Colleges w/ very strong academics but a more laid-back student population

[Anonymous]

Grinnell
Kenyon

[Anonymous]

Reed
Pitzer
Bowdoin
Oberlin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Reed?

It's very intellectual, but not super type A. Suburban location in Portland.

Reed is not a good place for people who are laid back. It's not type A in a let's get straight As and work at McKinsey kind of way, that's true. But it's kind of intense in a "I'm so dedicated to really intellectually grasping this course I'm taking that I haven't showered in 3 days and I live in the library." It's like alternative, academia obsessed type A rather than preprofessional type A.

Maybe schools like Pitzer, Occidental, Claremont McKenna, Lewis and Clark, and Skidmore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at big state schools - Wisconsin, Michigan...

This is what I was thinking too - large public schools.

I think the same - and try to get into the Honors College in one of these schools to have the cohort she may be looking for (i.e. intellectual type)

I agree. I went to a SLAC and everyone was the same- I'm planning to encourage my kids to larger state schools.

[Anonymous]

A second vote for Rice. My DD was looking for a similar atmosphere and found it at Rice. I'd describe the students --even those who are premed -- as far more collaborative than competitive.

[Anonymous]

Middlebury, Bowdoin, Bates

[Anonymous]

My daughter is a type B personality though she had top grades and scores like yours. She fell in love with Oberlin, the school and the town. When she came back from her first visit she described the students as chill, and that appealed to her. Having now visited with her for accepted students day I can see what she means. Great place with incredibly smart people but not cutthroat.

[Anonymous]

PP again. Just reread your post and had missed the "no Oberlin" part. FWIW, Oberlin doesn't feel like it's in the middle of nowhere like a Williams or Hamilton (which I loved). It's 30 minutes from Cleveland and pretty much off the highway. Have you been there and decided it's remote or just heard that? Just wanted to share that perspective because I was expecting remote and it wasn't. It also has great merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Outside a few schools like Swarthmore and MIT, most colleges are as laid back or intense as you want to make it. It often comes down more to the circle of friends you have than the school in question.

If you're a bright student and capable of handling a large workload, really, what is there to be afraid of?

[Anonymous]

UNC Chapel Hill, but it is extremely difficult to get into if you are out of state. Matches all OP's criteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Outside a few schools like Swarthmore and MIT, most colleges are as laid back or intense as you want to make it. It often comes down more to the circle of friends you have than the school in question.

If you're a bright student and capable of handling a large workload, really, what is there to be afraid of?

Agree with the above post. Also, keep in mind that her perceptions as a sophomore can really evolve by the time she becomes a senior. She may even seek out a more competitive environment so that she can reach her potential and be surrounded by equals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside a few schools like Swarthmore and MIT, most colleges are as laid back or intense as you want to make it. It often comes down more to the circle of friends you have than the school in question.

If you're a bright student and capable of handling a large workload, really, what is there to be afraid of?

Agree with the above post. Also, keep in mind that her perceptions as a sophomore can really evolve by the time she becomes a senior. She may even seek out a more competitive environment so that she can reach her potential and be surrounded by equals.

People who prefer competitive environments aren't somehow superior. She'd also be surrounded by her equals at other colleges and might be better able to realize her potential if she were in an environment where that (rather that winning or getting ahead) was the focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside a few schools like Swarthmore and MIT, most colleges are as laid back or intense as you want to make it. It often comes down more to the circle of friends you have than the school in question.

If you're a bright student and capable of handling a large workload, really, what is there to be afraid of?

Agree with the above post. Also, keep in mind that her perceptions as a sophomore can really evolve by the time she becomes a senior. She may even seek out a more competitive environment so that she can reach her potential and be surrounded by equals.

People who prefer competitive environments aren't somehow superior. She'd also be surrounded by her equals at other colleges and might be better able to realize her potential if she were in an environment where that (rather that winning or getting ahead) was the focus.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at big state schools - Wisconsin, Michigan...

This is what I was thinking too - large public schools.

I think the same - and try to get into the Honors College in one of these schools to have the cohort she may be looking for (i.e. intellectual type)

the honors colleges at big 10 schools are filled with those who used it as a safety OR got into lower ivies and couldn't afford it.

BUT they still are driven to want the same jobs/end results as those who go to penn for example.

people who are saying go to large publics are wrong. the upper tier of large publics have lots of 'chip on their shoulders' kids who are smart but know they have to grind 5x as hard as 'target school' kids because they have teh same aspirations.

OP's daughter would do best at a small private lac where there are way less gunner kids.

You crazy.

The kids in the honors program at my Big Ten school were just smart middle-class midwesterners. Not gunners. Chicago is a very large job market that people who live on the coasts seem to ignore. Not everyone has aspirations of IB in NYC.

[Anonymous]

Look at academic fit within Midwest schools. Generalizing but kids, even when internally driven, tend to be more cooperative as it's a social norm. When you visit colleges, take note that someone will stop to ask if they can help if you look lost.