Which of the T20 schools have the least driven, intense, goal-oriented students?

[Anonymous]

I'm a parent of a freshman a T15 school. Kid thought they were selecting a place commensurate with their [holds nose] top credentials that would nonetheless have a lot of fun kids who don't take themselves seriously and prioritize having a good time. Spoiler alert: this is not UChicago.

Anyway, kid is wrong. Not every student at kid's school is a Tracy Flick, of course, but there are so many of them that the vibe is affected. The seriousness and intensity permeates the dorms, the quad, the on campus coffee places ...

I promise I'm not a troll. Kid is grateful for this opportunity but really surprised at how wrong they were.

[Anonymous]

Carleton

[Anonymous]

Washington & Lee, UCLA, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt come to mind

[Anonymous]

I don’t know but it’s a real issue. I tell my own children that they need to really make sure they pick a school that’s the best fit for them. I went to my reach and felt like your kid. I did not enjoy college and didn’t find my people, socially, there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington & Lee, UCLA, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt come to mind

Are these schools even top20?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it’s a real problem. You aren’t going to find a T20 that isn’t largely populated by Tracy Flicks. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Northwestern

[Anonymous]

"Having a good time" has never been UChicago's reputation, truly. It's always had a reputation as very academic and serious.

I don't know about now, but for example Dartmouth and Brown were viewed as more laid-back, even as a stereotype.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it’s a real problem. You aren’t going to find a T20 that isn’t largely populated by Tracy Flicks. Sorry.

+1. Being a grind is how most of these kids got in in the first place. I’m from NC and would say UNC— not quite T20, but close. They must take 80% in state, and their public school system ain’t all that. May be UVA competitive from RTP or Charlotte. But, there will be lots of kids who are solid, but took 5 APs and had some fun. I have to think UT- Austin and some UCs are the same, since the whole states aren’t insanely academically competitive. Also add UGA.

Now, Good luck transferring in OOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know but it’s a real issue. I tell my own children that they need to really make sure they pick a school that’s the best fit for them. I went to my reach and felt like your kid. I did not enjoy college and didn’t find my people, socially, there.

This is OP. The bolded is the crux. The underlined makes me want to have a drink on kid's behalf.

It's early in the game but kid is taking upper level classes with seniors and reports that there's not much chill as you get older, apparently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it’s a real problem. You aren’t going to find a T20 that isn’t largely populated by Tracy Flicks. Sorry.

+1. Being a grind is how most of these kids got in in the first place. I’m from NC and would say UNC— not quite T20, but close. They must take 80% in state, and their public school system ain’t all that. May be UVA competitive from RTP or Charlotte. But, there will be lots of kids who are solid, but took 5 APs and had some fun. I have to think UT- Austin and some UCs are the same, since the whole states aren’t insanely academically competitive. Also add UGA.

Now, Good luck transferring in OOS.

Interesting point. Kid applied (and visited) three of the schools that you list and was very excited about two. But they did ED elsewhere won a lottery prize. I will not say the word transfer but wonder if kid is contemplating ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know but it’s a real issue. I tell my own children that they need to really make sure they pick a school that’s the best fit for them. I went to my reach and felt like your kid. I did not enjoy college and didn’t find my people, socially, there.

This is OP. The bolded is the crux. The underlined makes me want to have a drink on kid's behalf.

It's early in the game but kid is taking upper level classes with seniors and reports that there's not much chill as you get older, apparently.

I’m sorry, you are quoting me. Give it time, maybe it will get better. I ended up with a happy life but it’s completely different than expected. Two years in I transferred out to a different school nearby. It was small and I was already living in that area. Honestly, it was more desperation than anything. I had a really good friend attending there and we got an apartment. I did a 180 in my major and went in a completely opposite direction. My mother was a little upset that I left this prestigious school to live off campus and not have “the college experience.” I was much happier living away from it all, working part time and at a low stress school with small classes. I really like the career I ended up in and don’t have regrets.

Maybe your kid just needs more time and will find his group. Maybe after a year he will surprise you by saying he applied to a different school. Be there to listen and be supportive. And have a drink with him when he comes home!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it’s a real problem. You aren’t going to find a T20 that isn’t largely populated by Tracy Flicks. Sorry.

Especially nowadays given what it takes to get into a t 20. Might have been different 25 years ago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it’s a real problem. You aren’t going to find a T20 that isn’t largely populated by Tracy Flicks. Sorry.

+1. Being a grind is how most of these kids got in in the first place. I’m from NC and would say UNC— not quite T20, but close. They must take 80% in state, and their public school system ain’t all that. May be UVA competitive from RTP or Charlotte. But, there will be lots of kids who are solid, but took 5 APs and had some fun. I have to think UT- Austin and some UCs are the same, since the whole states aren’t insanely academically competitive. Also add UGA.

Now, Good luck transferring in OOS.

UCs are insanely competitive if you’re talking about Berkeley and UCLA. Almost all the kids will be from the big metro areas-SF, LA,SD and high achievers,

[Anonymous]

I went to Rice (maybe not quite T20) because I wanted that less intense vibe and it was a perfect fit. Really, really bright kids who were interesting and didn’t take themselves too seriously. I feel like I grew into a happy adult, in large part, because of my college experience there.