The college selection process, when navigated correctly, is a time of self-assessment and personal growth. The choice of a college is arguably the most important decision a high school student will make. As a result, it is a stressful time for students and their families.
We all know the names of the colleges who turn away applicants in record numbers – Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford…and more recently, Duke, Northwestern, and Washington University – all undoubtedly fine institutions. But these represent fewer than 100 of the 2,400+ four-year colleges and universities nationwide.
What Do These Institutions Offer?
What do these institutions offer that the other 2,400 don’t? The Ivy League was started, after all, as an athletic conference. College rank, academic quality and professors’ reviews are based on the research completed at an institution, not on the quality of the teaching. Nevertheless, because they turn away applicants in greater numbers than other colleges, they have risen to the top of the college rankings. One Ivy actually increased its selectivity ranking by eliminating all distributional requirements, thereby encouraging free-thinking students to apply. They realized the more students who apply for admission, the more they could deny. And thus, they moved up the ladder.
Ask yourself: “Is X a good college for me?”
It is a myth that the harder a college is to get into, the better it is. College rankings in publications like US News focus on acceptance rate. The point is, a college’s rank is not a gauge of its educational quality. The Ivies should not take all the credit for the success of their graduates – their students were the country’s best and brightest before they arrived on their doorstep. When considering colleges, the important question to ask is not, “Is X a good college?” Instead, you should ask, “Is X a good college for me?”
Lesser-known Liberal Arts Institutions
In spite of accepting over 75% of their applicants, many lesser-known liberal arts institutions turn out PhD’s, scientists, physicians, attorneys, diplomats and business leaders out of all proportion to their selectivity.
At these institutions, you’ll find faculty that have fled the research treadmill of the large, prestigious universities to dedicate themselves to teaching undergraduates. Instead of lecture halls of 400 students, the largest classes seat 50 students, the smallest seat 4 or 5, and sometimes 1! If you check their success rate, you’ll find that their record of admission to medical, law, and business school rivals and sometimes surpasses even the Ivies’.
Additionally, because of the smaller numbers, it is easier for students to find their personal niche and become leaders, contributing to their campus community and the community at large, and building self-confidence along the way.
Never Feel That There is Only One Perfect College
Students should never feel that there is only one perfect college for them, that they’re a failure if they don’t get into College X. Colleges select their students based on many criteria. This year they might need a tuba player for the marching band, west coast students for geographic diversity, or math majors. It is impossible to predict, and it’s not personal. What matters is for students to attend a college where they can utilize their own special talents, be challenged academically, and fit in socially.
So, as you begin your research, make sure to check out some of the lesser-known selective liberal arts colleges. You may find that one of these less-selective colleges, which professionals call “hidden gems” is the perfect environment, one where you can get a great education, develop leadership skills, and prepare for your future.
You can learn more about these hidden gems from Loren Pope in his books Looking Beyond the Ivy League and Colleges That Change Lives.
© Copyright July, 2026
Northcoast Educational Consulting
