Anonymous
05/09/2024 13:06
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
If you're DC is looking for a SLAC, it's hard to beat Davidson for work/life/prestige balance. Amazing career services, too.
Anonymous
05/09/2024 12:58
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Anonymous wrote:UCLA is a major pressure cooker, as is Berkeley.
It is? It wasn't when I went there, especially in the Humanities. UCLA has 32k+ undergraduates, which means you'll find nearly every sort of student possible. There are surely some grinders, but you'll also find a reasonable number of students (because of the low instate cost) who just want a degree so that they can become teachers, social workers, or police officers. My particular friend group and I mostly went on to top law schools and medical schools, but I don't recall any particular stress culture. We studied hard, but we also went to LA clubs bars, socialized, took road trips, etc. I occasionally hire UCLA grads and we naturally talk about college, and nearly everyone seems to have had a very positive, fun experience at UCLA. I personally seen any students who were miserable there, although at least a few exist.
Anonymous
05/09/2024 11:47
Subject: Re:nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Can confirm Wake is a good balance.
The "Work Forest" thing can be real - smaller classes and all professor taught means nowhere to hide, so the rigor is more academic and less about competition with classmates. That is way better than having a cutthroat environment.
The "Work Forest" thing can be real - smaller classes and all professor taught means nowhere to hide, so the rigor is more academic and less about competition with classmates. That is way better than having a cutthroat environment.
Anonymous
05/09/2024 11:05
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
The kids that I know that are miserable at Vanderbilt are not social. If you were a social person, you will be fine.
I have a student at Vanderbilt and can confirm this is pretty accurate. My DC is social and happy in greek life, goes out a lot. The students I know who are DC's friends and children of my friends who are more introverted definitely have a different experience, and a few that I can say have struggled a lot because the social scene primarily revolves around partying and drinking.
As far as OP's original query - I'm not sure I agree with the sentiment that it's not a pressure cooker - because it is. They ABSOLUTELY 100% compete with each other. Even best of friends / boyfriends / girlfriends won't disclose internship opportunities, interviews, connections, etc. to help out friends if they are the same year/same cycle for internships.
Vanderbilt career services is totally useless, maybe it's like this at elite schools? They do absolutely nothing - zip - zero - zilch to help the students in any phase of the job search. There was a huge recent thread in the Vanderbilt parent Facebook group about this, Vandy kids aren't getting internships like you would expect for a T20 university. This creates intense competition for a very small pool of opportunities. At the end of the day, many of them are settling for companies that they could've gotten into going to much less expensive, lower ranked schools.
Is this for specific majors? Can you elaborate at all?
Anonymous
05/09/2024 11:04
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So no schools in the top 25 or so that are NOT pressure cookers? Really?
By nature of being the top 25, of course they are pressure cookers.
And the mindset of the kids that make it in are not related Ed.
You are looking for a unicorn.
Consider seeking healthy balance instead of prestige for your child. One leads to a more solid foundation.
Hi I would like a universally recognized elite college attracting the highest achievers in the world, and you need perfect grades/scores to even enter the lottery to get in but NO PRESSURE and also NO COMPETITION once there.
Next up, find me a house in perfect condition in a great neighborhood that’s super safe with great schools and short commutes, but UNDER MARKET PRICE.
OP here, and I hear you. Does it hurt to ask?
I don't think it's an inherently insane idea that a good school might also be prestigious, and also not a pressure cooker.
Beware of the opposite: Mid schools that are packed with unhappy, competitive students rejected from T10s.
Which schools are these? I want to avoid....
Anonymous
05/09/2024 11:01
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Bump for those looking for this list....
Anonymous
02/18/2024 09:31
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So no schools in the top 25 or so that are NOT pressure cookers? Really?
By nature of being the top 25, of course they are pressure cookers.
And the mindset of the kids that make it in are not related Ed.
You are looking for a unicorn.
Consider seeking healthy balance instead of prestige for your child. One leads to a more solid foundation.
Hi I would like a universally recognized elite college attracting the highest achievers in the world, and you need perfect grades/scores to even enter the lottery to get in but NO PRESSURE and also NO COMPETITION once there.
Next up, find me a house in perfect condition in a great neighborhood that’s super safe with great schools and short commutes, but UNDER MARKET PRICE.
In France, the Grande Ecoles have a 3% admission rate, a 0% flunk out rate, and a 97% placement rate. One you're in, you're set. I dunno whether that exists in the US.
It is exists in the US. It's called Harvard. Look up grade inflation at our ivies.
Or Yale
Anonymous
02/18/2024 09:19
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So no schools in the top 25 or so that are NOT pressure cookers? Really?
By nature of being the top 25, of course they are pressure cookers.
And the mindset of the kids that make it in are not related Ed.
You are looking for a unicorn.
Consider seeking healthy balance instead of prestige for your child. One leads to a more solid foundation.
Hi I would like a universally recognized elite college attracting the highest achievers in the world, and you need perfect grades/scores to even enter the lottery to get in but NO PRESSURE and also NO COMPETITION once there.
Next up, find me a house in perfect condition in a great neighborhood that’s super safe with great schools and short commutes, but UNDER MARKET PRICE.
In France, the Grande Ecoles have a 3% admission rate, a 0% flunk out rate, and a 97% placement rate. One you're in, you're set. I dunno whether that exists in the US.
It is exists in the US. It's called Harvard. Look up grade inflation at our ivies.
Anonymous
02/18/2024 09:12
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So no schools in the top 25 or so that are NOT pressure cookers? Really?
By nature of being the top 25, of course they are pressure cookers.
And the mindset of the kids that make it in are not related Ed.
You are looking for a unicorn.
Consider seeking healthy balance instead of prestige for your child. One leads to a more solid foundation.
Hi I would like a universally recognized elite college attracting the highest achievers in the world, and you need perfect grades/scores to even enter the lottery to get in but NO PRESSURE and also NO COMPETITION once there.
Next up, find me a house in perfect condition in a great neighborhood that’s super safe with great schools and short commutes, but UNDER MARKET PRICE.
OP here, and I hear you. Does it hurt to ask?
I don't think it's an inherently insane idea that a good school might also be prestigious, and also not a pressure cooker.
Curious what you think “prestige” is and what it’s based on?
OKAY: LET"S CHANGE THE QUESTION:
GOOD SCHOOLS THAT HAVE AND ENCOURAGE WELL-ADJUSTED STUDENTS WHO AREN"T KILLING THEMSELVES TO COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER AND LEARN AND WHO SET KIDS UP FOR A HAPPY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE
Think it’s this list minus UCLA, Michigan, UVA bc think those kids are Ivy rejects and feel like they have to grind to prove something?
Rice
Vanderbilt
Dartmouth
Emory
USC
UIUC
Wisco
Wake
Santa Clara
UMiami
Tulane
This is a great list.
+2
Anonymous
02/18/2024 09:06
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So no schools in the top 25 or so that are NOT pressure cookers? Really?
By nature of being the top 25, of course they are pressure cookers.
And the mindset of the kids that make it in are not related Ed.
You are looking for a unicorn.
Consider seeking healthy balance instead of prestige for your child. One leads to a more solid foundation.
Hi I would like a universally recognized elite college attracting the highest achievers in the world, and you need perfect grades/scores to even enter the lottery to get in but NO PRESSURE and also NO COMPETITION once there.
Next up, find me a house in perfect condition in a great neighborhood that’s super safe with great schools and short commutes, but UNDER MARKET PRICE.
OP here, and I hear you. Does it hurt to ask?
I don't think it's an inherently insane idea that a good school might also be prestigious, and also not a pressure cooker.
Curious what you think “prestige” is and what it’s based on?
OKAY: LET"S CHANGE THE QUESTION:
GOOD SCHOOLS THAT HAVE AND ENCOURAGE WELL-ADJUSTED STUDENTS WHO AREN"T KILLING THEMSELVES TO COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER AND LEARN AND WHO SET KIDS UP FOR A HAPPY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE
Think it’s this list minus UCLA, Michigan, UVA bc think those kids are Ivy rejects and feel like they have to grind to prove something?
Rice
Vanderbilt
Dartmouth
Emory
USC
UIUC
Wisco
Wake
Santa Clara
UMiami
Tulane
This is a great list.
Anonymous
02/18/2024 09:04
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
The kids that I know that are miserable at Vanderbilt are not social. If you were a social person, you will be fine.
I have a student at Vanderbilt and can confirm this is pretty accurate. My DC is social and happy in greek life, goes out a lot. The students I know who are DC's friends and children of my friends who are more introverted definitely have a different experience, and a few that I can say have struggled a lot because the social scene primarily revolves around partying and drinking.
As far as OP's original query - I'm not sure I agree with the sentiment that it's not a pressure cooker - because it is. They ABSOLUTELY 100% compete with each other. Even best of friends / boyfriends / girlfriends won't disclose internship opportunities, interviews, connections, etc. to help out friends if they are the same year/same cycle for internships.
Vanderbilt career services is totally useless, maybe it's like this at elite schools? They do absolutely nothing - zip - zero - zilch to help the students in any phase of the job search. There was a huge recent thread in the Vanderbilt parent Facebook group about this, Vandy kids aren't getting internships like you would expect for a T20 university. This creates intense competition for a very small pool of opportunities. At the end of the day, many of them are settling for companies that they could've gotten into going to much less expensive, lower ranked schools.
Very troubling . Thx for sharing.
Anonymous
02/17/2024 22:21
Subject: nonpressure cooker/well adjusted yet prestigious schools
Anonymous wrote:
The kids that I know that are miserable at Vanderbilt are not social. If you were a social person, you will be fine.
I have a student at Vanderbilt and can confirm this is pretty accurate. My DC is social and happy in greek life, goes out a lot. The students I know who are DC's friends and children of my friends who are more introverted definitely have a different experience, and a few that I can say have struggled a lot because the social scene primarily revolves around partying and drinking.
As far as OP's original query - I'm not sure I agree with the sentiment that it's not a pressure cooker - because it is. They ABSOLUTELY 100% compete with each other. Even best of friends / boyfriends / girlfriends won't disclose internship opportunities, interviews, connections, etc. to help out friends if they are the same year/same cycle for internships.
Vanderbilt career services is totally useless, maybe it's like this at elite schools? They do absolutely nothing - zip - zero - zilch to help the students in any phase of the job search. There was a huge recent thread in the Vanderbilt parent Facebook group about this, Vandy kids aren't getting internships like you would expect for a T20 university. This creates intense competition for a very small pool of opportunities. At the end of the day, many of them are settling for companies that they could've gotten into going to much less expensive, lower ranked schools.