USC is a large school in Los Angeles, California with a rapidly declining acceptance rate. Our students (and students all over the world) love USC for its school spirit and excellent programs. Last year, it had an 11% acceptance rate. Fight on.

USC is a research university in Los Angeles, California. Last year, 66,000 people applied. For TKG clients, USC is one of our most applied to schools. It’s also the school that we receive the most emails about from blog readers. The acceptance rate for the class of 2023 was 11%.

Pomona College is a super small college near Los Angeles, CA. It’s a part of the Claremont Colleges, which consists of Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College (CMC), Harvey Mudd College, and Pitzer College. All of these schools are in Claremont, CA and share a somewhat collective campus spanning 1 square mile. These five undergraduate colleges are joined by two graduate institutions as well. Pomona is quite selective. They did not release their acceptance rate this year, but last year’s was 6.9% and we imagine that it was even lower. While they don’t have a totally open curriculum, their core requirements are flexible and can be satisfied across a broad range of departments so you can still take courses aligned with your interests. Let’s dive into their supplement.

Brandeis is a medium-sized research university with a focus on the liberal arts less than 10 miles from the heart of Boston. If you’re looking for an excellent education on a close-knit campus with access to a major city, it may be a perfect fit. The medium-sized undergraduate student body (~3,600) is small enough to quickly feel at home. At the same time, having a train station on campus (yes, on campus!) means that the amenities Boston has in spades are never more than 30 minutes away. In addition to a reputation for rigorous academics, Brandeis is known for a strong history of social justice work on campus. From the student takeover of Ford Hall in 1969 to the myriad student clubs focused on furthering social good initiatives, Brandeis expects students to be informed and active global citizens. Last year, the acceptance rate was 31%.

Barnard is an all women’s college in New York City. Just over 2,600 undergraduate students attend the school, and the acceptance rate for the class of 2023 was 11.3%. We’re big fans of the school and their supplement, but it’s worth noting that Barnard’s acceptance rate has hugely decreased over the past few years. Five years ago the acceptance rate was 23.8%.

Wellesley is a private women’s liberal arts college located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Students can cross-register courses at Babson College, Brandeis University, Olin College of Engineering, and MIT. Wellesley received over 6,000 applications last year, and the acceptance rate for the class of 2023 was 20%.

Emory University is a private college located in Atlanta, GA. While the school is not the best for those looking for a large, spirited athletic environment (there’s actually no football team), Emory is known for its rigorous academics, led by notable faculty who have included U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Deborah Lipstadt. Though its nested in the heart of the South, some say the school, with its vibrant Greek Life, is a little slice of the Northeast.

Colorado College has an acceptance rate of 15 percent. A private liberal arts college nestled in Colorado Springs. Its signifier is the Block Plan, a system by which students take classes for 3.5 weeks intensively, one at a time, followed by a four-day break in which everyone can take advantage of the incredible setting.  The school really wants to know that you’ll fit into the community. In fact, that’s the whole purpose of the essay.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public research university. Roughly 30,000 undergraduate students attend the school and campus is set on 936 acres. It’s a Big Ten school and Badger pride runs deep. The acceptance rate hovers around 51%.