(Source: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)Here's an article on just how selective North Carolina colleges and universities have become. Duke, of course, has long been a tough nut to crack, and UNC Chapel Hill isn't easy, either. These days, people turned away from those schools are "trickling down" to other UNC campuses, such as Greensboro and Charlotte. The result? Those universities are no longer safety schools.



The situation in North Carolina mirrors what's going on around the country. As elite colleges turn away more and more students, second-tier institutions eagerly woo their applications. And it trickles down to even lower tiers. That's why high school students, on average, are applying to increasing numbers of colleges and widening their geographic scope. Colleges, in turn, are becoming more selective. Just take a look at the U.S. News rankings over the past few years and you'll notice the difference, especially among colleges falling below the top 20.

I'm glad I went to college when it was only exceedingly difficult to get into a top school. Now it's all but impossible (or so goes the rhetoric). That said, everyone knows you don't need an elite pedigree to succeed. Just ask UNC Charlotte's Clay Aiken.