Colleges for a low-key high-achiever?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pomona is hard but students aren't competitive (and you can't beat the west coast vibe). Wesleyan has great academics but is relatively chill.

Maybe, but it’s the most difficult SLAC to get into I. The US and very small (although part of the Claremont colleges). State honors program of Jefferson Scholars at UVA offer more options.

*or* Jefferson Scholars at UVA. Sorry for typo.

[Anonymous]

Frostburg. It’s becoming more prestigious and selective, and they are getting a new state of the art dorm. Lots of kids around where I live are turning down UMCP and UMBC to go to Frostburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frostburg. It’s becoming more prestigious and selective, and they are getting a new state of the art dorm. Lots of kids around where I live are turning down UMCP and UMBC to go to Frostburg.

Doubting they are attracting OPs level of student even if they are seeing more applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frostburg. It’s becoming more prestigious and selective, and they are getting a new state of the art dorm. Lots of kids around where I live are turning down UMCP and UMBC to go to Frostburg.

Doubting they are attracting OPs level of student even if they are seeing more applications.

They actually are. Their acceptance rate for this year went down by around 15%.

[Anonymous]

That probably has more to do with choices related to the pandemic than improved product at Frostburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That probably has more to do with choices related to the pandemic than improved product at Frostburg.

Lots of kids who go to Frostburg for undergrad go to T20s for grad school.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Rice. My dd just graduated last year and I can't say enough about her experience, friends, and post-college opportunities. While the experience at Rice was academically challenging, the students are very supportive of one another and set high goals for themselves. She got hired by the first place that interviewed her -- one and done. She majored in psychology and is now working at a psych research lab. She's planning on getting her PhD or PsyD in psych after this job.

[Anonymous]

It seems like he would thrive anywhere and a state school works for that type of kid

[Anonymous]

Wesleyan. Very low key, but very smart kids. Maybe a little competitive, but kinda a hippie school too. Kids go their own way, so an independent student would do well there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once he gets in, some of the top schools are fine. I would say Stanford or Brown if he can get in. Good luck.

He doesn't want a competitive cutthroat place. Brown and Stanford are FULL of cutthroat competitive kids. Yeah there are some chill geniuses, but most are hyper-competitive at both schools. I'd skip both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wesleyan. Very low key, but very smart kids. Maybe a little competitive, but kinda a hippie school too. Kids go their own way, so an independent student would do well there.

Why do you think it’s low key? Or what do you mean by that? I went there. Did not find it competitive (but I think premed may be). But it’s an intellectually intense place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Rice. My dd just graduated last year and I can't say enough about her experience, friends, and post-college opportunities. While the experience at Rice was academically challenging, the students are very supportive of one another and set high goals for themselves. She got hired by the first place that interviewed her -- one and done. She majored in psychology and is now working at a psych research lab. She's planning on getting her PhD or PsyD in psych after this job.

This is great to hear! It's on my DC's list and I am apprehensive b/c it's so far away. And Texas. But I keep hearing good things about it. She liked the idea of the residential colleges and the way that kids seem to double major/focus on more than just one thing...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Salisbury, Stevenson, St. Mary’s College of MD, Frostburg.

Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Rice. My dd just graduated last year and I can't say enough about her experience, friends, and post-college opportunities. While the experience at Rice was academically challenging, the students are very supportive of one another and set high goals for themselves. She got hired by the first place that interviewed her -- one and done. She majored in psychology and is now working at a psych research lab. She's planning on getting her PhD or PsyD in psych after this job.

This is great to hear! It's on my DC's list and I am apprehensive b/c it's so far away. And Texas. But I keep hearing good things about it. She liked the idea of the residential colleges and the way that kids seem to double major/focus on more than just one thing...

DS went to Rice and loved it. One of the best things about Rice for DMV kids is the opportunity to get off the east coat and see a different part of the country. That said, Houston is the most diverse city in America and extremely liberal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Rice. My dd just graduated last year and I can't say enough about her experience, friends, and post-college opportunities. While the experience at Rice was academically challenging, the students are very supportive of one another and set high goals for themselves. She got hired by the first place that interviewed her -- one and done. She majored in psychology and is now working at a psych research lab. She's planning on getting her PhD or PsyD in psych after this job.

This is great to hear! It's on my DC's list and I am apprehensive b/c it's so far away. And Texas. But I keep hearing good things about it. She liked the idea of the residential colleges and the way that kids seem to double major/focus on more than just one thing...

For a safety, I think Franklin & Marshall has residential colleges (~freshmen start in dorm communities that take a seminar together, right in their dorm. I liked the built in sense of community.)