What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Hardest Acceptance Rates

Slight panic here, folks! Do any of you know which college has the hardest acceptance rate? And could you explain why it's difficult?

a month ago

The college with the lowest acceptance rate, and therefore one of the most difficult to get into, is typically Stanford University. According to recent data, Stanford's acceptance rate has been hovering around 3.5%, making it the most competitive college in the US.

But why is Stanford so selective? In general, there are multiple factors. First, Stanford receives an overwhelming number of applications from highly qualified candidates each year. This is due in part to the institution's prestigious reputation, high caliber of education, and attractive location in Silicon Valley, which is a hub for tech and entrepreneurship.

Second, Stanford seeks students who demonstrate exceptional academic prowess, innovative thinking, and significant impact outside the classroom. They're looking for applicants with well-developed specialties, or "spikes", who have proven success in a specific field.

So, competition is fierce due to both the quantity and quality of applications received.

Something else to consider is that many applicants apply to Stanford under restrictive early action, which allows students with Stanford as their first-choice school to apply early (typically in November). These early applicants often have strong profiles and a clear interest in the school, further increasing the competitiveness.

Finally, though the acceptance rate is low, remember this is just one aspect of college admissions. The best approach is to focus on what you can control: your own academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and application materials, rather than fretting too much over the statistics.

a month ago

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