<p>Nobody’s really mentioned Carleton yet, so I’ll be the first to bring it up (shamelessly promoting my own school…hehe). It’s not as well-known and gets less applicants because it’s in Minnesota, but if you can take the cold, I would argue that it sounds like exactly what you’re looking for. The student body is really self-selecting, and the students I met all had a friendly, laid-back, intellectually curious atmosphere. In addition, people felt a lot less preppy and judgmental than at other places, and on the whole, I was really surprised at how non-competitive everyone was - all of which were part of the reason I picked Carleton. The academics are definitely challenging, but the students seemed so laid-back and friendly that it seemed like a good mix.</p>
<p>Of course, after shamelessly promoting my own school, I have to point out that there are many, many colleges that would fit the description you posted. From everything I learned during my own (intensely difficult) decision, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Williams and Macalester are all places that sound like they would fit extraordinarily well.</p>