Preppiest colleges on the East Coast? In the true sense of the word "prep."

<p>I'm just curious to know what others' opinions are on this. I realize that there is an 18 page-long thread already discussing the matter, but many people seemed to be confused as to what was meant by "preppy." There is the clothing definition, used to describe a style of dress (think popped collars and Abercrombie & Fitch), but what I'm curious about is the definition regarding upbringing; "preppy" as in someone who attended a private, preparatory, or boarding school, who may come from generations of wealth and old money, whose parents probably attended an elite college, etc. These people typically dress well, but not in the flashy way that is characteristic of people who dress "preppy" (as in the first definition). </p>

<p>So, from your experiences and observations, which East Coast schools have large prep populations?</p>

<p>“… someone who attended a private, preparatory, or boarding school, who may come from generations of wealth and old money, whose parents probably attended an elite college …”</p>

<p>HYP.</p>

<p>I don’t consider Abercrombie & Fitch to be preppy. Ralph Lauren and Lacoste, for sure. Southern Tide in the south. </p>

<p>To answer your questions, though, most SEC schools have large preppy populations in the greek community, as well as northeast privates like Syracuse and of course the Ivies.</p>

<p>Ivy League, Patriot League, NESCAC colleges</p>

<p>In regards to the thread you’re talking about/A&F being “preppy”, I’d suggest that you actually read my post on that thread. While I do list the different types of “preppy” clothing (because nowadays that’s what most people associate with the adjective), I do mention the actual lifestyle as being truly “preppy”.</p>

<p>I’d second SEC, Ivies, NESCAC…maybe there’s a list somewhere of colleges with the highest percentage of prep school students?</p>

<p>My kid goes to a “prep” school and she is not “preppy”<br>
I think of preppy when i think of the College of Charleston…</p>

<p>NESCAC and Patriot League.</p>

<p>…" someone who attended a private, preparatory, or boarding school, who may come from generations of wealth and old money, whose parents probably attended an elite college …"</p>

<p>Syracuse??? Old Money??? um, I don’t think so; more like “new money from LI”…and no, not really preppy at all; either in terms of clothing or background (78% of students are on some form of FA, the other 22% are wealthy, but mostly new money)</p>

<p>agree with kwu: anybody who comes from generations of wealth and old money is probably at HYP or a top LAC…I’m thinking Amherst or the like…</p>

<p>The preppiest people I ever met went to Colby. Total Baltimore blue-boods with ugly snob attitudes.</p>

<p>Babson…</p>

<p>Lots of day and prep school grads attend HYP and NESCAC schools. HYP may lead in absolute number of prep students enrolled, but b/c HYP are large unis, dthe ay and prep students represent a smaller percentage of the student body than at the NESCAC schools (which are LACs). So if you’re looking for the school w/ the highest percent of preps enrolled, probably Amherst, Williams, etc.</p>

<p>I come from old money but am attending a state school, but id have to say the patriot league</p>

<p>The short answer is that there is no college/university full of old money northeast prep school students. Most of these students, even with their money and legacies and connections, do not have the academics to attend a top college. You will find such kids at Ivies, but they will be a minority. They are a minority at any college. You will find them at Ivies, NESCAC schools, the patriot league, as well as certain hotspots like Duke, Vandy, UVA, College of Charleston, Rollins, Santa Clara, Pepperdine…</p>

<p>Don’t choose your college based on your chances of being able to rub shoulders with these sorts of people. They will mostly associate amongst themselves anyway.</p>

<p>The first individual colleges to come to mind were Bucknell and the University of Richmond. I will also agree with the Patriot League</p>

<p>this is a little old but I’d suggest you check out Mini’s entitlement index … <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/11033-rich-kid-schools-4.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/11033-rich-kid-schools-4.html&lt;/a&gt; … posts #57 and #58. It looks at schools and the % of kids who went to private schools and the % of kids who receive Pell Grants. It’s data and not fool-proof but schools high on the entitlement index tend to be pretty preppy … and in general I’d say more so for LACs than research universities.</p>

<p>“Don’t choose your college based on your chances of being able to rub shoulders with these sorts of people. They will mostly associate amongst themselves anyway.”</p>

<p>I hope you meant this in a general way and not directed at me, lol. My sister is a high school junior, and I am helping her start her college search. She wants to attend a small university or a liberal arts college on the East Coast. She has excellent grades and the extracurriculars to consider applying to top schools, but she is worried about the types of people that will be at these schools and being able to fit in (she attends public school in Long Island, and although our parents earn substantial salaries, I wouldn’t call us wealthy). Obviously, this is in no way the deciding factor for her applications, but we are just curious to know which schools are known for large prep populations.</p>

<p>Preppy (as in pejorative definition) is an “attitude” and it can be from real money and arrogant or it can be feigned money and arrogant. Either way, its arrogant. </p>

<p>Dress code may or may not play a role in it. </p>

<p>I know kids from money who are lovely human beings and kids from lower wealth families who aren’t fit to work at Burger King. But I also know kids from lower wealth who have more class than some uber rich kids I know. You can either be white trash or trash with cash. Your pick.</p>

<p>True character comes from within and has little do to with social status, wealth, wardrobe or celebrity. Manners are something everyone should aspire to uphold, regardless of race, creed, social status or wealth status…let alone what school you go to. </p>

<p>Or as my mother taught me, “it doesnt matter how many bad people are “out there”, the cream always rises to the top.” And she wasnt referring to money.</p>

<p>The Preppy Handbook defined it as follows:</p>

<p>The big three:
Yale University: St. Anthony Hall, the Elizabethan Club, Skull and Bones, Tory Party, and Scroll and Key.
Princeton University: Ivy Club, Cottage Club, Cap and Gown Club, Tower Club, and the Tiger Inn.
Harvard University: Porcellian Club, Fly Club, and Delphic Club. </p>

<p>The Rest:</p>

<p>Amherst College
Dartmouth College
Tufts University
Hamilton College
College of Charleston
Colgate University
Babson College
Georgetown University
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Hollins College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Sweet Briar College
University of Richmond
Washington and Lee University
University of Virginia
Union College
Lake Forest College
Trinity College
Middlebury College
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Williams College</p>

<p>The following schools were designated as “Out of the League”:</p>

<p>Columbia University
Cornell University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
New York University
Oberlin College
Sarah Lawrence College
University of California at Berkeley
University of Chicago</p>

<p>Keep in mind that the Preppy Handbook was intended to be satirical.</p>

<p>Yes, but there was quite a germ of truth to it.</p>