<p>After trolling these boards for several weeks to get an idea of where I want to go to school and what sort of competition I will be looking at when applying (class of '10) I have come to the conclusion that the majority of "top school" applicants are over-acheiving, obsessive compulsive kids who spread themselves way to thin, dont have any fun, and generally stress themselves out way to much about the whole college admissions process.</p>
<p>I am by no means a dumb kid. I play two sports, maintain a mostly A (and a few B's) transcript and was a few points away from being a National Merit Scholar as a soph (havent taken SAT yet). The main difference I see between myself and the majority of people posting in the "Chance me OMG" threads on this board is that I don't do 9 different organizations and cure cancer on the side. I have friends, I have fun, and my god I even go outside. </p>
<p>This brings me to my "Odd Question":</p>
<p>What college would be right for a person like me? That is; fun loving student who is by no means unqualified but prefers a more laid back environment but one that is not devoid of academia. I do want to learn, I do want to go places...I just dont know if I could take the type of environment I am hearing about.</p>
<p>Wow, one heck of a first post. Dont hate me too much =)</p>
<p>Where do you live? What are your academic interests? What types of schools do you prefer (big public/private research university or small liberal arts)?</p>
<p>I can relate to your case, but be careful to stereotype too much about the crowd here. I believe a lot of what you said is accurate, however there are plenty of fun-loving athletic outgoing kids around too. I would identify myself in this category- I play two sports and spend two or three nights per week out with friends having fun. My favorite school is Dartmouth, if that gives you any idea. I found this to be the ivy I thought would be the most enjoyable according to what I required. Its tough to suggest too many schools without knowing what level youre looking at, but there are plenty of top academic schools where people have plenty of fun as well.</p>
<p>I live in Maryland, Im quite interested in Business and or Some sort of biomedical science;curing cancer is an actual life goal of mine...However I dont really think it reasonable to expect someone to do it before they turn 12. ...tehe</p>
<p>I would prefer a school where I can have intimate classes however I really wouldn't like to limit my opportunities (the whole liberal arts quandary). </p>
<p>I can get over large freshman classes....</p>
<p>Finally some sort of balance between academics and sports would be beautiful.</p>
<p>Having at least one sports team I could go be a fan of and have fun with friends watching as a break from my "voracious studying habits" (lol) would be amazing.</p>
<p>....Sorry I came off as a little dry.</p>
<p>If my understanding is correct, "Nicholas No-Personality" barely exists at top schools any more. This is the product of holistic admissions, placing consideration on "character" (through essays) and "passion" (ECs). I think you really need quite a personality--and the ability to illustrate it effectively through an application--to get in at a top school these days.</p>
<p>Well I guess it makes me Freddy Frustration =)</p>
<p>Don't worry about it.. You have one great thing on your side: time!</p>
<p>Two years ago I was nowhere near searching for a college outside a few dreams schools, and I didn't write application essays until days, even hours before the due dates. Get an early start, work hard (but dont forget to have fun!) and be thinking about how to improve your resume over the next couple years and you will be in excellent shape when it is time to apply.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Look at U Wisconsin...very good biochemistry and business. Top academics and sports.</p>
<p>On a more selective basis, Duke, Michigan, Virginia, Vanderbilt and Rice could be great choices for you.</p>
<p>You should also consider U Maryland - College Park.</p>
<p>^^Wisconsin's very good. That is my most realistic choice currently (mostly because I'm in-state). When I visited I came away thinking everyone was super cool but really smart too. It's both a top academic school and a top party school. Best of both worlds? I think so..</p>
<p>Actually, your list looks pretty much like what I have in my head.</p>
<p>I had U Penn up there but only because of Wharton and didnt really think I could get in unless I had a minor miracle. =) </p>
<p>I was totally digging Rice ever since they sent me the little form letter "Consider Rice...." mass mailing untill I heard they had terrible digs and food =( </p>
<p>I dont think I could survive with bad food on campus.</p>
<p>A problem of mine is defiantly cost. Its the main reason I have not really looked into alot of state schools. We are not poor but we are decidedly middle class.</p>
<p>UC Santa Barbara, gauchos baby</p>
<p>look into U Pittsburgh. Great school with just about anything you could want in a college. Duke is also a good one if you're in love with basketball. Or UNC Chapel Hill, or Notre Dame, or USC.</p>
<p>and please don't stereotype =) I'm one of those crazy people who play's a year round sport, has straight A's, is involved in a bajillion clubs and school government, has tons of research hours--but no cancer cure yet... blah blah blah... and more stuff, but we don't need to get into that. I have plenty of friends and I go out just about every weekend. Yeah, I stressed way too much abotu college, but whatever, I'm Asian (I love that excuse). We might be crazy and smart, but it doesn't mean we don't have fun too.</p>
<p>Business? Northeastern, American?</p>
<p>I don't know man - sure the top few percents of American students may be the typical "nerd," but myself, and a lot of my friends are socialites that party, play sports, and chill - all the while getting A's and B's. Simply having great grades doesn't ensure your acceptance, colleges want to see a well rounded person. There aren't too many universities that want straight book worms.</p>
<p>to post #10,
I go to Rice, and our food isn't terrible at all! Of all the colleges I visited, Rice had the best food (better than Cornell, in my opinion, or at least on the day I visited).</p>
<p>Maybe look at USC? or even Stanford- they tend to look past the nerdy bookworms.</p>