Is that bike’s sole objective? Or is bike trying to balance competing objectives?<br>
One of my kids was admitted to Macalester (though he chose to attend another school). Sometimes I think of him as a bit of a slacker :)</p>
<p>In HS he was known to just blow off what he considered “make work” assignments, or to turn in homework late. He had no interest whatsoever in Ivy League schools (except Brown, but did not apply there either). He shunned CTY “nerd camp” activities. He plays the banjo and makes furniture. His best friends include some top students and some pretty indifferent ones.</p>
<p>Yeah, mm, if I’d read your posts earlier I might have pushed him to apply. Academically, a Brown/RISD joint program would have been ideal for him. Except he is very very outdoorsy.</p>
<p>Well, I think your son would probably be the exception rather than the rule. I doubt most students at Macalester (or admitted students) would classify themselves as slackers.</p>
<p>Hillary, I think you’re generally being overly defensive about something that’s not necessarily a negative.</p>
<p>I have two friends, at a school I won’t mention because I’ll get slack for it here, who would find textbook pages ripped out in the library, found people reluctant to explain a concept they were struggling with, etc. I would describe that kind of environment as hostile to learning and would never feel comfortable interacting with those kinds of people.</p>
<p>Where does Macalester fall on a scale from collaborative to competitive? If I phrase this question that way, does your answer change?</p>
<p>If you are looking at a more laid-back and intellectual school, apply to Rice. Although academics are tough here (name one top 20 school where academics are not tough), I feel that the students at Rice aren’t competing against each other to be the best. Instead they are competing with themselves. I feel the pressure to “overachieve” at Rice is lower than at most of the Ivies and similar caliber schools, such as Duke, Northwestern, Hopkins, etc. That’s just the perception I got when visiting and talking to students, although other Rice students might disagree with me.</p>
<p>Emory and Vanderbilt are laid back as well… however, I would say Rice is slightly more intellectual and laid-back than Emory. Besides the engineers and pre-meds (which are to be found at any school), the majority of Rice’s student body appeared to be more intellectual oriented than pre-professional oriented.</p>
<p>I think American and Northeastern is a great choice for you. Personally i feel that Northeasterns academics and student body are very underrated/ranked. Their average middle 25%/75% SAT is 1190-1350, GPA 3.7 which is above average and comparable with some of the top 50 schools. Its student body keeps getting better every year and they have top resources as well in terms of research and internships. I applaud you for knowing what you want and realizing this at such a young age. Kudos to you!</p>
<p>Agree. Are you planning to avoid high achievers all of your life or just in college?</p>
<p>This makes little sense to me, you are as likely to find driven competitive types at your state schools as you are at HYP. And I would guess second tier schools are filled with kids stepping up their act from high school because they want good jobs.</p>
<p>I think it’s possible to go to any school and find like minded classmates. Going to a lesser school just limits your future opportunities. I don’t see the maturity or self understanding in this decision others seem to. I see someone perhaps overreacting to his high school mentality cutting off options.</p>
<p>“Going to a lesser school just limits your future opportunities.”</p>
<p>hmom5, I understand what you are trying to say and I know that you have good intentions. But it worth pointing out that this phrase is ridiculous.</p>
<p>Well, I’m not talking about big-name schools (I don’t think they’re “better” – whatever that means), and the OP is looking for an undergrad school. (And, the OP must be amused by this banter! ) I think students should make a list of the schools that fit them best, and then try to get into the best on that list, according to their own definition of what’s best. I would also avoid cut-throat schools, if that’s even a valid generalization.</p>
<p>I still agree that going to a lesser school limits your future opportunities, but “lesser” is from that student’s viewpoint, not someone else’s idea of name.</p>
<p>I disagree that going to a “lesser” school limits your opportunities. I stand by the idea that somebody who does the absolutely most they can with what they are given can achieve just as much as a person who has had a more “elite” education.</p>
<p>And I still think that bike will likely learn more at a school known for its excellent teachers, surrounded by similarly serious students, than bike would learn at the least selective huge state school, for example.</p>
<p>I see it in asking the question at all instead of passively following a pre-determined path. That assumes he’s honestly grappling with the question, not blindly following an alternate path only because it looks easier (then coming here to validate a decision he’s already made.) Or because he’s afraid of longer being one of the “top” students in college. The latter is a very natural fear among good students. One way to get over it is to dig deep to discover what’s distinctive about yourself besides grades and scores. The answer does not have to be anything super heroic. It could be a goofy sense of humor, for instance.</p>
<p>A lower selectivity rate and higher-achieving students does not maker you “learn more.” There is not a strong correlation. A student at a less selective state school has access to amazing professors, driven students, wonderful libraries. </p>
<p>If you really “learned more” at an elite school, then the place of your undergraduate institution would take a considerable part in graduate admission’s committee’s considerations. And it doesn’t.</p>
) I think students should make a list of the schools that fit them best, and then try to get into the best on that list, according to their own definition of what’s best. I would also avoid cut-throat schools, if that’s even a valid generalization.</p>