What's a collaborative, happy yet very rigorous research university that's not Rice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:hopkins. student life has improved a lot with a ton of research opps.

columbia, penn also come to mind

I thought Hopkins was a grind, Columbia kids are miserable and Penn is pre-professional and competitive?

Hopkins is not at all what it used to be, and is notably easier for ED than any other T10 besides Chicago. They both have multiple ED rounds and generally admit "second tier" (just outside the top10% kids) students from private schools in ED, whereas plenty of top-everything Vals chose Penn, Dartmouth, Duke, Brown in ED.

Penn is no more competitive or preprofessional than any other T15/ivy, in fact less toxic than a couple of them, but is also not really an easier admit than HPYMS. All T10/ivy are "preprofessional"(lots of premeds, Econ/finance, prelaw). It has been like that since DH and I attended different ones then met at another for law school, '98. Even Chicago is preprofessional, no more "life of the mind" esoteric thinkers there than anywhere else.

Columbia from our private has slid to easier than other ivies for ED, though that is likely as it has many issues and a locked campus the past 2 years.

How is JHU an easier admit in ED round? ED acceptance is around 13% . Comparable to any ivy.

unhooked kids get in ED from the second decile routinely. That does not happen with the ivies. Chicago ED unhooked is often just outside the top20%. It is a feederish high school. There is a notable difference in selectivity with those two and other T10/ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably not highly ranked enough for you but William and Mary has a lot of similarities to Rice.

Caltech too if your kid is STEM focused.

DC's super nerdy personality may be a fit at Caltech (and she has the stats for it) but assume it's out of reach for someone without national-level competition ECs and it's another where-fun-goes-to-die school, no?

Don’t necessarily need national level competition, especially if female. And it’s definitely not a where-fun-goes-to-die school. They have a house system which creates great community and some of the houses are very much into partying. The houses also do these huge themed parties once or twice a year for the whole campus that are impressive - themes and set construction… The classes and research are very rigorous but the kids there are brilliant enough to handle them and having fun. But your kid must be certain she wants STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has the stats for any of the most selective schools but not focused on HYPMS due to unlikely odds. What are top schools that fit description but are more attainable like at U Chicago, Cornell level?

Already considering Rice but the Texas thing makes it not an ED choice.

I have a kid at Rice.

Really likes the positive atmosphere. And the residential college system. It's a smart school with friendly students. The internship opportunities have also been outstanding. And Houston is a very blue city. The downside has been the heat in September and May. But most of the academic year is very good, weather-wise.

You will not be meeting or engaging with right wing nutcases in Rice Village.

The other schools my Rice kid was interested in were MIT, Stanford, Princeton, McGill, UMD, USC, UC Boulder, Northwestern, Harvey Mudd, Penn, and Cornell.

But liked Rice more and applied ED and that was that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re perfectly describing UChicago- people love it there.

You mean where fun goes to die?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:hopkins. student life has improved a lot with a ton of research opps.

columbia, penn also come to mind

I thought Hopkins was a grind, Columbia kids are miserable and Penn is pre-professional and competitive?

Hopkins is extremely cutthroat. Exactly the opposite of collaborative.

[Anonymous]

U Mich all the way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re perfectly describing UChicago- people love it there.

You mean where fun goes to die?

For normies. Students love it there.

[Anonymous]

University of Rochester
Case Western
William and Mary

[Anonymous]

Northwestern University

WashUStL

[Anonymous]

Tufts, Rensselaer, Rochester, honors college at a state flagship

[Anonymous]

Lots of research at JHU and a collaborative group. My DS was able to get into a lab freshman year and has a great group of friends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WashU is small for a University and very collaborative. But if TX is out, MO may be as well (although it’s across the river from IL). Nice kids who seem to enjoy being there. Might be worth a look.

It's in MO. So there's that. Yes very close to IL if you need to leave the state.

[Anonymous]

Look at the Claremont Colleges in California, especially Pomona.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northeastern

Thanks. Our school Naviance showing plus 80%+ admit rate at Northeastern for RD and no one ends up matriculating in last 3 years so looking for something more selective. DC is top 10% at this school.

You do realize just about every applicant to Top STEM schools or at least in top 10 percent and most higher with top scores. It’s much than that and almost like a lottery these days. Buckle up for-the ride. You just seem overly confident which is good just be prepared.

[Anonymous]

It’s difficult for us to understand why someone would reject a college solely because it’s in a certain state. Seems short sighted at best