Anonymous
10/28/2025 13:23
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Anonymous wrote:I could see WashU being a good one to explore.
Could not be more chock full of uber wealthy private school kids.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 13:22
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
"Work-hard play-hard" and "down to earth" are very different things. Northwestern, Duke and Chicago are all the former; CMU and JHU are just the work-hard piece. I wouldn't describe any of these schools at down to earth.
As others have said, look at schools.
As others have said, look at schools.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 13:02
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another thread in which people generalize huge groups of students. OP, every school has a bunch of different “types.”
Sure, but if you visit, you are likely to be able to identify dominant characteristics at these mid-sized universities. For example, JHU & CMU offers very stressful environments. Many kids at CMU rarely look-up as they are engrossed in their electronic devices.
this is some idiotic over generalization. jhu has massive grade inflation and has not been a grinder school for a long long time now
You don't know many pre-med students, do you ?
Regardless, the location is not too good from a safety perspective. Baltimore is neither nice nor safe.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 12:58
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another thread in which people generalize huge groups of students. OP, every school has a bunch of different “types.”
Sure, but if you visit, you are likely to be able to identify dominant characteristics at these mid-sized universities. For example, JHU & CMU offers very stressful environments. Many kids at CMU rarely look-up as they are engrossed in their electronic devices.
this is some idiotic over generalization. jhu has massive grade inflation and has not been a grinder school for a long long time now
Anonymous
10/28/2025 12:54
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Anonymous wrote:Another thread in which people generalize huge groups of students. OP, every school has a bunch of different “types.”
Sure, but if you visit, you are likely to be able to identify dominant characteristics at these mid-sized universities. For example, JHU & CMU offers very stressful environments. Many kids at CMU rarely look-up as they are engrossed in their electronic devices.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 12:52
Subject: Re:Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Anonymous wrote:Almost every student at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, & U Chicago is hard-working. (Have family members at 4 of the 5 universities and family friends at a all five, with only 2 at CMU.)
Regarding "down-to-earth", lots of kids at Duke flaunt/show-off their wealth; U Chicago is very popular with wealthy kids from private schools.
JHU & CMU are grinder schools. A visit should reveal a high percentage of stressed-out students.
All 5 universities are academically outstanding.
Among the five universities, Northwestern University should be given strong consideration, but--as you should know--only admits about 7% of all undergraduate applicants. Whether or not the fast paced quarter system works for your student depends upon one's personal style & preference. NU students take just 4 courses per quarter versus 5 courses at semester based institutions. Many prefer the quarter system due to the efficient use of time and due to the ability to take a greater number and wider variety of courses. However, despite what another poster wrote, humanities students at NU are not enjoying 4.0 GPAs. The kids are brilliant & diligent regardless of major and the professors are experienced at distinguishing A level work products from B level work among highly talented, motivated students.
The city of Chicago is amazing. Lots of excitement & opportunities for students. Evanston (NU) is a safe, upscale suburb of Chicago.
Baltimore is rough & Durham is below average. Pittsburgh is fun.
Applicants should be aware of personal safety on campus and in the surrounding community. Concerns about personal safety at U Chicago & JHU are warranted.
Happiest students are at Duke, Northwestern, & U Chicago. JHU & CMU have very stressful environments. Academic year weather is best at Duke.
If pre-med, then no need to attend any of these super elite schools--while attend your state flagship honors college.
Not true for JHU.
Kids work hard at JHU, most of them double major. Study hard and participate in all kinds of activities. But, most of them are doing great, not stressed out.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 12:45
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Another thread in which people generalize huge groups of students. OP, every school has a bunch of different “types.”
Anonymous
10/28/2025 12:44
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Why no public schools on this list? I would think that description fits a lot of public honors colleges. In fact, more so than many privates.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 12:42
Subject: Re:Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Almost every student at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, & U Chicago is hard-working. (Have family members at 4 of the 5 universities and family friends at a all five, with only 2 at CMU.)
Regarding "down-to-earth", lots of kids at Duke flaunt/show-off their wealth; U Chicago is very popular with wealthy kids from private schools.
JHU & CMU are grinder schools. A visit should reveal a high percentage of stressed-out students.
All 5 universities are academically outstanding.
Among the five universities, Northwestern University should be given strong consideration, but--as you should know--only admits about 7% of all undergraduate applicants. Whether or not the fast paced quarter system works for your student depends upon one's personal style & preference. NU students take just 4 courses per quarter versus 5 courses at semester based institutions. Many prefer the quarter system due to the efficient use of time and due to the ability to take a greater number and wider variety of courses. However, despite what another poster wrote, humanities students at NU are not enjoying 4.0 GPAs. The kids are brilliant & diligent regardless of major and the professors are experienced at distinguishing A level work products from B level work among highly talented, motivated students.
The city of Chicago is amazing. Lots of excitement & opportunities for students. Evanston (NU) is a safe, upscale suburb of Chicago.
Baltimore is rough & Durham is below average. Pittsburgh is fun.
Applicants should be aware of personal safety on campus and in the surrounding community. Concerns about personal safety at U Chicago & JHU are warranted.
Happiest students are at Duke, Northwestern, & U Chicago. JHU & CMU have very stressful environments. Academic year weather is best at Duke.
If pre-med, then no need to attend any of these super elite schools--while attend your state flagship honors college.
Regarding "down-to-earth", lots of kids at Duke flaunt/show-off their wealth; U Chicago is very popular with wealthy kids from private schools.
JHU & CMU are grinder schools. A visit should reveal a high percentage of stressed-out students.
All 5 universities are academically outstanding.
Among the five universities, Northwestern University should be given strong consideration, but--as you should know--only admits about 7% of all undergraduate applicants. Whether or not the fast paced quarter system works for your student depends upon one's personal style & preference. NU students take just 4 courses per quarter versus 5 courses at semester based institutions. Many prefer the quarter system due to the efficient use of time and due to the ability to take a greater number and wider variety of courses. However, despite what another poster wrote, humanities students at NU are not enjoying 4.0 GPAs. The kids are brilliant & diligent regardless of major and the professors are experienced at distinguishing A level work products from B level work among highly talented, motivated students.
The city of Chicago is amazing. Lots of excitement & opportunities for students. Evanston (NU) is a safe, upscale suburb of Chicago.
Baltimore is rough & Durham is below average. Pittsburgh is fun.
Applicants should be aware of personal safety on campus and in the surrounding community. Concerns about personal safety at U Chicago & JHU are warranted.
Happiest students are at Duke, Northwestern, & U Chicago. JHU & CMU have very stressful environments. Academic year weather is best at Duke.
If pre-med, then no need to attend any of these super elite schools--while attend your state flagship honors college.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 12:23
Subject: Re:Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Given the high cost of college, many colleges are a barbell of wealthy and FA kids.
Throw in social media which also challenges the landscape.
I think there's another barbell - kids that never leave their rooms because they are working so hard and the kids that seem to skate by but party a lot. That was even going on in the late 90s when I was in school. The kids in the middle seem to do ok.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 12:03
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Colleges time to figure this out on their own. People segregate based on life experiences and wealth (ability to hang). If you can’t afford the French alps ski trip, they may be nice enough people, but you probably can hang. If all the Asians are buddied up because they have a living common that’s ok.
Most of these colleges have over 4k undergrads and will have an element of each group. Heck I went to a small Jesuit school in the Midwest and there was a crew of middle eastern princes driving sports cars. The kids gotta find their pees on their own and will take time.
Most of these colleges have over 4k undergrads and will have an element of each group. Heck I went to a small Jesuit school in the Midwest and there was a crew of middle eastern princes driving sports cars. The kids gotta find their pees on their own and will take time.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 11:56
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I’m hoping to send my kid to a pragmatic school with equally ambitious peers — a place where students work hard and play hard (not just coast on grade inflation). Would you say these schools fit that kind of profile better?
There are no schools that are great. There are only great students. Great students are everywhere. Great students are made not by schools but by their families -
- have the money to educate your children and do not neglect and abuse them
- have functional, intact, loving and safe families. don't have more kids than you can give full attention to
- prioritize education of your children
- be very well informed about all the process, curriculum so that you are a source of guidance for your children
- always make sure that your kid has the support of a team of people that can take care of their mental, academic, physical, emotional, social well being. Make sure that they have balanced lifestyle.
- have tangible and achievable goals for them.
I really appreciate this insight. Thank you!
Anonymous
10/28/2025 11:53
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Anonymous wrote:I’m hoping to send my kid to a pragmatic school with equally ambitious peers — a place where students work hard and play hard (not just coast on grade inflation). Would you say these schools fit that kind of profile better?
There are no schools that are great. There are only great students. Great students are everywhere. Great students are made not by schools but by their families -
- have the money to educate your children and do not neglect and abuse them
- have functional, intact, loving and safe families. don't have more kids than you can give full attention to
- prioritize education of your children
- be very well informed about all the process, curriculum so that you are a source of guidance for your children
- always make sure that your kid has the support of a team of people that can take care of their mental, academic, physical, emotional, social well being. Make sure that they have balanced lifestyle.
- have tangible and achievable goals for them.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 11:48
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Duke culture is definitely not down to earth. Lots of big money and lots of private/prep/boarding school kids. These wealthy kids are super social amd greek. Plenty of other smart kids that do their own thing but it is separate. Vandy has a similar reputation. I agree with PP comments. We looked at hopkins. They got rid of legacy admission a while ago so thought it would be more integrated, but social scene is separated and small and primarily driven by athletes who do greek... many of whom are wealthy private school kids. Otherwise, seemed super nerdy. Boys we know at uchicago are happy - they are greek and finance oriented. Northwestern has a strong arts program, so those kids are different but form their own cliques. Hard to find down to earth culture these days. Given the high cost of college, many colleges are a barbell of wealthy and FA kids. State schools will have more social options, given the size of student body, but those schools also have separate wealthy social scenes from both in state and oos connected kids. I also want to add that all these kids (both wealthy and cost conscious) are driven, smart, hard working.
Anonymous
10/28/2025 11:46
Subject: Would you say that students at CMU, JHU, Northwestern, Duke, or UChicago tend to be more down-to-earth and hardworking?
Emory is a good option if you want to avoid wealthy, overly polished students.