<p>I'm looking for a laid back school that is still challenging. My high school career was filled with competative classmates so I would like to get away from that environment. I want a school that is small (maybe 2,000-10,000) and located in the northeast. I want a good sense of community, nice people, maybe slightly preppy, but not elitist, and a nice environment. I wish I could say that the aesthetics were meaningless but I would like a pretty campus with a classic college feel. I have yet to find my dream school but there are several that I am considering. I want to visit Bowdoin and Amherst because they seem to be close to what I am looking for. Any advice? Suggestions about these or other colleges to consider? Thanks.</p>
<p>If you are female, also try Mount Holyoke when you visit Amherst--pretty campus, strong sense of community, challenging but not cutthroat.</p>
<p>Among the Ivies, consider Brown. If you like Bowdoin, you might also try Colby--very beautiful campus. In the less selective range--maybe Skidmore? Or Conn College? Trinity in Hartford.</p>
<p>Wesleyan in Middletown....?</p>
<p>Trinity in Hartford and Holy Cross-has very nice campus. Holy Cross is also preppy and easier to get into than Amherst. One additional advantage of HC is that the campus is only one hour to Boston.</p>
<p>I second the recommendation for Colby. It's absolutely beautiful, and definitely laid-back (arguably more so than Bowdoin). I'd say it meets all of your criteria.</p>
<p>Tufts would fit that bill, as would most of the northeast LAC's...</p>