elsijfdl

the schools you mentioned, with the exception maybe of dartmouth, i will agree with you have more intellectual types than northwestern. northwestern is very pre-professional, most kids are looking to go to med/law/biz school, and aren't really there to intensely indulge in academics other than to get as nearly perfect grades as possible and get out. there are very few students (in my experience) at northwestern who are hoping to pursue PhD work or who take "harder" classes for the 'experience' when they have the option of taking something easier

this doesn't mean though, that northwestern students aren't as smart as students at these other, academically-oriented schools, they're just utilitarian with their academics. depending on your definition of "smart" they might actually be more so, for knowing the most efficient way to a lucrative and prestigious career, without spending a lot of time and money pursuing unprofitable academic work. obviously i'm sort of kidding with that, but you get my point

and PS the ACT is an achievement test. the SAT is the 'intelligence aptitude' test.