Intellectual Colleges without Snobby, Rich Kids

<p>Bowtie: UNC is definitely a school I’m considering. Do you happen to know how the Morehead-Cain Scholars Program works? Do you have to be nominated? Thanks so much!</p>

<p>William & Mary, Rice would fit the bill very well. Most every large state school is going to be low on the intellectual vibe issue.</p>

<p>swish14: I’ve been near the William & Mary campus and am somewhat familiar with it and I know a little bit about Rice; however, how do they match up to my overall interests? I know they’re both good schools academically, but are they for sure intellectual? I think there is a difference between a school being good academically versus having an intellectual environment.</p>

<p>You may want to give Oberlin some consideration. Though sports wasn’t a big draw when i was there in the mid-late '90s…the school and the faculty have been trying to build up the Div III sports programs and encourage more school spirit in the sports area. </p>

<p>Snobbing over one’s socio-economic status is considered quite declasse despite the fact most of the classmates tend to lean upper/upper-middle class from what I’ve observed from living with/around them. Anyone who attempts to use their high socio-economic status to put down others tend to be rapidly dressed down and put into their proper place by other students. </p>

<p>Students tend to have highly intellectual discussions in and out of class. One highlight of my experience there was to continue such discussions from class/conversation started earlier in the day with other classmates into the early-morning hours of the following day during periods when I was able to carve out large blocks of free time. </p>

<p>Only things is that many Oberlin students tend to be openly political(mostly radical progressive/left-leaning) and infuse politics into every discussion, especially when I was there. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea though I heard it mellowed down substantially after I graduated in the late '90s. </p>

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<p>If Syracuse is still like it was when my older cousin attended in the late 1970’s, then he’d second the above. It’s also has a big party scene which was one contributing factor to his mediocre performance according to his father. My uncle was still grousing about it several years after the fact…especially considering the high price tag/lack of FA and the fact one younger son excelled at Tufts with a near-full ride scholarship similar to what I had at Oberlin.</p>

<p>Can I add this: it may be true that rich and upper middle class kids predominate at many east coast LACs. But, these are the very same schools that are working hard to achieve economic and other diversity. Some small hints of the realities on any campus may come from a look at social and cultural events on the school’s calendar and the sort of clubs on campus.<br>
Google “students review” and find that .com- it isn’t totally reliable, because it’s all voluntary reporting and can be skewed. But, at some point, it’s worth a look.</p>