Are These Colleges too Nerdy/Competitive?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay, I am looking for an intelligent student body, but I don't want competition for grades or obsession over schoolwork. Obviously I want to be among bright, hardworking students, but not cutthroat about grades or schoolwork. I like a laid back academic atmosphere (but I still want students to be active an involved!).</p>

<p>Should I cross any schools off my current list: (if so, why)
Stanford
WashU
Vanderbilt
Georgetown
Duke
Grinnell
Carleton (maybe)
Colgate (maybe)</p>

<p>Any other smart, but laid back schools? I liked Grinnell quite a bit, but preferably a bit more moderate. Please don't mention religious schools...</p>

2

<p>For smart laid-back students who are collaborative and not competitive I suggest Stanford, Rice, Wash U and Bowdoin.</p>

3

<p>Tufts and Dartmouth are reportedly such places, probably Bates, Williams, Brown, and Amherst also.</p>

4

<p>I think you have a very good list. All of those are laidback, except possibly Georgetown. As a caveat, Carleton is at least as liberal as Grinnell.</p>

5

<p>From what I have seen Stanford, Duke, Vanderbilt, Colgate are not at all known for being nerdy or competitive and besides Dartmouth may be known as the most fun of the top 40 schools (UVA may be in there too). WUSTL and to a lesser extent Carelton and Grinnell have a more nerdy reputation. Generally, the less urban the school, the more laid back it is.</p>

6

<p>Fun top 25 schools (non intense/ fun loving people)</p>

<p>Stanford
Dartmouth
Brown
Amherst
Williams
Duke
Northwestern
Middlebury
Vanderbilt
UVA
UNC-CH
Colgate</p>

<p>IMO Dartmouth, Brown, and Stanford are by far the most laid back top schools.</p>

7

<p>Wash U definitely deserves to be on that life. Its very fun and not academically competitive in a cut throat sense at all.</p>