I’m looking for some recommendations for “Top 25” universities (with a liberal arts undergrad program) and/or LACs that have a more relaxed, easy-going atmosphere and that aren’t in rural areas. I realize highly ranked schools will inherently have an academic focus, but I’m wondering which ones don’t feel so cutthroat and competitive to students.
Colorado College. Even though it’s not in the highest (top ten) tier it is always worth consideration for the academically oriented student who wants strong academics without a cutthroat vibe. Incredible resources, block plan, beautiful campus, easy going student body, urban location.
Wake Forest and William & Mary are good candidates. Very challenging with high academic focus but a collaborative, help one another mentality. Kids want to do really well but not overly competitive with each other. More about challenging themselves.
USC, Wesleyan
We toured Wake Forest and the students looked stressed. Even the tour guide had to change majors, because her’s was too intense (business). It felt very serious, despite it’s rep as being a fun, Greek school.
Brown. Pitzer, Bates.
As a general rule you may want to look for colleges where students typically take 4 4 credit classes a semester rather than 5 3 credit classes a semester. I had one kid in college with each of those formats and while both are perfectly do-able, my sense was that having one less class makes for a lower stress experience. (FWIW my D went to Lafayette College which was 4 classes/semester and loved it).
At Brown there are no distribution requirements and, if you want, you can take every course pass-fail.
Macalester and Brown if you’re looking for an urban location. If you’re open to smaller cities, Vassar or Bates.
Vandy and Rice are always ranked very high for having the happiest students. #1 and #2 this year.
Maybe Carleton.
Case Western and University of Rochester are not rural. May depend on major, but we have heard both are more collaborative than competitive.
Thanks everyone for all of these suggestions! We will start researching them. @happy1 That is a great piece of advice. I’d never thought about it, but I can see why a 4 4 structure is possibly easier to deal with. And @jcmom716 I also like the word “collaborative.”
Haverford and Bryn Mawr --goes against the culture to get hung up on grades, to compare them, talk about them etc. Also, Quaker culture contributes to culture of cooperation, collaboration. Self-scheduled exams are wonderful.
Mt. Holyoke and Earlham (not as highly ranked but very good)
I’d suggest Pomona as well! It has the classic laidback west-coast attitude! and you just can’t be that depressed under the sun, lol.