Most laid back colleges

College Search & Selection
1

Hi, I’m currently a junior in the process of searching for colleges. I am looking for one that is good academically and pretty laid back. It would also be nice if it wasn’t a big party or Greek school. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

2

Not knowing your stats or geopgraphic stats, i’ll throw out 3, Grinnell as a reach, Beloit as a match and Earlham as a safety.

3

I have a 4.0 uw gpa (top 10%). I have a 35 ACT and I reside in Virginia. Thanks @Mom24boys

4

Brown (some Greek but not overwhelming) and Rice jump to mind. For LACs, maybe Pomona. We might need some more information, though, such as areas of academic interest and other attributes that you would like in a college.

5

UNC Wilmington is an incredibly laid-back college, but I’m of the opinion that it should be a low match at worst for you.

6

Thanks @Sunny66 and @LBad96! I’m interested in economics and a collaborative academic environment. Also, somewhere where there is a social life outside of partying.

7

We’ve got all that and more over here! Barely 10% of students are involved in Greek life, and there are tons of things to do without partying.

8

Claremont McKenna College is the school for you! (My alma mater :-). Part of the 5 college consortium with Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Scripps and Pitzer. Laid back, friendly campus. Great academics. No Greek life. Top notch academics. Great alumni connections. Great economics department! Also check out their PPE major that is pretty special. Philosphy/Politics/Economics. It’s in a sleepy Southern California town, but with mountains and desert on one side and all of L.A. on the other, there’s lots to do.

9

Here’s the info on the PPE program: http://catalog.claremontmckenna.edu/preview_entity.php?catoid=14&ent_oid=601&returnto=1103

10

I would suggest Yale as they have the residential colleges as well as a bunch of other things to do for your social life that does not include partying

11

From your stats, and your "good academically"criterion, I assume you’re interested in highly selective schools.Presumably you’re also looking for alternatives to UVa or W&M (although I wonder if you’ve considered costs?)

Selective private schools won’t necessarily be more “laid back” than UVa or W&M in terms of the work load or level of competition for good grades. However, many small liberal arts colleges do have understated (or no) Greek life. The following are some LACs in the USNWR top 30 that have no fraternities or sororities, and which might be considered laid back in some respects:
Bowdoin
Haverford
Colby
Grinnell
Macalester
Oberlin
Bates

  • features that IMO might contribute to a laid back (but not party school) atmosphere in a selective college: rural, suburban, or small town location with low crime rates a small, compact, easily traversed campus absence of engineering programs relatively low interest in competitive, high status professions (including investment banking) lack of major, global brand recognition ("lay prestige")

The colleges above have all or most of these features. But if you relax some of these criteria, while perhaps adding others (such as an open curriculum plan), then you might find what you want at a different kind of school (like Brown).

12

Thanks so much everyone @tk21769 @afrprince99 @warblersrule @Earthmama68!!!

13

One more plug for Claremont McKenna (more often referred to as CMC), unlike a lot of the top ranked LACs, they do offer merit scholarships. So that’s something to be aware of with your grades and stats.

14

Thanks, I’ll definitely look more into CMC!

15

I will second Oberlin. My D will attend this fall and she chose it based on the more laid back vibe with no Greek life. It’s very challenging academically but in her words “people there are chill”. They also give merit for a 35 ACT.

16

I’ll second Rice. It is organized around the residential college model similar to Yale. There is no greek life. It is near the top of the rankings for happiest students. It is terrific academically also. My D who has similar tastes as you do will be entering Rice this fall.

17

What does “laid back” mean to you? Do you mean not academically challenging, or not socially rigid, or both?

Because in some senses, a school like UChicago or Reed is extremely laid back in the sense that everyone is accepted for what they are without rigid social heirarchies - but they are not laid back at all in the academic sense.

18

I mean that it is academically challenging but the environment is collaborative and not cutthroat. Also, a place where everyone is accepted would be nice.

19

Brown all the way!! Very laid back (both socially and academically) and obviously an amazing school. Also consider Carleton College in Minnesota. For whoever mentioned Bowdoin, I would disagree with that I think it’s more like Amherst in terms of level of chill-ness (meaning average for a top school). And I second Pomona

20

rice, usc, smu, vanderbilt, tulane kind of any private school with a southern greek (except rice no greek life) or west coast greek (usc) flair may have what you are interested in. I was similar didnt get into vandy so ended up at smu whoch i have thoroughly enjoyed. All of these will kind of fit what you are looking for, ive heard rice students go hard too.

Also trust me warm schools are always more laid back and fun then some of these northeast private schools. Maybe not as intellectually stimulating (except vandy these days) but more fun for sure.