<p>Everything Weskid is saying about Wesleyan also applies to Oberlin. Very serious academics--including great sciences--but the atmosphere is about as far from cutthroat as I can imagine. Oberlin students are collaborative rather than competitive; they read and learn from each other's work, but nobody talks about grades. Students are invested in education for its own sake, and they set very high standards for themselves, but they also have a lot of fun.</p>
<p>And what Weskid says also applies to Rochester, but he said it much more eloquently than I did. (And yes, I've heard that Rochester is a lot like Brown, particularly in its open curriculum.)</p>
<p>Oh yeah, I also totally meant to mention Oberlin in my post, actually, as another LAC for the OP to specifically check out because it's rather like Brown/Wes and has strong sciences :D I've also heard good things about Rochester.</p>
<p>Anyway, OP, as I said, I think what I said about Wes applies to a lot schools--talking to current undergrads might help figure out which ones, exactly.</p>
<p>RE: Harvey Mudd. From what I've heard, it's a lot like how I've described Reed: not cutthroat, but very intense.</p>
<p>Bowdoin has excellent science, and great records for getting kids into med school. It is academically excellent but very chill people. Not competitive or snotty--friendly and helpful. Check it out.</p>
<p>uc santa cruz (and its a most beautiful place to be laid back)</p>
<p>I second Rice.</p>
<p>Rice is definitely laidback and offers excellent academics; it fosters a collaborative spirit rather a competitive one like comparable universities.</p>
<p>Wow...thank you guys for all the advice. I will definitely dig further into some LACs.
I really like Bowdoin, Middlebury. I really like how they seem to have an outdoorsy student body and still have superb academics.
I also really like the residential college system and Bowdoin and Rice....other than Yale are there other colleges with this same type of system?
I just got my SAT scores today and ironically(as i predicted) i got exactly a 2100. So i don't know if that is really good enough to keep me competitive at ivies. Could that be a kiss of death? Or would superb essays/recommendations and stuff equalize that?
I still have time if i were wanting to retake it
I was also curious about Johns Hopkins....how competitive is it?
there are tons of people who say fun dies on that campus and then others who say it is all myth. Can someone clarify this for me?</p>
<p>I'll try. In my opinion, it is fair to describe Johns Hopkins as competitive if by that term you mean that students generally put academics first. Hopkins students tend to be serious abut their studies and they work hard. Because most students plan on going to graduate or professional school and many want to go to the best of the best--they tend to work hard for good grades. I always found most students to be very cooperative with each other (observe how busy the group study rooms are in the library). It is the reputation of being a cut throat place that I think is mostly a myth. </p>
<p>In my experience, it is not a place "where fun goes to die." I had a very good time there, as did most people I know. Can you find some poor souls who, mostly because of inappropriate parental pressure, rarely leave the library and see the light of day? Yes, they exist (at Hopkins and most other top schools) but they certainly do not predominate. Most students lead balanced lives. While no one would describe Hopkins as a party school, that doesn't mean that there aren't parties or that people don't have fun. But there is no doubt that academics comes first.</p>
<p>Thanx. that clears up things abit for me</p>
<p>Will a 2100 not be a very strong score for Brown or Rice?
I mean will it knock me out of contention for admissions or is it not a big deal?
I am trying to decide whether or not i should retake the SAT. And i would love to not have to...but i am started to feel kinda overwhelmed by all these tops schools with SUCH high averages...</p>
<p>Rice is trying to increase geographic diversity and it's adding 2 new residential colleges for 2009 resulting in an increase in the number of accepted students. For these reasons, I think you have a fair shot at being admitted. You should apply. (By the way, my son is a student there and LOVES it!)</p>
<p>If you're going for the HIGH schools, I'd say Yale...hahah, I know. It's impossible for anyone to get into, but with the right combination with a bucket of luck, it's seems like a good combination of GREAT supportiveness with academic excellence. :) Just throwing it out there..</p>
<p>Funny you mention that....because 2 girls from my school got into yale this year. They were best friends so it is pretty cool. My school sends top students all over and to many top schools.
My list right now is as follows...</p>
<p>Reaches-Rice, Brown, Georgetown, Bowdoin, Middlebury,(Tufts maybe)
Matches- University of Rochester, George Washington University, USC, (Vanderbilt maybe)
Safety- University of Oregon, University of Washington</p>
<p>It still seems really bulky though....any thoughts
oh and USC and vanderbilt would probably be slight reaches i think...not full on matches</p>
<p>USC would be more of a high match while Vandy would be a low Reach. I wouldn't totally underestimate your chances given that your from Idaho. If you want you should also apply to Stanford Yale and take a crack at the SAT's again. Lastly, I'm not so sure on Rochester being "chill", but I wouldn't consider myself an expert on Rochester, but I'd definitely check that out again.</p>
<p>We only had 1 admit to Yale from our school...out of about 15+ applicants. But the girl who got in was pretty much amazing and I was not surprised at all at the results. ; )</p>
<p>My school seems to be a Stanford mecca...every year at least one if not tow students go there. And in Boise there are tons of stanford families too. It is really strange...
Will being from Idaho really help?
I was under the impression that while it was a factor it doesn't really help that much.
I guess with Yale...while yes i have considered maybe just taking a stab at it ...it would be near impossible and maybe not even worth it. MY SAT scores are at the bottom 25% and i haven't cured cancer or written an opera. It seems overwhelming at time. So many kids have just done sooo much already.
As for my SAT scores...i really struggled at first with the SAT and I took a diagnostic test at a tutroing center. Going in cold my first score was a 1780...so over the course of 3 months I studied quite a bit and I took the SAT for the first time in June. (2100)...im just really nervous that if i take it again my scores will go down or something bad like that will happen!!</p>
<p>So, is Stanford laid-back or competitive?</p>
<p>From what I have understood is that it is competitive...but it is kinda masked. People seem to be more laid back but they really aren't...</p>