Colleges w/ very strong academics but a more laid-back student population
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Anonymous
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We have a sophomore who looks likely to have a decent shot at some selective schools, based on PSAT scores and GPA + # of AP classes being taken. We looked casually at Penn and Swarthmore recently (happened to be there for other reasons), and my child was struck by how intense the students seemed. Thinking also about the kids we know who have gone to these and similar schools, our child just doesn't seem to fit with the overall temperament of the students. While she is unafraid of hard work and is quite strong academically, she is also very mellow, thinks of herself as someone who will strive to be "happy" over someone who will be "super successful" (her words) and has said that she won't be comfortable in a super-driven environment of type A kids.
Can people suggest schools that might be a good fit for her? She is open to women's colleges and doesn't seem to have an opinion on college size. Merit aid would be a plus. Location is a concern only in that she doesn't want to be "in the middle of nowhere," e.g., somewhere like Oberlin or Williams (which, but for location, would seem like possible options). A large college town or smaller city would be fine. People we know have suggested Brown and Columbia, which surprised me, but we are open to the possibilities. (Obviously, both would be long shots for anyone.) |
Anonymous
| rice, brown, dartmouth |
Anonymous
| My first thoughts are Sarah Lawrence, Hampshire or Mount Holyoke. |
Anonymous
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What about Reed?
It's very intellectual, but not super type A. Suburban location in Portland. |
Anonymous
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Illinois. It consistently ranks as #1 when combining party atmosphere with average starting salary.
It's big. Really big...so there's something for everyone. |
Anonymous
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Tufts, Wesleyan.
Not Dartmouth. |
Anonymous
| I would look at big state schools - Wisconsin, Michigan... |
Anonymous
| Pitt |
Anonymous
| Macalester--a small liberal arts college like Oberlin, but in a city. |
Anonymous
amherst, bowdoin |
Anonymous
| Stanford and Berkeley. There's no competitiveness but lots of individual drive. |
Anonymous
This is what I was thinking too - large public schools. |
Anonymous
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) |
Anonymous
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Pomona and Claremont McKenna
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Anonymous
| go to a seven sisters |