<p>i've always gravitated towards intelligence. 90% of my friends are all smarter than I am, yet we get along quite well and understand each other completely. It's frustrating cause admissions officers will only get to see me as a piece of paper and most likely I'll be rejected from my "reach" schools and be forced to go to a safety where I'm not going to fit in with the students very well at all. I don't want to go somewhere where the center of attention is sorority girls and frat boys. I'm fine with drinking, but I want to avoid schools where that is ALL THAT STUDENTS DO on the weekends. I don't want to go to a hippie school either, where everyone's pushing for pot and topless pools (Pitzer college- I watched a video). I know I'm not in a position to be picky (30 ACT 3.8 UW, 4.3 W) but I feel like the only place I will fit in is a small, selective school (Davidson, Bowdoin, & Emory are pretty much my dream schools) THAT I HAVE NO CHANCE AT. </p>
<p>It's kind of strange I realize, most people enjoy feeling superior and more intelligent that the people they are in class with, but that's not me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm "too good" for my safeties - no way they're all fantastic schools- but the students there, I know aren't going to be at the level of maturity they are at the schools I WANT to go to. I want to be able to surround myself with intelligent girls who don't want to get drunk every single night for fun, and guys that don't subconsciously base a girl's worth off her appearance because they're too dumb to have an somewhat intelligent conversation.</p>
<p>Has anyone else ever had (or known anyone) that's had this same problem? I just want to be around MATURE people, and please don't try to tell me there's great people at every school- I'm well aware of this. I'm also aware that at less selective schools there's always almost going to be a more prevalent hookup, drug & alcohol scene, with less mature/intelligent students. I know there is alcohol and what not on selective campuses, however; students there are usually smart enough to know when enough is enough and how to handle themselves, and best of all they're SMART and intelligent and headed toward success. Basically I just want to be around smart people with common sense. I was looking into Santa Clara for approximately 2 minutes- then I watched a Delta Gamma video and a girl goes "I KNEW I wanted to join DG right when I walked in the door, like, I LOVED the outfits" <--- those are the types I'm trying to avoid. Any advice or suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks for reading my rambling.</p>