<p>Absolutely true that a lower acceptance rate does not necessarily mean self-selection, but in the case of Chicago, that is certainly true. It is also true of single-sex colleges like Smith and Mount Holyoke, which are more rigorous than their selectivity would suggest, because they appeal to a much smaller population than Amherst or Williams. Fewer students are interested in, or prepared for, the intensity of academics at Chicago. Its reputation as a “grind” is well-earned.</p>