<p>Marlboro College in Vermont. Princeton Review’s highest academic rating of “99.” Probably one of the most challenging colleges in the country, if not the most . . . as long as what you’re interested in is education and not prestige. If you make it through (and that’s far from guaranteed), you can probably write your own ticket to any graduate school in the country.</p>
<p>Other “off the beaten path” possibilities: Reed, Deep Springs, Sarah Lawrence, St. Johns- Santa Fe, or St. John’s-Annapolis. If you’re serious about “real life application,” College of the Atlantic in Maine is another option.</p>
<p>Of course you won’t impress your friends and neighbors with any of these schools. And, as for those “undergraduate research opportunities” you’re looking for . . . well, I guess it depends what you have in mind. These schools focus on teaching you how to think . . . if you want to do fancy lab work, it might have to wait until grad school.</p>
<p>Or heck, just apply to Cornell - that’ll be easier.</p>
<p>By the way, if you’re idea of a good education is a classroom full of people who are failing . . . well, you might want to rethink things.</p>