The Most Popular Unis in The World

Best Universities in the World

We all know how important it is to go to a good university. It will affect the type of graduate internships you can get and what connections you will have by the time you reach your chosen industry. 

Most universities are known for their world-class standards in higher education. These institutions are accredited to award academic degrees for completing units in certain academic disciplines. In terms of earning their popularity, universities become popular because of the reputation they hold. It’s either being strict with their quota or if an applicant will be an asset to them. Surprisingly, the harder it is to get admitted to a university, the more popular it becomes. This is because they allow the best of the best to sustain their position in producing top quality graduates. You have a better chance at getting into these Universities if you have good credentials; for example, an impressive international internship or work experience overseas. 

Let’s take a look at these popular universities published by University Ranking (UniRank).

MASSACHUSETS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT)

Admission rate: 0-10%
Location: 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 
02139-4307 Massachusetts
United States
Population Range: 50,000-249,999
Motto: Mens et Manus (Mind and Hand)
Accreditation/Recognition: Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the 
New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Due to the high demand for software engineers, computer scientists and web analysts, MIT sits at the number one spot as the best university in America and the world. It is a non-profit private institution that was established in 1861. Student enrollment ranges from 10,000 to 14,999 making it a huge co-ed institution for higher education. While international students have a chance of getting admitted, they still have to do well in their entrance examinations like the rest of the applicants. Moreover, a good, impressive past school record should be able to back it up. Its academic structure contains Departments for School of Science, School of Engineering, School of Architecture and Planning, School of Management and Humanities, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Whitaker College of Health Sciences and Technology.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Admission rate: 0-10%
Location: Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, 02138 Massachusetts United States
Population Range: 50,000-249,999
Motto: Veritas (Truth)
Accreditation/Recognition:
(1) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(2) Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International
(3) American Bar Association – Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
(4) Accreditation Board – Engineering and Technology

Many times, Harvard University has been featured in many movies with exemplary students representing its standards. “With Honors”, “The Great Debate”, “Legally Blonde” and “The Social Network” to name a few. You can tell how high Harvard’s standards are with the movie titles alone. But that’s not the only reason why it’s famous.

Since 1636, Harvard University had been honing outstanding students because of its selective admission. Prepscholar.com published specifically as of this writing, a 5.2% chance of getting into Harvard, provided they belong to the 75th percentile, with a grade of 1590 in the SAT’s or 35 in the ACT. This means, every 100 applicants, only 5.2 (make that 5) are admitted. Harvard Law alone receives more or less 7,000 applications a year, while it considers international applicants as well. That being said, an enrollment range of 35,000-39,999 per year isn’t that much considering the rest of the courses and programs offered by this coed higher education institution. All in all, it requires you to be on top of your class from the beginning. So, if what it takes is a strong application to enter Harvard, then that’s what you got to have. It wouldn’t be the second-best university in the world and the U.S. for no reason. This non-profit private higher institution’s academic structure has a strong faculty, varied graduate schools and is affiliated with Associated Universities, National Collegiate Athletic Association and many more.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Admission rate: 0-10%
Location: 450 Serra Mall, Stanford 94305 California United States
Population Range: 50,000-249,999
Motto: Die luft der freiheit weht (The wind of freedom blows)
Accreditation/Recognition: WASC Senior College and University Commission

For a worldly rank of being the third best university, Stanford University holds a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students’ academic performance, records, and grades from primary to secondary. It imposes the same policy that Harvard University and MIT practice. This multi-branched higher education institution is non-profit and private with 15,000-19,999 enrollees every year. This coed university had been long-standing for 134 years welcoming applicants including international ones who have impressive grades. Specifically, in the ACT (32-35) or SAT (1440-1560) and an average high school GPA of 4.18. Being in the top 3% of SAT takers is what’s typically required of the applicants. Stanford ranks as the lowest admitting university in California because of its acceptance rate of 5%. Collegesimply.com published that in 2018, 2,085 only out of 44,073 applicants got admitted. But 82% chose to enrol indicating that the majority of the students consider Stanford as their primary choice. Because it typically admits and attracts “A” students, the school year always starts with incoming freshmen who graduated belonging to the top 10% of their high school class. In that case, the competition in this university starts on Day 1.

The uniRank selection criteria are as follows intending to provide people a non-biased, yet critical enlisting of the best universities in the world:

  1. An appropriate higher education-related organization should charter, license and accredit the said university in each country.
  2. It should at least be offering 4-year bachelor’s degrees or master/doctoral degrees.
  3. It should be delivering its course and programs in a traditional, face-to-face classroom setting and follows a non-distance education format.

It’s imperative to have a little background about these schools as early as you can if you desire admission. The investment is on the academic foundation. It has to be sturdy enough to make it to these schools. Though the traditional school system that these universities utilize is continuously challenged by the outright information the internet provides, there are still no official replacements accredited to provide higher education other than a university.