Hardest Major: What Competitive Exam Students Need to Know

The moment someone says they're choosing a major, there’s always that one question: Is it going to be tough? And when you throw competitive exams into the mix, things can get crazy fast. Picking a degree isn’t just about passion or job prospects—sometimes it’s about survival. If you're staring at lists of majors and wondering if the stories about all-nighters and impossible exams are just drama, you’re not alone.

The truth is, some majors are tough by design. It’s not just about how many books you have to read, but also about how competitive the entrance process is, especially in countries like India or China. Fields like medicine, engineering, and law aren’t famous for being easy for a reason—they ask a lot before you even start. Most folks prepping for these majors end up juggling coaching classes, mock tests, and more stress than they’d ever imagined in high school.

• What Makes a Major 'Hard'?
• The Usual Suspects: Majors With the Toughest Entrance Exams
• Breaking Down Study Loads and Expectations
• Stories From the Trenches: Real Student Experiences
• Smart Strategies for Tackling the Hardest Majors

What Makes a Major 'Hard'?

If you ask ten people what the hardest major is, you’ll probably get ten different answers. But not all majors make you pull all-nighters or sweat through entrance exams the same way. What actually makes a major hard? It’s about more than just tough textbooks or confusing theories.

Here are some real reasons why certain majors earn a tough reputation in the world of competitive exams:

• Entrance Exam Pressure: Some degrees demand insanely high scores to even get your foot in the door. For example, scoring in the top 1% in JEE (for engineering) or NEET (for medicine) is expected for entry to good colleges in India.
• Huge Syllabus: Majors like medicine and engineering pack in years of science, math, and real-world problem-solving. The syllabus alone can fill up a bookshelf.
• Intensity of Study: Forget about memorizing facts – some majors want you to connect dots, solve tricky problems, and think on your feet. You’ll often find yourself buried in assignments or lab work till late at night.
• Competition: When thousands (or lakhs) of students are eyeing the same seat, the pressure skyrockets. Engineering spots in IITs or medical seats in government colleges are limited and don’t go easy on anyone.
• Application of Knowledge: Some degrees aren’t just about writing good answers but applying complex concepts under pressure—think case studies in law, surgeries in medicine, or coding problems in computer science.

Here’s a quick look at the kind of acceptance rates that make these majors so brutal:

So, if a major is known for tough entries, massive workloads, and ruthless competition, it probably deserves its spot on the hardest majors list. But remember—what’s hard for one person could feel natural for someone else. It really comes down to knowing yourself and what challenges you’re ready to face.

The Usual Suspects: Majors With the Toughest Entrance Exams

Ask anyone familiar with competitive exams and they’ll tell you—some majors have this reputation for being absolute monsters when it comes to getting in. If your dream is to land a seat in engineering, medicine, or law, you’re signing up for some of the toughest selection processes in the world.

Let’s talk about medicine first. In India, the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is notorious. Every year, about 2.3 million students take the exam, but only around 100,000 snag a seat at government medical colleges. That’s an acceptance rate of less than 5%, and private college fees can be steep. No surprise this gets called one of the hardest majors, right?

Engineering has its own beast: the IIT-JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) for the Indian Institutes of Technology. The competition is fierce—nearly 1.5 million students battle it out for about 16,000 seats. The math? That’s just a 1% shot at making the cut. You need crazy strong problem-solving skills and nerves of steel.

Law isn’t much easier. The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) for the top National Law Universities sees more than 60,000 aspirants for fewer than 3,000 seats. Those who get in end up prepping hard for months, balancing mock tests and learning mountains of current affairs and legal reasoning. No easy ride there either.

Let’s put some of the numbers side by side for a quick look:

These numbers aren’t just for show—they reveal how high the bar really is. Everyone gunning for these challenging degrees ends up spending at least a year (often two or more) just prepping for entrance, sometimes full-time. If you’re picking one of these majors, you’re basically agreeing to a marathon before your actual course even starts.

Breaking Down Study Loads and Expectations

When people talk about the hardest major, they’re not kidding about the workload. Take medicine, for example. Medical students often put in 10 to 12 hours a day, sometimes even more during exam season. It’s not just memorizing facts – it’s understanding disease processes, anatomy, and not panicking during clinical rounds. A survey from the Association of American Medical Colleges found that medical students in the US average about 35-40 hours of class and clinical time a week, and then spend another 20 or so on self-study.

Then there’s engineering. It sounds like endless math problems and late-night project work because that’s exactly what it is. Engineering undergraduates at top institutions, like IITs, often deal with at least five solid hours of lectures a day, not even counting labs and assignments. One NIT student shared,

“You get used to staying up until 2 a.m. to finish problem sets. If you don’t? You fall behind real fast.”

It’s not just these two, either. Law students deal with reading lists the size of small novels. Competitive exam aspirants prepping for majors like chartered accountancy (CA) in India regularly put in 10+ hour study days for months on end. Here’s a quick comparison:

The grind doesn’t stop once you finish your classes for the day. The real expectation is you’ll use every spare minute revising, practicing, or prepping for the next round of exams. And if you’re aiming for the top, that ‘spare minute’ pretty much disappears for years at a stretch.

If you’re wondering why there’s such a high burnout rate in challenging degrees, look at the numbers and constant pressure to outpace the competition. Whether it’s keeping up with endless formulas or remembering complicated legal terminology, the study load isn’t for the faint of heart.

Stories From the Trenches: Real Student Experiences

Ask anyone braving a hardest major and they'll tell you—no two stories are the same, but most share the wild ride of uncertainty and long nights. Let’s check out what students who got into or survived challenging degrees really go through, especially those who battled competitive exams.

Take NEET aspirants in India, for example. The competition is cutthroat—over 2.1 million students appeared for NEET UG in 2024, fighting for around 100,000 MBBS seats. For most, that means waking up before sunrise, studying ten-plus hours, and barely stepping outside. Riya, who bagged an MBBS seat last year, shared, “I didn't see a movie for two years. My social life was just my biology textbook and group study calls.” Similar stories come from JEE Advanced candidates. Those looking to crack into IITs clock in at least 6-8 hours each day on top of school classes, weekly tests, and mock interviews. No breaks, no chill—just the grind.

Even after clearing the entrance hurdle, the pressure doesn’t let up. First-year B.Tech students at IITs talk about weekly quizzes in almost every subject and three-hour-long labs that break your brain. A friend of mine, Deepak, said, “Everyone here was a topper back home. Suddenly, you’re average. The real challenge is learning how to not burn out.”

Medical students echo that. First-year MBBS is called ‘the year that breaks you’ for a reason—it’s packed with anatomy dissections, ward rounds, and daily viva tests. Nisha, a second-year med student, said, “Failure is normal here. You fail, pick up, and study harder, or you’re out.”

If you’re eyeing competitive exams, it’s not just about mugging up facts. Most students lean on support systems—study groups, digital coaching apps, and even mental health counselors. Eating right, sleeping well (or at least trying), and talking with family are all top tips that seasoned survivors swear by.

So if you think a challenging degree is just about brains, think again. It’s grit, support, and learning to bounce back every time you stumble that's the real gamechanger.

Smart Strategies for Tackling the Hardest Majors

Facing the hardest major and tough competitive exams isn’t just about being a genius—it’s mostly about playing it smart and keeping your cool under pressure. Students who make it through don’t always have the highest IQs, but they almost always have a practical plan. Here’s what actually helps.

• Break it Down: Don’t stare at the mountain—divide topics into weekly, bite-sized tasks. A shocking number of toppers actually use daily to-do lists for just 2-3 key concepts a day. Turns out, slow and steady works better than marathon cramming.
• Active Testing: Rereading isn’t enough. Research from Stanford shows practice tests help you remember info about 50% better than passive review. Mock exams, flashcards, and old question papers are gold. Try explaining tricky stuff to a friend—that’s when you know you’ve nailed it.
• Strategic Breaks: The Pomodoro technique (25 minutes study, 5 minutes break) is standard now, not just hype. It keeps your brain fresh and helps you avoid burnout. Apps like Forest or Focus Booster can help you stay on track.
• Smart Resources: For majors like engineering and medicine, the most successful students often use just 2-3 solid textbooks plus reliable online platforms (think NPTEL for Indian students, or Khan Academy for basics). Avoid drowning in materials—stick to what works, and revise well.
• Mental Health: Here’s a wild stat: a 2023 survey found around 65% of students in top-ranked tough majors faced anxiety before exams. Reach out if stress feels like too much—peer groups, mentors, or even quick chats with family can make a difference. No exam is worth wrecking your health.

Here’s a quick look at popular strategies students swear by:

One more underrated move: ask for help when you need it. Lots of folks try to go solo. Study groups and campus forums can actually save you tons of time, and everyone has something new to share. Remember, you’re not racing alone. Mock exams, spaced revision, healthy routines, and support turn the impossible into the doable.