@dla26 It depends what you mean by grade focused. Most students aren’t obsessed with the GPA’s or competing with each other, etc. It’s less intense than HS that way. But most are serious students so there aren’t a lot of slackers that make it easy to be the top of the curve. Double majors are common (and very attainable). With what it takes to get into schools like Bowdoin that’s kind of self-selecting. Social activities and extracurriculars are plentiful for those who want them but nothing dominates to the point of being an insider or outsider. It’s very easy to party and easy to party dry and still fit in (and their are dry “chem free” dorm options). There are so many resources for so few students (plus between the majority doing study abroad Junior year or getting focused on their majors) it’s easy to attain meaningful positions in activities and clubs.