Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT, JMU

+100

JMU seemed like another NOVA high school on the tour. Grade 13 my DD says it’s called. I really am glad she didn’t end up there. Not sure about the happiness factor, but if your DC liked high school looks like a good continuation.

Anonymous wrote:These posts about misery and depression at CMU, Chicago, Cornell (all on my kids list btw) have me thinking...where are kids HAPPY? Besides Brown? (Ideally, a little easier to get into than Brown!)

This is so kid dependent. I have a kid at CMU who LOVES it. So happy! Don't assume someone else's experience will be your child's.

The answer is FSU.

Our nephew is thoroughly enjoying Penn and our niece is miserable at Brown, looking to transfer. Our kid loves William and Mary, their high school friend hates WM. Our daughter is applying to CMU this cycle after hearing great feedback from acquaintances there now.
Each student needs to make the best decision they can and realize no school is perfect

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These posts about misery and depression at CMU, Chicago, Cornell (all on my kids list btw) have me thinking...where are kids HAPPY? Besides Brown? (Ideally, a little easier to get into than Brown!)

JMU. Students are happy, Parents are happy, school staff super happy at all times....

Remember, It's cold up North, Colder weather brings misery and depression.

I know 3 boys that left due to mental health issues that weren’t there prior. It is an overwhelming alcohol scene.

No more so than any other school.
DP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia Tech

There's little evidence to support that claim. My friends who were in engineering there were pretty miserable.

DP. There's actually lots of evidence to support that claim, that goes well beyond your friends. It's a fantastic place, whether engineering or humanities.

Anonymous wrote:wesleyan is miserable - cliques galore, and non-stop sobbing since the election - athletes all targeted as republicans regardless of affiliation - lax bros beware

That does sound miserable. What is with these people?

Anonymous wrote:VT, JMU

+100

Anonymous wrote:These posts about misery and depression at CMU, Chicago, Cornell (all on my kids list btw) have me thinking...where are kids HAPPY? Besides Brown? (Ideally, a little easier to get into than Brown!)

I really cannot imagine a college that does nto have happy kids.

Look for schools that foster community… are the kids eating alone? Is it hard to get into clubs? Are there events open to everyone, games, dances, etc. that people attend? Is it hard to get profs you want? Mine is at Amherst and so much is done to create community… it seems the kids are having a great college experience. I believe Davidson has eating houses as does Yale. These things give the college a sense of community. Anyone can throw out names but I would recommend looking for characteristics of the school that make the kids happy and looking at schools that have these characteristics.

Anonymous wrote:how happy are the northwestern kids?

My kid is very happy there as are his friends.

^ Not that happy.
I say this as a parent of a kid who graduated from NU and liked it enough. None of DC's friends were especially happy. But it's still a good school.

how happy are the northwestern kids?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we visited Penn State, nearly every kid we saw was wearing Penn State gear and were plastered with smiles. They also claim to have happy cows that make the best ice cream.

If only it weren't in the middle of nowhere

Second Happy Valley!

Even though it’s in the middle of nowhere, it’s an easy 3 hour ride from DMV which has been a saving grace for our family.

Third Happy Valley!!! I went there, met my husband there and all my best friends there and it is truly our “happy place.”

Ivies it's Brown and Dartmouth.

Dartmouth even specifically selects kids that they are sure will thrive there, not just the academically gifted.

Which is why you see some kids rejected by Dartmouth but accepted into HYPS.