<p>I know I could probably google this, but I want to see what the general consensus is: which colleges are smart (top1-50ish) but not cutthroat at all. (Not cutthroat in admissions but actually competitive at the college like Princeton) a really good example I've heard of a smart non competitive college was Tufts. Any others? Northwestern? Georgetown?</p>
<p>Northwestern (Wildcat-to-be here, fair warning) is known for having chill students. Every once in a while there might be a pre-med that is cutthroat, but in general everyone is just doing work for themselves.</p>
<p>I’m glad that’s the reputation Tufts has :)</p>
<p>Around here, I think Harvard, Yale, Brown, Brandeis, and a bunch of the selective / small liberals arts colleges I’m sure.</p>
<p>Thanks! Bump</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say Harvard, and probably not Yale. Brown is pretty chill though.</p>
<p>In college, you’re mostly competing against yourself, not your peers. The reality is, if you go to a top school, you almost certainly won’t be the best student any more and that realization fosters a collaborative environment.</p>
<p>Dartmouth - the students are too drunk to care.</p>
<p>Whenhen, not necessarily true. There are quite a few top schools where the curve causes students to purposely tell each other the wrong homework or use other tricks to be on top. Not necessarily all students, but top students, will do stuff like that.</p>
<p>Well if that’s the case, then Emory and Rice fit the bill. I’d also imagine it varies by discipline. I can’t see an English major at any school being particularly cutthroat.</p>
<p>Whenhen, yeah it’s usually pre-meds or other majors where your GPA will matter a LOT in the future, and only at a few top colleges.</p>
<p>I’m predominantly looking for lower ivies like Georgetown and duke and Vanderbilt etc. (of course im looking at the ivies) maybe even some LACs. (I like middlebury) Does anybody know if Duke is cutthroat? Or UVA? Thanks for the info about Rice and Emory.</p>
<p>I hear Barnard is like that</p>
<p>Well I’m a guy so… Hahaha</p>
<p>Georgetown, Duke, and Vanderbilt aren’t Ivies.</p>
<p>Crimsonstained7, I absolutely would say Harvard and Yale. People there are intense, but it’s not cutthroat there.</p>
<p>Georgetown and Vanderbilt, from what I hear at least, are both pretty chill. No idea about Duke.</p>
<p>Really, it’s the odd exception that is not chill. If I had to guess, I would say that any school that isn’t crazy small or crazy large is likely to be all right.</p>
<p>Swarthmore is extremely rigorous and stressful, but there’s almost no competition based on my experience.</p>