Reply to What exactly is a “grind school” (undergraduate)?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]To me it means a school where there is no work life balance. Kids are overworked and living with a lot of anxiety; they are not learning for the sake of knowledge, discovery and innovation, but to get good grades and stay afloat. [/b]

I always wonder if these kids graduate to become leaders and bosses, or if they simply transition to become work horses in the work place. [/quote]

This is what I have in mind when I refer to a "grind school".

Obviously, all schools have a mix of kids. No school is all one thing or another.

And yes, the percentage of grindy kids often differs by major within the same school.

That said, I do feel some schools with really smart, hardworking kids don't feel like as much of a grind overall.

Two factors that I've noticed about the less grindy schools:

(1) They seem to attract and/or select enough kids who proactively balance their academics with some social ECs (not just additional resume-building clubs and activities); and 
 
(2) [b]They offer kids big, communal experiences outside the classroom that add dimension and balance to their lives. This could be anything from sports to social clubs (could be Greek life but not necessarily) to regular campus events or festivals or concerts that regularly attract a ton of students, to an off-campus setting that affects the school culture and inspires kids to balance their academics with something else (a vibrant city, an accessible and interesting college town, gorgeous and accessible nature/outdoor activities.) [/b]

[/quote]

Which colleges do the best job at what PP is describing?[/quote]

I’m the PP and I was thinking about Dartmouth and Vanderbilt when I wrote that.

Dartmouth - I just had lunch with a friend whose son is a senior there. Brilliant, serious, and substantive kid. He’s done really well academically AND truly enjoyed his time there because of the mix of well-attended campus events and activities, including frats and the outdoors club.

Vanderbilt - We visited earlier this year and were struck by their repeated emphasis on balance. It felt like a lively, fun, and sporty campus with restaurants (many that take points) just off campus plus a city full of music and professional sports just a 15 minute Uber away. [/quote]

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