.
We often look at selectivity and exclusivity as signals of whether a school is “good.” So, since acceptance rates reflect a school’s selectivity, it makes sense why low acceptance rates are valued. However, that doesn’t mean the lowest acceptance rate colleges will be a perfect fit for you. It might not even mean that the school is necessarily any better than a school with a higher acceptance rate.
Take our quiz below to test how much you know about acceptance rates and the rest of the college admissions process.
What is considered a low acceptance rate?
So, just how low are the acceptance rates at the lowest acceptance rate colleges? In general, a low acceptance rate is considered anything below 20%. For your college list, this means any school with a less than 20% acceptance rate should be categorized as a “reach” school.
However, at the lowest acceptance rate schools, the college acceptance rates are often much lower. The hardest colleges to get into have below a 10% acceptance rate. Even if you look at the top 50 lowest acceptance rate colleges, or hardest colleges to get into, the acceptance rate doesn’t go over 15%.
Now that you understand what is an acceptance rate and how to interpret it, let’s get to know some of the lowest acceptance rate colleges. Read on for our list of the 26 hardest colleges to get into.
26 Hardest Colleges to Get Into
Here is our list of the 26 lowest acceptance rate colleges, as reported by U.S. News.
Top 26 Hardest Colleges to Get Into
1. California Institute of Technology
Tied for #1 on the list of lowest acceptance rate colleges is the California Institute of Technology, located in Pasadena CA. Caltech Admissions are very selective, making this school one of the hardest colleges to get into in the U.S. The Caltech acceptance rate is 3%—tied with Harvard for the top spot on our list of lowest acceptance rate colleges. However, knowing how to get into Caltech is a different ballgame from how to get into Harvard. Since Caltech is a technical school, Caltech Admissions are looking for candidates who display excellence in STEM fields, whereas Harvard is a liberal arts college that is looking for students with a wide variety of strengths. Caltech is also a much smaller school than Harvard, with only around 1,000 undergraduates.
2. Harvard University
When you think of the lowest acceptance rate colleges, one of the most commonly thought of schools is Harvard. The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni. Harvard is a midsize school, with a total undergraduate enrollment of around 6,000.
3. Columbia University
Next on the list of lowest acceptance rate colleges is Columbia University. Located on the west side of Manhattan in New York City, Columbia is home to around 9,000 undergraduates. It is certainly one of the hardest colleges to get into thanks to its low acceptance rate of just 4%. Though not thought of as one of the core three Ivy League Schools—Harvard, Yale, and Princeton—the Columbia acceptance rate is lower than all of the Ivies, except Harvard.
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Up next on the list of lowest acceptance rate colleges is another Cambridge school. MIT has an undergraduate population of around 4,600. The MIT acceptance rate sits at 4%, competing with its Ivy League counterparts for the hardest colleges to get into. Like Caltech, MIT is a notoriously selective technical school, and is a badge of honor for students hoping to become mathematicians, computer scientists, or engineers.
5. Stanford University
Number five on the list of lowest acceptance rate colleges is Stanford University. Stanford is also not an Ivy, but it is still one of the hardest colleges to get into. The Stanford acceptance rate is 4%, tied with Columbia. Stanford is located in the Bay Area of California, about 35 miles south of San Francisco. The most popular majors at Stanford are all in STEM fields, likely because the school is close to the tech hub Silicon Valley.
6. Brown University
Next on the list of lowest acceptance rate colleges is Brown University. Another Ivy, Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is known for its Open Curriculum and for being one of the hardest colleges to get into: the Brown acceptance rate is 5%. Brown’s acceptance rate puts it at #6 on our list, at a coveted spot above many other Ivy League schools. Brown has an undergraduate population of around 7,500, and is ranked by U.S. news as the 9th best university nationally.
7. University of Chicago
The next of our lowest acceptance rate colleges is UChicago. UChicago also has around 7,500 students, and is located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. An urban campus, students at UChicago most commonly major in Computer Science, Math, and Economics. UChicago is not an Ivy League school, but with a 5% acceptance rate it’s certainly one of the best and hardest colleges to get into.
8. Yale University
Eighth on our list of lowest acceptance rate colleges, Yale is tied with UChicago and Brown with a 5% acceptance rate. Providing one of the most sought-after educations in the U.S., Yale is undoubtedly one of hardest colleges to get into. This prestigious university is also ranked #5 by U.S. News, higher than either UChicago or Brown. Yale is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and has around 6,600 undergraduates.
9. Dartmouth College
Another Ivy is ninth on our list of lowest acceptance rate colleges. Located in New Hampshire, Dartmouth is one of the hardest colleges to get into with an acceptance rate of 6%. Dartmouth’s student body is slightly smaller than most of the schools on the lowest acceptance rate colleges list so far, with only around 4,500 students. This means that despite its low acceptance rate, Dartmouth also lets in fewer students than somewhere like Harvard or Brown.
10. Duke University
Sometimes called “The Harvard of the South,” Duke is #10 on our list of lowest acceptance rate colleges. Like Dartmouth, Duke boasts a low 6% acceptance rate. Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina, and has a student body size of around 6,600. Though it’s tenth on our list of hardest colleges to get into, Duke is ranked #7 by U.S. News.
11. Princeton University
Another school with a 6% acceptance rate makes our list of lowest acceptance rate colleges. Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey, and is part of the “big three” Ivy League schools: Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. Princeton has also beat out Harvad and Yale—and every other school—for the number one spot on the U.S. News list of best schools. So, if you’re looking to apply to the best college on the list of hardest colleges to get into, Princeton could be a good choice.
12. Amherst College
Taking another departure from the Ivies, Amherst is number 12 on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Amherst is located in Amherst, a small town in Western Massachusetts and has an acceptance rate of 7%. Amherst is a small school, with less than 2,000 students. If you’re looking for a quintessential liberal arts experience at one of the hardest schools to get into, Amherst is a good school to consider.
13. Cornell University
Next on the list of lowest acceptance rate colleges is Cornell. Cornell is located in Ithaca, a town in upstate New York full of natural beauty. Tied with Amherst for hardest colleges to get into, Cornell is another stellar school with a 7% acceptance rate. And, it’s a great school in New York state for students looking to escape this city and study in a more rural area.
14. Johns Hopkins University
Coming in at #14 on the list of hardest colleges to get into is Johns Hopkins, located in Baltimore, Maryland. Johns Hopkins has an undergraduate size of around 6,000, and students like to major in Biology, Public Health, and Neuroscience. Like the two colleges before (and the next few colleges we’ll be discussing) Johns Hopkins has a 7% acceptance rate.
15. Northeastern University
Located in Boston, MA, Northeastern has a 7% acceptance rate. One unique quality of Northeastern is its program where students complete “co-ops,” periods of work interspersed with their study semesters. Northeastern is also a much larger school than many on our list of hardest schools to get into, with 16,000 students.
16. Northwestern University
Not to be confused with Northeastern, Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois—right on Lake Michigan. The 16th of our hardest colleges to get into, Northwestern has around 9,000 undergraduate students. To join these Big Ten students in cheering on the ‘Cats, you’ll have to beat Northwestern’s 7% acceptance rate.
17. Pomona College
Traveling all the way to the west, Pomona is a small liberal arts school located in Claremont, California. Pomona is ranked the fourth best liberal arts school in the U.S., and is one of the hardest schools to get into with an acceptance rate of 7%. As one of the seven Claremont Colleges, Pomona’s students get to enjoy all the added benefits of being connected with their nearby sister schools.
18. Swarthmore College
Aptly named for the town of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College is next on our list of hardest schools to get into. Swarthmore is a small liberal arts school, the fourth best in the country, and has a student body size of around 1,600. You might have already guessed, but Swarthmore’s acceptance rate is also 7%.
19. University of Pennsylvania
We’ve made our way to the final Ivy League college on this list: UPenn. UPenn has a 7% acceptance rate, making it tied with the previous seven schools on our list of the hardest schools to get into. UPenn is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has a student body of nearly 10,000 students.
20. Vanderbilt University
Next on the list of hardest schools to get into is Vanderbilt—our final school with a 7% acceptance rate. Vanderbilt is in Nashville, Tennessee and is known for its research, creative teaching, and commitment to building community. If you want a prestigious education in the country music capital of the U.S., Vanderbilt might be a good fit for you.
21. Colby College
A small liberal arts college in Maine, Colby College is next on our list of hardest schools to get into. Colby has around 2,300 undergraduates and boasts an 8% acceptance rate. On campus, you’ll find a tight-knit and inclusive community with a New England feel. If you’re into the outdoors, you’ll love the miles of walking, running, and hiking trails surrounding campus.
22. Williams College
Another small liberal arts college, Williams is located in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. Students can expect to engage in experiential learning and receive a community-oriented, hands-on education. Though Williams and Amherst might seem similar, don’t get them confused—the two schools are rivals. Like Colby, Williams has an acceptance rate of 8%.
23. Barnard College
If Columbia seems exciting but the 4% acceptance rate scares you, consider Barnard College—if you’re a woman, that is. Barnard is a women’s college that’s still a part of Columbia, so you get all of the perks of a women’s college without losing access to the resources and community of a bigger school. It’s directly across from Columbia, and students from both colleges have the option to share classes, facilities, and extracurriculars. Barnard’s acceptance rate is 9%.
24. Bowdoin College
The next small liberal arts school on our list of hardest schools to get into, is Bowdoin. Located in Maine, Bowdoin has an undergraduate size of just under 2,000 students. So if you’re looking for a reputable but intimate educational experience, look no further than Bowdoin. The acceptance rate at Bowdoin College is 9%.
25. Rice University
The next to last school on our list of hardest schools to get into is Rice. This midsize, private university is one of the few low acceptance rate colleges not located on either coast. Rice’s campus in Houston, TX is home to about 4,500 students. It’s ranked #17 out of all universities in the U.S and has a similarly competitive 9% acceptance rate.
26. University of California, Los Angeles
We’re rounding out our list of the hardest colleges to get into with UCLA. UCLA’s 9% acceptance rate ranks this public research university among the most selective in the country. This Los Angeles school is known for the quality and breadth of its academics, with high-ranking programs in engineering, economics, psychology, and nursing.
Every school on this list is competitive, prestigious, and challenging to get into. However, two schools top our list for one very specific reason.
What college has the lowest acceptance rate?
While you may think there’s just one answer to what college has the lowest acceptance rate, there’s actually two. The Harvard acceptance rate and Caltech acceptance rate are both tied at 3%. However, Harvard and Caltech are very different schools, and have different class sizes as well as total applicants.
At Harvard, there are around 6,000 undergraduates, and 56,937 applied. At Caltech, there are only 1,000 undergraduates, and 13,136 applied. Caltech is overall a much more specialized school, so fewer students apply and an even more select few are admitted.
To know how to get into Caltech, or Harvard for that matter, you’ll need to be crystal clear about why you want to attend. Many students apply based solely on the grounds of a school’s prestige. To make your application stand out, you need to demonstrate why Caltech or Harvard is your dream school and why attending is so important to reaching your future goals.
What Ivy League college has the lowest acceptance rate?
The answer to what college has the lowest acceptance rate is the same as what ivy league college has the lowest acceptance rate: Harvard. While all Ivies are known for having some of the lowest college acceptance rates of all colleges, Harvard has generally been the most selective.
This past year, Harvard’s acceptance rate for the class of 2027 was “the second-lowest admissions rate in the College’s history:” 3.41%. That percentage is extremely low, even by ivy-league standards.
Are Ivy League colleges the most selective schools in the US?
In general, Ivy League colleges are considered to be the most selective schools in the U.S. Therefore, they have a reputation of being the hardest colleges to get into. However, the Ivies don’t have total dominion over the lowest college acceptance rates.
As we saw from our list, acceptance rates at other schools can be just as low, if not lower, than the Ivies. Just look at the MIT or Stanford acceptance rate! Caltech and Duke are also notable exceptions to the Ivy-trend.
With more and more schools boasting lower and lower acceptance rates, it begs the question – what is driving this trend?
Why are the acceptance rates so low?
These college acceptance rates might look frighteningly low. But the issue of acceptance rates is more complicated than it looks. Even though many acceptance rates have recently reached historic lows, these low rates are ultimately just the result of more applicants applying for the same number of spots.
One of the reasons for this spike is test-optional policies that were employed during COVID-19. Though these policies caused more students to apply to schools all across the country, the trend is most pronounced at the most selective schools. Another reason is that systems like the Common App make it easy for students to apply to many schools, including the hardest colleges to get into.
Additionally, colleges are focused on improving their ranking as well as yield rates. Having more applicants ultimately helps a college accomplish both by driving down acceptance rates and increasing the diversity and number of qualified applicants. While acceptance rates may seem particularly low, it’s important to understand selective schools have always been selective. For you, that means don’t let this year’s low acceptance rates deter you from applying!
Is a low acceptance rate good?
The lowest acceptance rate colleges are often considered some of the most elite universities in the world. However, having the lowest acceptance rate is not necessarily a good or bad thing. It’s easy to assume that some of the hardest colleges to get into are the best schools out there. In reality, having the lowest acceptance rate signals the popularity of a specific school or college amongst applicants. This means that a lot of students apply to the lowest acceptance rate colleges and compete for a limited number of spots.
Moreover, selectivity does not reflect the quality of a school’s academic programs. The hardest schools to get into and the lowest acceptance rate colleges may not be the best fit for every student. While schools with the lowest acceptance rate may come with benefits, you may find a better fit elsewhere. So, remember, a low acceptance rate is neither good nor bad. But, that doesn’t mean you should forget about college acceptance rates when doing your college search! In fact, they play an integral role in creating a balanced college list.
Should I apply to low acceptance rate colleges?
Don’t let the lowest acceptance rate colleges intimidate you – if you feel connected to a school and excited about the prospect of attending, you should plan to apply. The hardest colleges to get into can offer robust resources, such as small class sizes, advanced research facilities, accomplished faculty, and strong need-based financial aid programs. While college acceptance rates do not necessarily reflect a school’s quality, some of the lowest acceptance rate colleges offer a unique experience not found elsewhere.
Applying to the hardest schools to get into can feel daunting, but we encourage students to include the lowest acceptance rate colleges on their college list. If you plan to apply to the hardest colleges to get into, just be sure to balance your college list.
Including low acceptance rate colleges in your college list
College acceptance rates play a huge role in college list creation. If you’re looking to apply to the hardest colleges to get into, making sure you have a balanced college list is key. We encourage students to ensure they have a good balance of reach, target, and safety schools.
Reach schools
The lowest acceptance rate colleges are often considered reach schools for most students. Typically, reach schools are the hardest schools to get into on any given college list, therefore you should not only apply to the lowest acceptance rate colleges. Thoughtfully balancing your college list is a great way to strategically apply to the hardest colleges to get into. If you get into them, great! And if not, you’ll have a backup plan.
Target schools
Target schools are those in which a student matches the average student profile and whose college acceptance rates fall within a standard range. Each student will have different target schools, so it’s important to do your research to make sure your target schools do not have the lowest acceptance rate.
Safety schools
Safety schools are typically the colleges with the highest acceptance rates. Applying to one or two colleges with the highest acceptance rates ensures that you will have at least one college in which to enroll. As with target schools, safety schools will vary with each student. Typically, safety schools have college acceptance rates of more than 75%.
It’s important to balance your college list with various reach, target, and safety schools. Research the college acceptance rates for each school, and understand that the lowest acceptance rate colleges are usually the hardest colleges to get into. Balancing your college list will make sure your college application journey goes smoothly, and that you aren’t putting all your eggs in one basket!
Are low acceptance rate colleges considered reach schools?
The lowest acceptance rate colleges should always be considered reach schools. You should carefully balance your college list if you’re interested in the hardest colleges to get into. There are no guarantees when it comes to the college application process. So even if you’re a top applicant, the school with the lowest acceptance rate should always be a reach school.
For example, an unbalanced college list could include Caltech, Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Stanford. While someone may be interested in all of these schools, it’s not wise to craft a college list of only Ivy League schools as well as other lowest acceptance rate colleges. Both the Harvard acceptance rate and Caltech acceptance rate fall at 3%, according to U.S. News. With both the Harvard and Caltech acceptance rate falling well below 10%, it’s unwise to only apply to these schools.
Honing on on specific reach schools
To help balance out this particular college list, the student should focus on one of the lowest acceptance rate colleges. If this student wants to focus their energy on applying to Caltech, researching Caltech admissions trends is smart. Simply looking up “how to get into Caltech” is a great place to start. The Caltech admissions page and our guide on How to Get Into Caltech are also great resources to tap into.
Focusing on only one of the hardest schools to get into is a better strategy than spreading out your focus amongst so many highly competitive schools. Safety and target schools with similar programs but higher acceptance rates can then be added to this college list.
Applying to reach schools, especially the lowest acceptance rate colleges, requires a lot of time and energy. Ensuring your college list is balanced will allow you to make the best college enrollment decision for you and your family.
Applying to low vs high acceptance rate schools
Regardless of whether you’re applying to the lowest acceptance rate colleges, colleges with the highest acceptance rates, or a combination of the two, the application process will be the same. Students will apply via the Common App or Coalition App and should plan to submit a personal essay, as well as any supplemental essays required by the college. Application requirements may differ among colleges, so it’s important to research and review the admissions webpage for each school.
While we know the answer to what is an acceptance rate–why does it matter if the application process is always the same? Remember, a school’s acceptance rate is the percentage of students who gain an offer of admission out of all the applicants. So the lowest acceptance rate schools are typically the hardest colleges to get into. Colleges with the highest acceptance rates may come with a higher chance of admission.
However, it’s important to put the same amount of effort and care into all of your applications. You should work to submit your strongest application possible to each school, regardless of acceptance rate. And, if you’re aiming for the lowest acceptance rate colleges, crafting the strongest application possible will ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward!
Low acceptance rates: Early Decision vs. Regular Decision
If you’re planning to apply to the lowest acceptance rate colleges, you may consider applying Early Decision or Early Action. In general, Early Decision application cycles tend to have higher acceptance rates than Regular Decision. This is for a variety of reasons, but generally, the applicant pool for Early Decision tends to be smaller. Therefore, even the hardest colleges to get into see a slight increase in their acceptance rates for that earlier application deadline.
So, just how much does the acceptance rate increase? Well, we can look at Columbia University as an example. For the Class of 2026, the Regular Decision Columbia acceptance rate was 3.73%, however, the Early Decision Columbia acceptance rate was 10.31%. While the acceptance rate does tend to increase for Early Decision applicants, Columbia is still one of the hardest schools to get into, regardless of when you apply. Ultimately, the lowest acceptance rate colleges will still have very low acceptance rates for Early Decision deadlines.
Why Early Decision
You should not apply Early Decision solely to boost your admissions odds. If you are confident that a particular school is your dream school, and that you are willing to fully commit to attending, then applying Early Decision is a great option. However, if your dream school is one of the hardest colleges to get into, you must have enough time to craft your best application. Early Decision deadlines are typically in the fall, so applying early requires careful planning.
Early Decision also tends to attract the most competitive and interested candidates. While the lowest acceptance rate colleges may see a slight increase in Early Decision acceptance rates, students are competing against some of the strongest candidates. Additionally, Early Decision is a binding agreement, meaning that you’re expected to attend if admitted. If you want flexibility and options when it comes to making an enrollment decision, applying early may not be right for you.
If you’re planning to apply to any of the hardest schools to get into, being intentional with your application and timing is key. In the next section, we’ve compiled 10 tips to help you apply to the lowest acceptance rate colleges.
Ten Tips to Increase your admission odds at top colleges
As you prepare your college list, be sure you understand college acceptance rates and how they will impact your application plan. If you’re interested in applying to the hardest colleges to get into, then we’ve got some tips to help you tackle your applications. Here are our tips on applying to the hardest schools to get into:
Tips for Acceptance at Top Colleges
1. Do your research!
Our first tip is to research, research, research! You can start off by looking up what college has the lowest acceptance rate on your list. For example, the MIT acceptance rate is 4.8%, making it one of the hardest colleges to get into. If you’re looking to apply to MIT, understanding the student profiles and academic benchmarks can help prepare you to overcome the low MIT acceptance rate. Additionally, it’s important to understand why you’re applying to the lowest acceptance rate colleges. You should be able to explain which courses, programs, and resources speak to you.
2. Take challenging courses
Many of the lowest acceptance rate colleges are notoriously challenging. You should plan to take the most advanced courses your high school has to offer to help demonstrate your ability to succeed in difficult coursework. If your school has AP or IB courses, be sure to work with your guidance counselor to make sure you’re able to take advantage of these offerings. Many of the hardest colleges to get into will consider the course offerings you had available and compare them to the classes you were enrolled in. Set yourself up for success by choosing challenging coursework and showing schools what you’re capable of!
3. Maintain a strong GPA
While it’s in your best interest to take the most challenging classes, it’s also crucial that you maintain a strong GPA. Many of the lowest acceptance rate colleges have very high GPA averages for their freshmen classes, so your GPA must be competitive. For example, the Stanford acceptance rate is 4%, and the average applicant has a high school GPA of 3.9. If you’re looking to overcome the low Stanford acceptance rate, making sure your GPA remains strong is key. Be sure to prevent a senior-year grade slip as well–most colleges will require your mid-year grade report as part of your application.
4. Hone in on your extracurriculars
The hardest colleges to get into look for well-rounded students. This means that you should develop robust extracurricular activities. Getting involved in activities outside of the classroom is necessary for your application to stand out. The lowest acceptance rate colleges often look for students who are leaders in their communities. Therefore, you should plan to seek out leadership opportunities in the clubs or organizations with which you’re involved. Taking initiative and focusing on your passions goes a long way. And it can give you the skills and experience you need to get into your lowest acceptance rate school.
5. Prepare to take the ACT/SAT
While many colleges have adapted a test-optional policy, strong ACT or SAT scores will only strengthen your application. For example, the Brown acceptance rate is 5%. They detail the SAT and ACT scores for their applicants on their admissions webpage. Most Brown students scored between 750-800 for both sections of the SAT or scored between 35-36 on the ACT. These high average scores explain the low Brown acceptance rate. Be sure to research what college has the lowest acceptance rate on your college list, and research the average SAT/ACT score. Plan to prepare for the SAT/ACT. That means researching what your school offers for SAT/ACT prep and taking as many practice tests as you can!
6. Build relationships with your recommenders
Recommendation letters are a major part of the college application process. Your recommenders should be able to speak to your character and unique strengths as an applicant. Building strong relationships with your recommenders is the best way to ensure that your college recommendation letters accurately reflect your accomplishments. Many of the lowest acceptance rate colleges will require 2 different letters of recommendation, so it’s a good idea to ask for recommendations early. This will give your recommenders plenty of time to prepare and craft the best recommendation letter for your application.
7. Write stellar application essays
College application essays are the only opportunity you have to speak directly to the admissions team at your lowest acceptance rate schools. College essays help applicants showcase their personality and unique traits. Writing a compelling and memorable college essay can help you expand on your resume and experiences. This can provide crucial context for admissions officers that helps them understand you better. Reading essay examples from the hardest colleges to get into can give you a sense of the caliber of successful college essays. Starting your essays early and incorporating feedback is a great way to ensure that you submit the best version of your college essay.
8. Craft a compelling application narrative
Applying to the lowest acceptance rate colleges requires careful thought and preparation. Crafting an application narrative is a great way to ensure that you have thought through how you want to present yourself to these colleges. Thinking about your career goals, past experiences, and your motivations for applying to a school can help you hone your narrative to best represent who you are. What story do you want your application to tell? How does your application reflect who you are and what you hope to accomplish? College acceptance rates can be intimidating, but having confidence in your narrative and experiences can help you navigate the application cycle!
9. If you are absolutely sure of your choice – apply early!
As we discussed in previous sections, applying Early Action or Early Decision can have benefits at the lowest acceptance rate colleges. Once you’ve crafted your college list, research what college has the lowest acceptance rate. If you’re passionate about attending that school and are ready to commit entirely, applying early can help your chances at the hardest colleges to get into. Schools offer early application cycles for students who are dedicated and excited about their campus. Therefore, it can be a great opportunity to demonstrate your commitment. College acceptance rates change for EA and ED students, so applying early can be a smart strategy.
10. Reach out for admissions guidance
Applying to college is hard. With so many deadlines and requirements to consider, asking for help is a great way to ensure your application is the best it can be. The hardest schools to get into are highly competitive by nature, and a lot of students have assistance as they apply. Ask your teachers and mentors to help you through the process, and reach out to admissions offices if you have specific application questions. Balancing schoolwork and college applications is challenging for many students. However, feeling supported throughout the application process can make a huge difference.
More resources from CollegeAdvisor
Applying to the lowest acceptance rate colleges can be intimidating. To help support you, we’ve compiled different CollegeAdvisor resources to help you navigate applying to the hardest schools to get into.
If you’re looking to build your college list and want to know the acceptance rate at a particular school, you can read our guide on Acceptance Rates by School. And if you’re still asking yourself, “What is an acceptance rate?”, read our general guide on College Acceptance Rates and the Admission Process.
Ivy League schools
For students interested in the hardest colleges to get into, we have plenty of resources on Ivy League schools. You can read about the Ivy League College Application Process and How Ivy League Admissions Officers Rate Your Application to help you understand the overall process. We also have a guide on Ivy League Essay Examples to help you write your best college essay for the lowest acceptance rate colleges.
Writing college essays
In addition to Ivy League-specific resources, CollegeAdvisor has plenty of resources on writing college essays, including 9 College Essay Tips on How to Write Better Essays and The Ultimate Guide to Supplemental Essays. No matter what part of the college application process you need help with, CollegeAdvisor has a resource to make the process easier!
Colleges with Lowest Acceptance Rates – Final Takeaways
Applying to the lowest acceptance rate colleges can be daunting and requires a lot of preparation and planning. To help you prepare, we started by answering the question of “what is an acceptance rate.” Then we provided details on the hardest colleges to get into, as well as information on how acceptance rates are calculated and what they mean for your college list. We also included tips for applying to the lowest acceptance rate colleges and how to strategically build a balanced college list.
CollegeAdvisor is here to help you apply to the hardest schools to get into, including the lowest acceptance rate colleges. We have plenty of guides on the lowest acceptance rate colleges, and resources on perfecting your college application. No matter where you are on your college application journey, CollegeAdvisor is here to help!
This article was written by senior advisors Jess Klein and Rachel Kahn. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.
