Anonymous
12/06/2025 08:15
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for ideas for colleges with smart, curious, and engaged students (on the nerdier side is fine) that aren't super competitive environments (either on the admissions side or once there).
Ideally Mid-Atlantic/Northeast but interested in hearing about this type of school anywhere. Kid is very bright but more interested in a collaborative type school.
Does Juniata fit this? Clark University?
I think it’s tough to find intellectually curious along with a collaborative school environment and not super competitive admissions. When touring I would say on the whole school level, I saw it with a particular women’s college. I think you can also find pockets of it within a school if there is a specialized program or interest that would attract that type of student. For example, Michigan State (mid-west) has residential colleges https://rcah.msu.edu/news/us-news-ranking.html that will attract a certain type of student within the larger university. A good, does not have to be perfect, student would likely get in and something like the residential college would likely attract other students similar to your DC.
+1
Living/learning communities at large universities may be what OP's student is seeking.
Anonymous
12/06/2025 08:13
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
LOL at the suggestion of Juanita (which is a women's name such as Barney Fife's girlfriend who works at the diner in the old Andy Griffith show from the early 1960s).
Juniata College is the correct spelling of the name of the school in Pennsylvania. Not an intellectual environment even though many are good students.
Juniata College is the correct spelling of the name of the school in Pennsylvania. Not an intellectual environment even though many are good students.
Anonymous
12/06/2025 06:02
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
Kenyon
Haverford
Oberlin
Haverford
Oberlin
Anonymous
12/06/2025 05:55
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
Carleton for sure!
Anonymous
12/06/2025 03:03
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
St. John’s College in Santa Fe NM
Pros: beautiful setting, small community, easy admission, lots of intellectual conversation outside of class
Cons: so many cigarettes, lots of drug use
Pros: beautiful setting, small community, easy admission, lots of intellectual conversation outside of class
Cons: so many cigarettes, lots of drug use
Anonymous
12/06/2025 02:56
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
Anonymous wrote:I'd really encourage the Midwest! This is where Kalamazoo, Earlham, Carleton, Grinnell, and a ton of truly wonderful small schools could be a fit.
The Midwest is great. Carleton is for the seriously studious student. Very little down time because of the trimester system. Arkham is much more laid back, and so is Beloit, which we loved during our visit. Kalamazoo struck us as boring and depressing.
Anonymous
12/06/2025 02:53
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Bard?
They said smart.
A ton of really smart kids at Bard. They want to go to class, they do the reading, and they have brilliant discussions with famous professors, literary icons.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 07:11
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
How strong is your student? Agree strongly with William and Mary posts. ANother that hasn't been mentioned is Haverford.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 20:46
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
Anonymous wrote:I love these posts. Either the kid is telling the parents what they think they want to hear, or the parents are writing what they want their kid to want. “No parties, drugs, sex; sitting on quad on a fall day discussing Proust ideal.” Hahahaha
BINGO. Always makes me laugh.
Anonymous
11/28/2025 20:59
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
OP said not so competitive on admissions. A lot of schools being suggested are quite selective.
Anonymous
11/28/2025 18:26
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
William & Mary, but the midwest schools are a good idea if OP is willing to go there.
Anonymous
11/28/2025 15:45
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
I'd really encourage the Midwest! This is where Kalamazoo, Earlham, Carleton, Grinnell, and a ton of truly wonderful small schools could be a fit.
Anonymous
11/28/2025 15:30
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
Anonymous wrote:W&M
Richmond
Wesleyan
Davidson
Sewanee
Add WashU
St Olaf
Macalester
Anonymous
11/28/2025 15:20
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
I love these posts. Either the kid is telling the parents what they think they want to hear, or the parents are writing what they want their kid to want. “No parties, drugs, sex; sitting on quad on a fall day discussing Proust ideal.” Hahahaha
Anonymous
11/28/2025 15:16
Subject: Smart and curious kids but not super competitive
I am the person who called OP a troll. Here are non cut throat LAC for kids competetive for top 30 college but don’t want Williams or Amherst: holy cross, Carleton, macalester, reed, William and Mary
The level below basically it’s what you make of it and it won’t be highly intellectual but there will be smart kids at a Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson etc.
the schools you listed -Juanita and Clark, have average sats of around 1200, this is not the highly intellectual range for kids coming from the dmv or other competetive areas of the country.
The level below basically it’s what you make of it and it won’t be highly intellectual but there will be smart kids at a Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson etc.
the schools you listed -Juanita and Clark, have average sats of around 1200, this is not the highly intellectual range for kids coming from the dmv or other competetive areas of the country.