<p>I am lookng for an academically challenging school that has a fun atmosphere. I like to party and have fun, but that doesn't mean that I slack off in school or that I don't love to learn. </p>
<p>Could someone list some good colleges that are known for this type of work ethic?</p>
<p>Upenn.</p>
<p>and I'm sure you could find a niche in a lot of different schools.</p>
<p>I wanted the same thing lol!</p>
<p>The best schools I have been to in terms of fun. I.e. students are chill fun people who are brilliant but laid back and there is ample opportunity to party.</p>
<p>10
Dartmouth
Penn
UNC-CH</p>
<p>9
Princeton
Brown
Vassar</p>
<p>and the least fun...</p>
<p>2
Columbia</p>
<p>1
Chicago
NYU</p>
<p>Ouch, slipper. I don't think Chicago rates a 1. A 2, maybe. :p</p>
<p>Add Duke, Wake Forest, Northwestern, Stanford, Rice, Michigan, and Williams to the list.</p>
<p>Haha Warblers...putting those in..I've been to all of those except Rice and Wake, but I know people at both.</p>
<p>10
Dartmouth
Penn
UNC-CH</p>
<p>9
Princeton
Brown
Vassar
Stanford</p>
<p>8
Duke
Northwestern
Rice
Michigan</p>
<p>7
Williams</p>
<p>6</p>
<p>5
Wake Forest</p>
<p>and the least fun...</p>
<p>3
Columbia</p>
<p>2
Chicago</p>
<p>1
NYU</p>
<p>Vanderbilt/UVA -- extremely good-looking student bodies, great parties, and great academics.<br>
Boston College/Lehigh/Wake -- solid academics, good parties
Tulane/Miami/Florida -- good reputations, good party scene
Penn/Dartmouth -- have good parties compared to the other Ivies.
Michigan/Wisconsin/UNC/PS-UP/UT-Austin/Delaware/UCSB -- these state schools will definitely have some good parties
Richmond/Colgate -- best parties of the LACs
UGA/Washington and Lee -- tons of southern belles</p>
<p>I also disagree with some of the other posters. Rice is definitely not a party school. It has alot of 'engineer' type kids and while the residential colleges are a good social atmosphere I would never call it a party school. Duke/Stanford are mixed bags aswell. Princeton is "work hard/party hard" compared to Harvard and Yale but thats not saying much. They have decent lawn parties at the eating clubs (esp. Ivy and Cottage). Also -- Vassar is not a party school. And -- I wouldn't rank NYU so low. Being in NYC gives the opportunity to go to alot of bars and clubs. I admit the quality of goodlooking girls may be lacking but theres alot of kids who like to have a good time.</p>
<p>The NCSA</a> "Power Rankings"attempt to identify "Work Hard, Play Hard" schools by combining US News ranking (for academics) and NACDA Director's Cup rankings (for athletics). But for purposes of this ranking, "playing hard" means sports, not partying. </p>
<p>I wouldn't take the NCSA rankings too seriously, but they may have some entertainment value.</p>
<p>Haha, no love for columbia or NYU?</p>
<p>Acutally, in all seriousness, these were going to be the top schools I was considering, but is there very little in terms of partying. I guess being in New York City...</p>
<p>Also, what do you guys think of Cornell?</p>
<p>I wouldn't consider Cornell a party school. They are known for having a difficult grading system and kids are simply too busy. However, although the majority of the students at Cornell aren't partiers, there is a decent Greek life scene for Ivy Standards. The girls aren't particularly amazing, but fortuantely Cornell's larger size can find you a good party scene and some decent girls but you have to try a little harder than some other schools.</p>
<p>NYU -- I've actually have had alot of fun visiting here. It's definitely not the typical college environment. But the dorms are good pregames for hitting up NYC bars.</p>
<p>Hate to say it but even the best weekend at Columbia is pretty weak compared to a bad weekend at the campus based schools. Its a city thing.</p>
<p>I think among the top 10 schools that Dartmouth, Brown, and Penn are the big winners in this category. Around the UNC is amazing. There is an awesome social scene there Sunday nights!!</p>
<p>(Perhaps) surprisingly, Johns Hopkins is like that. People work very hard during the week and go nuts during the weekend.</p>
<p>Yeah but not in the way other schools do...Dartmouth and Penn that mindset dominates and 80% of the student body is out and they have fun beyond drunking (like sledding at first snow). Places like JHU and Cornell have social scenes, but it is an active 25% of the student body that goes out...everyone you meet isn't down to be friendly and fun.</p>
<p>thanks for all the suggestions. are there any other schools that aren't quite as prestigious that i could use for matches and safeties?</p>