<p>We know which schools are the toughest to get into, which ones have the highest incoming GPA’s, SAT’s, and awards. I’m wondering, what are people’s opinions of the most talented overall undergraduate student bodies are.</p>
<p>The answer to this thread is going to be a lot of Harvards and the like, but I’m not talking about dodge ball targets here…I’m talking about scholars, leaders, visionaries, athletes. Where are you finding the most well rounded and talented people?</p>
<p>Let’s make this a short thread. </p>
<p>The answer is obvious: Berkeley and Duke. Nobody else comes close.</p>
<p>I think that the service academies have very impressive candidates, all-around…leadership, service oriented, physical and mental ability, and confidence.</p>
<p>xiggi, thanks for mentioning my alma mater in such an esteemed light…I’m very honored…;)</p>
<p>Most Talented—that would be the Curtis Institute of Music with a 4% admissions rate. :)</p>
<p>Of course I’m biased, but I think Cornell has a very well-rounded student body (although obviously less well-rounded than Duke’s and Berkeley’s 
). Cornellians have an incredibly wide range of academic interests, and can choose from 7 undergrad colleges to study in and over 4,000 courses to take. And, with over 900 student organizations, our extra-curricular interests are just as diverse and widespread. As for athletics - we are good at lacrosse.</p>
<p>Talent-wise, Julliard and RISD students are extremely talented in their respective arts.</p>
<p>Berkeley by sheer number.</p>
<p>University of Phoenix.</p>
<p>Dodgeball targets aren’t necessarily getting into Harvard or are there any higher % there than other top schools.</p>
<p>CTY <—The name itself says it all.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Heck, I’ve been accused of suffering from the small school complex. Now I can add the broken clock syndrome to my list of deficiencies. </p>
<p>Now, if I can only keep “my” people away and “yours” at bay, we might have an unbiased thread. :)</p>
<p>juliard duh</p>
<p>why would the most selective schools not have the most all-around talented kids? </p>
<p>I don’t get the question.</p>
<p>If you drop the word “athlete” and replace it with “artist in some way involved with theater,” Northwestern and Carnegie Mellon start looking pretty good.</p>
<p>DunninLA, I think you understand the question, you’re just not analyzing it enough. Obviously, the Ivy Leagues are not the most talented on the whole because the athletic ability of their average student is not on par, with say some state school.</p>
<p>In other words, kid in your high school had 1400 SAT, top 3%, All State athlete, numerous awards, great essays and recommendations, awards, leadership, adversity…where do you think he or she is going to end up?</p>
<p>Duke or Stanford, or a recruited athlete at any other top college.</p>
<p>I admit that Duke or Stanford is probably a good bet for the most well-rounded people.</p>
<p>OK runner – we’re looking for the intersection of two curves: intellectual and athletic/social (which is itself a composite).</p>
<p>I would say then a school in the 20-50 band of USNRW that prides itself in “all-around” person –</p>
<p>Maybe William and Mary, or Wake Forrest, or possible Vanderbilt or UVA.</p>
<p>Somebody is going to have to plot those two curves so I can see where they intersect.</p>
<p>The answer might also lie in which Top 30 schools score the highest in the Director’s Cup –</p>
<p>On average, over the past 5 years:</p>
<ol>
<li>Stanford</li>
<li>UCLA</li>
</ol>
<p>Duke, Michigan and UNC also are up there. Florida is too, but it’s academic ranking is not at the same level as those five.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The Duke student body well-rounded - considering that Duke isn’t particularly strong in the arts or engineering?</p>
<p>For those that have mentioned UC Berkeley, one still has to remember that the majority of UCB’s student body is from California. So UCB is limited compared to other schools, who can pick “talent” from all over the country.</p>