Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 14:12     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:JHU

Is this OP responding with the name of the school, or another poster adding a suggestion?


This is OP. I don't know who interjected JHU. That wasn't me - that's not the school I'm asking about. The school at issue is Middlebury.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 14:11     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Anonymous wrote:Name the school OP. We will advise you.


Middlebury

Unsure of major, perhaps Econ
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 13:21     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:JHU


If it's JHU, I highly recommend you speak with current students - from your high school and in your major.


Agree
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 12:58     Subject: Re:How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
I’d suggest looking to see whether there are courses with deflationary curves, try to find the transfer or drop out rate for their major, and look at the club and extracurricular engagement level.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 12:57     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Anonymous wrote:JHU


If it's JHU, I highly recommend you speak with current students - from your high school and in your major.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 12:56     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Anonymous wrote:JHU

Is this OP responding with the name of the school, or another poster adding a suggestion?
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 12:54     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
JHU
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 12:46     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
If you want DCUM advice, either post the name here or start a new thread.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 12:08     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Talk to current students? What is his major? Name of school?

Look on reddit (r/collegename); read unigo reviews?


Example from Unigo Student Reviews:
Q re worst thing about Northwestern:
https://www.unigo.com/colleges/northwestern-university/what-do-you-consider-the-worst-thing-about-your-school-why?utm_content=faqs&utm_term=/colleges/northwestern-university

Q re what the academics are like at Northwestern:
https://www.unigo.com/colleges/northwestern-university/what-are-the-academics-like-at-your-school?utm_content=top-banner&utm_term=/colleges/northwestern-university/what-do-you-consider-the-worst-thing-about-your-school-why

Unigo has a lot of really old reviews.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 12:00     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Anonymous wrote:Talk to current students? What is his major? Name of school?

Look on reddit (r/collegename); read unigo reviews?


Example from Unigo Student Reviews:
Q re worst thing about Northwestern:
https://www.unigo.com/colleges/northwestern-university/what-do-you-consider-the-worst-thing-about-your-school-why?utm_content=faqs&utm_term=/colleges/northwestern-university

Q re what the academics are like at Northwestern:
https://www.unigo.com/colleges/northwestern-university/what-are-the-academics-like-at-your-school?utm_content=top-banner&utm_term=/colleges/northwestern-university/what-do-you-consider-the-worst-thing-about-your-school-why
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 11:59     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Name the school OP. We will advise you.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 11:58     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Much of this intensity level will depend on his major, not just the school.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 11:57     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Anonymous wrote:DC, a high school senior, is strongly considering applying ED to a school he really loves. His heart is there. He clearly loves the place. It's a reach school. His stats are on the edge so who know if he has a good chance or not. His one holdup on ED is he's worried it may be too intense or rigorous for him. (And yes, he is taking the most advanced courses now in his HS, so DC does want strong academics, and he is not a slacker. But he also does have a more laid back personality, and he's not a striver either.)

Any thoughts on how to really suss this out and how to do it quickly in the next few days? We have already visited 2x and will not be able to visit again prior to the time he needs to decide.

thanks!


Talk to students who are actually there. Suggest he post any questions to current students on reddit?
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 11:56     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
Talk to current students? What is his major? Name of school?

Look on reddit (r/collegename); read unigo reviews?
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2025 11:55     Subject: How can you tell how rigorous/intense a school is?
DC, a high school senior, is strongly considering applying ED to a school he really loves. His heart is there. He clearly loves the place. It's a reach school. His stats are on the edge so who know if he has a good chance or not. His one holdup on ED is he's worried it may be too intense or rigorous for him. (And yes, he is taking the most advanced courses now in his HS, so DC does want strong academics, and he is not a slacker. But he also does have a more laid back personality, and he's not a striver either.)

Any thoughts on how to really suss this out and how to do it quickly in the next few days? We have already visited 2x and will not be able to visit again prior to the time he needs to decide.

thanks!