<p>I’m pretty intelligent (4.1 W GPA, 32 ACT, IB diploma) but I’m a NORMAL kid. NORMAL. Not an uber-intellect like the kids at so many of the top universities. I play sports (soccer, lacrosse, nordic skiing, rowing, snowboarding) and I love the outdoors. I want to go somewhere where there is so much stuff to do besides just school. That said, I know that school is important and will shape who I am. I want to go a good school with smart kids who are exactly like me- smart and normal. I know I can succeed academically, but I want to be having fun while I do it! </p>
<p>Colleges that I HATE (to0 intellectual/kids do NOTHING)- Carleton, St. Olaf, Grinnell, basically every liberal arts school under 3,000 students and in the top 50 rankings.</p>
<p>However, I also HATE the huge university feel with tons of “less intelligent” kids- examples- U of minnesota, Wisconsin Madison, etc.</p>
<p>So far, the school is have found that fit my needs are: Boston College (I think). </p>
<p>PLEASE GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER SCHOOLS LIKE THIS ONE. I want a school where the kids are smart but have fun! FUN! Play sports! Go to movies! NOT STUDY AND PLAY OBOE ALL NIGHT. Enough kids that there is always something to do! I don’t necessarily want an urban environment, I love hiking/snowboarding/skiing/frolicking in the snow! PLEASE GIVE SUGGESTIONS. I’M A SENIOR AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT.</p>
<p>Middlebury, Williams, and Bowdoin all sound perfect for you, but they are LACs.</p>
<p>vanderbilt if you dont mind the lack of snow</p>
<p>It is a list, so mascot time</p>
<p>Dartmouth College Big Green
Middlebury College Panthers
Vanderbilt University Commodores
Bowdoin College Polar Bears
Amherst College Lord Jeffs
Williams College Ephs
Colgate University Raiders</p>
<p>I know you said no top LACs…but you sound just like my friend who is having a blast at Hamilton (she also liked BC a lot). Lots of happy, intelligent, sporty kids there, with lots of outdoorsy activities available. Other schools she liked were Colgate, Dickinson, UNC, UVA, and Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I also think you are being far too narrowminded in your view of top schools. I go to UChicago, supposedly full of kids who do nothing but study, but even here I have little trouble finding kids who like to play sports, go to movies and parties and concerts, and go hiking on weekends. I’m not saying you would like it here-just that you will find “normal” kids who like what you do at a lot of the places you claim to hate.</p>
<p>University Of North Carolina is a perfect place for you, the kids are very intelligent since it’s equally selective as BC, great basketball and football, it’s not study time all the time</p>
<p>only problem is that you’d have to sacrifice the snow</p>
<p>Another great option is the University Of Virginia (for the same reasons) but I think that you’ll like UNC better!</p>
<p>Boston College, Holy Cross, Bucknell, U of Vermont, Lafayette, U of Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Miami (Ohio), Colgate, Bowdoin, Colby.</p>
<p>Holy Cross is very similar to Boston College because they are both run by the Jesuits of the New England Province. HC is 30 miles west of BC and 2800 students verus BC’s 9000. They both have division 1 sports programs and were nearly a century long football rivals until HC went 1AA in the late 1980s.</p>
<p>Kids that like BC also like Wake Forest, Bucknell, Colgate and Vanderbilt, although there is no skiing at the southern schools of course. If you wanted to shoot for an ivy, near skiing, Dartmouth sounds good for you too. My D is at Bucknell as a freshman and it seems to fit what you are describing. Lots of very smart kids but who manage to find time to do lots of fun things that fit their interests. I am so impressed with the amount of things going on at any given time on that campus. It seems to have something for everyone. Nice balance. Good luck.</p>
<p>Bucknell, Colgate, and Holy Cross are all in the Patriot League which is a NCAA division 1 athletic conference of small (~3000 students) prestigious northeastern colleges.
[The</a> Patriot League - Official Athletic Site](<a href=“http://patriotleague.cstv.com/]The”>http://patriotleague.cstv.com/)</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for all the advice! I had already applied to Colgate, so that was a good choice. I’ll most def look into all of the schools you guys have posted.</p>