Cornell

Macalester or any of the SLACS ranked in the teens probably fits the bill. Or a flagship public research university like Berkeley where there isn't any one student culture.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a big fan of what might be considered the second tier liberal arts colleges, especially in the midwest and on the west coast. I went to one in the PNW, but there are a handful of good choices there: Willamette, Whitman, University of Puget Sound, in particular. In the midwest, I'd look at the association that includes Knox and Ripon.

I'm a professor at a flagship public state school, and it's true that our students, on the whole, are not super driven or competitive. They're pretty party oriented.

I like the types of liberal arts colleges I listed above because the students are bright and hard working but not super competitive. The classes are challenging, and the students write a ton. The students also tend to be well-rounded, involved in lots of activities on and off campus. The alumni networks are really strong regionally, and strong-enough nationally.

When I vote on admissions for our PhD program, I always look to the students that come from these liberal arts colleges. We've had great luck with students from Willamette, DePauw, Houghton, Gustavus Adolphus, Macalester, and the like.

Oops, meant to post +100. State schools are fine for many, but your student needs to be self motivated and can thrive without hand holding. My UVA experience was meh.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a big fan of what might be considered the second tier liberal arts colleges, especially in the midwest and on the west coast. I went to one in the PNW, but there are a handful of good choices there: Willamette, Whitman, University of Puget Sound, in particular. In the midwest, I'd look at the association that includes Knox and Ripon.

I'm a professor at a flagship public state school, and it's true that our students, on the whole, are not super driven or competitive. They're pretty party oriented.

I like the types of liberal arts colleges I listed above because the students are bright and hard working but not super competitive. The classes are challenging, and the students write a ton. The students also tend to be well-rounded, involved in lots of activities on and off campus. The alumni networks are really strong regionally, and strong-enough nationally.

When I vote on admissions for our PhD program, I always look to the students that come from these liberal arts colleges. We've had great luck with students from Willamette, DePauw, Houghton, Gustavus Adolphus, Macalester, and the like.

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I'm a big fan of what might be considered the second tier liberal arts colleges, especially in the midwest and on the west coast. I went to one in the PNW, but there are a handful of good choices there: Willamette, Whitman, University of Puget Sound, in particular. In the midwest, I'd look at the association that includes Knox and Ripon.

I'm a professor at a flagship public state school, and it's true that our students, on the whole, are not super driven or competitive. They're pretty party oriented.

I like the types of liberal arts colleges I listed above because the students are bright and hard working but not super competitive. The classes are challenging, and the students write a ton. The students also tend to be well-rounded, involved in lots of activities on and off campus. The alumni networks are really strong regionally, and strong-enough nationally.

When I vote on admissions for our PhD program, I always look to the students that come from these liberal arts colleges. We've had great luck with students from Willamette, DePauw, Houghton, Gustavus Adolphus, Macalester, and the like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UNC Chapel Hill, but it is extremely difficult to get into if you are out of state. Matches all OP's criteria.

Unc is so laid back you don't even have to go to class and the most impactful alumni in th last 100 years are Michael Jordan and Andy Griffith. And that's no an exaggeration.

I was wondering when this loser would show up to hijack the thread. Lame. Bye.

Yeah, my kid's like that and the Midwest turned out to be the answer.

Anonymous wrote:UNC Chapel Hill, but it is extremely difficult to get into if you are out of state. Matches all OP's criteria.

Unc is so laid back you don't even have to go to class and the most impactful alumni in th last 100 years are Michael Jordan and Andy Griffith. And that's no an exaggeration.

Yes, exactly in the same boat here. Thank you!!

This is OP. Many thanks to all for the ideas. Lots of great food for thought here.

I think there are many kids in my daughter's position: super smart and ambitious in their own way, but averse to what they (rightly or wrongly) see as a super cutthroat environment at some universities. I hope the ideas here will be useful to many.

I would recommend a Catholic college. We visited many schools with both our kids. This year I took my son who is a junior. He noted that the kids at several Catholic colleges seemed happy and friendly. He liked the University of San Diego and Boston College. We aren't Catholic but it seems like Catholic colleges put academics in the context of leading a well balanced life, and even if you are not a straight A student you still can get a a good job and be a contriuting member of society. There is enough diversity at these schools that a non Catholic can fit in.

Keep in mind when you visited the school. Students generally look more stressed out at the end of a semester when finals are scheduled and papers are due--regardless of the college. Students look happy in September and when the weather is starting to turn warm in spring.

Honors college has worked well for my DS. I disagree with the poster claiming that these programs are "cutthroat" and that is because kids are selected from many sorts of majors that do not overlap. What the participants have in common is that many fall at the top of the class (top 5%) and the honors college is an easy identifier. As such the professors draw from the program for research and other scholarly and leadership opportunities - and the honors program students at my son's college will have credits on one of more papers come graduation as it is a graduation requirement. Some are selected to present papers at conferences all around the world - all expenses paid by the university if selected. Many of the participants graduate Phi Beta Kappa and have their pick of graduate programs. Anyway my DS has absolutely loved the school within a school opportunity that the Honors College provides Big Sports/College experience with small LAC size classes and first pick of classes and professors. DC could easily graduate with a double major in 3 years and could even get a Masters in 4 in his program. If this is of interest I would definitely look at various programs and what they offer. Tulane and University of South Carolina are examples of excellent honors programs that come with a huge amount of Merit Aid.

Anonymous wrote:A second vote for Rice. My DD was looking for a similar atmosphere and found it at Rice. I'd describe the students --even those who are premed -- as far more collaborative than competitive.

Another vote for Rice -- smart, ambitious kids, but agree the culture is collaborative and supportive. This is in part because the school draws students who aren't all fixated on moving to NY or San Francisco and working for the same handful of investment banks, consulting firms and tech companies. Also, Rice has strong architecture, engineering and music programs, all of which emphasize team projects.

Wake Forest