Title says it all. I love everything about this school and I think it’s the right place for me, but is it too ‘easy’? I could definitely get in to more selective schools and possibly Ivy’s but I don’t think I want to go there. Is Boulder a good school despite it’s reputation of being a party school? Thanks!
It is a mid-rated state flagship school, but has some excellent programs. It also has the best winter location of any major university in the US, (if you like to ski) , has amazing warm weather activities and has one of the best college towns in the country, You should go for the schools that is affordable and has the best fit for your interests. You need to look deep within yourself and decide what sort of college experience you want. The more selective schools are going to push you harder and your peers are generally going to be smarter and more dedicated. If you are a high achiever, and it sounds like you are, you may have more in common with students there. On the other hand, if you want lower stress, you are probably going to have more fun at CU Boulder.
Some programs, like engineering, are going to be difficult no matter where you study. Others are going to vary a lot. Difficulty isn’t necessarily a bad thing, overcoming challenges is how your grow. The key is finding a balance you can live with.
Husband is an alum. (Undergrad.) I know lots of other CU alums too. If you’re a high-achieving, confident student who can make yourself known to your profs, you can get excellent preparation, personal attention and important things like grad school references from some of the best folks in their field. (Many fields. Not just the top-ranked specialties.) Plus, of course, a gorgeous, healthy environment in an amazing college town 
Upper level classes in your major probably wouldn’t be large, though of course on the lower levels with Gen Ed classes there were some huge lecture halls. Anyway he found the profs accessible, including in big entry level classes.
However … you can also get pretty lost in the crowd. It’s a big state school in an appealing location, so it draws all kinds of students, from super-bright to super partiers. But if you’re someone who pushes yourself and isn’t intimidated to talk to profs, there’s no shortage of challenging classes, helpful mentors and stimulating classmates. If you’re not, that’s okay too, a lot of people just float through there with middling grades, have fun and go skiing a lot, and it turns out fine. But CU is well-regarded in Colorado and, I think, in general. In the adult world we really don’t run into that stereotype about CU being a “party school.”
Lots of instate students who could also get into more selective schools go there. So, like most state schools if you want challenging instead of easy you can get that and you can party or not.
It’s an excellent university!
Party school isn’t mutually exclusive with great school. It is possible to be interested in partying and still be really serious about your academic work and your career
Yes, CU a great school and a great choice! If you think it’s “the right choice” for you, then what’s the problem?
Your concern about being “too easy” is a bit misguided. CU is a large research university and there is no doubt that you will find challenging courses if you want to challenge yourself. Studying Ordinary Differential Equations isn’t going to be any easier if you take it at CU vs. taking that class at Harvard. Instead of worrying about a school being too easy, you should be more concerned about whether it offers the kind of opportunities and environment that you’re looking for and that you thrive in. For example, are their opportunities for internships in your chosen field near by?
CU is so large that you will likely find a wider variety of students than you would at an Ivy. You’re sure to find strong academic types at both the Ivies and at CU. There is no doubt that you will also find more kids at CU that are just there to have fun and not put in a lot of work (I knew a few of those types when I was there). However, you will also find plenty of serious students who are extremely bright and motivated.
Personally, I believe that getting a great eduction is what you make of the opportunity and no so much about which school you choose. I got a degree from CU and ended up working for one of the top technology companies in the world working alongside graduates from MIT and Stanford. The logo on our degrees didn’t matter so much as what we accomplished while we were there.
I am a CU grad (MS in Computer Science) and have a very high paying job at a high-tech firm. I think your experience will depend 100% on what you want to get out of it. I had a 790 on my math SAT so I wasn’t exactly a sloucher. There are many in-state students that go to CU even though they got into very prestigious schools elsewhere because of the financial scholarships available to in-state students. I know quite a few students that were valedictorians of their high school class that went to CU and then went on to prestigious graduate schools. I would look for a college that you feel like is a good fit for you and not worry if it has a party-school reputation. I started out at one of the best engineering schools in the country and absolutely hated it! CU has an incredible amount of opportunities available in one of the prettiest settings available. Loved it there.
The school has a mix of high achievers and partiers… some of whom are both! Peer pressure does turn out to be lesser here than in some other schools. If you prefer something that is determined by your pace and not by what everyone is upto… this could be the right place for you. But, comparing to top tier schools like the HYPS etc is unwarranted and UC-B does not ever advertise itself in that league.