Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?

[Anonymous]

I’m hoping to send my kid to a pragmatic school with equally ambitious peers — a place where students work hard and play hard (not just coast on grade inflation). Would you say these schools fit that kind of profile better?

[Anonymous]

What major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What major?

Econ or premed

[Anonymous]

Here's what I hear from my kid:

Duke: Segregated (white kids hang out in the Greek fields and party, and very fun; pan-Asian (non-Indian) all hang together, and So Asian hang together). Very socially segregated by race. Unexpected.

Northwestern: STEM is HARD. Pre-med worse. Quarter system sux. Humanities kids have a 4.0 and go out 3+ nights a week. Very fun social school for them and they love it. Gets better by the spring of soph year.

JHU: Everyone we know who is somewhat social wants to transfer. They are all pre-med.

CMU: don't know anyone personally.

UChicago: work hard, play hard. A lot of $$$ floating around that campus. The Greek scene is growing and lots of frat bros.

[Anonymous]

Work hard play hard: Penn, Duke, Dartmouth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's what I hear from my kid:

Duke: Segregated (white kids hang out in the Greek fields and party, and very fun; pan-Asian (non-Indian) all hang together, and So Asian hang together). Very socially segregated by race. Unexpected.

Northwestern: STEM is HARD. Pre-med worse. Quarter system sux. Humanities kids have a 4.0 and go out 3+ nights a week. Very fun social school for them and they love it. Gets better by the spring of soph year.

JHU: Everyone we know who is somewhat social wants to transfer. They are all pre-med.

CMU: don't know anyone personally.

UChicago: work hard, play hard. A lot of $$$ floating around that campus. The Greek scene is growing and lots of frat bros.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Work hard play hard: Penn, Duke, Dartmouth

I’m exploring non-Ivy options because of all the grade inflation and the constant chatter about it — not to mention the reputation for wealthy, overly polished students at the Ivies. I think the ideal balance would be a school with genuinely intellectual and hardworking students, but not ones who are overly nerdy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Work hard play hard: Penn, Duke, Dartmouth

I’m exploring non-Ivy options because of all the grade inflation and the constant chatter about it — not to mention the reputation for wealthy, overly polished students at the Ivies. I think the ideal balance would be a school with genuinely intellectual and hardworking students, but not ones who are overly nerdy.

Rice would be your best bet.

[Anonymous]

Rice is nerdy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Work hard play hard: Penn, Duke, Dartmouth

I’m exploring non-Ivy options because of all the grade inflation and the constant chatter about it — not to mention the reputation for wealthy, overly polished students at the Ivies. I think the ideal balance would be a school with genuinely intellectual and hardworking students, but not ones who are overly nerdy.

Rice would be your best bet.

100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rice is nerdy.

OP is happy with not "overly" nerdy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Work hard play hard: Penn, Duke, Dartmouth

I’m exploring non-Ivy options because of all the grade inflation and the constant chatter about it — not to mention the reputation for wealthy, overly polished students at the Ivies. I think the ideal balance would be a school with genuinely intellectual and hardworking students, but not ones who are overly nerdy.

Rice would be your best bet.

I was going to say the same. Rice is down to Earth and hard working while being fun and sane.

[Anonymous]

I have met several of DC's friends at JHU who are premed. Seem like great kids who have a lot of fun on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

I think a lower percentage of private school kids would be a good sign. But any of these “elite” schools are going to have a swath of monied and entitled kids. We toured a couple regional universities and it was striking how much more earnest, down to earth, and cost-conscious the kids seemed.

[Anonymous]

I could see WashU being a good one to explore.