For a low stress college experience in an academically oriented environment, consider applying to honors colleges at state flagship universities.
Northwestern University is a serious school with respect to intellectual horsepower, work ethic, ambition / drive, and professional career goals.
Northwestern University is an expensive private university. Once a student’s financial aid eligibility runs out, students do not have the luxury of considering a fifth or sixth year of undergraduate education at low in-state tuition rates as one might have at a large public university.
Similar academic environments are found at Cornell & Penn, WashUStL, Princeton, Columbia, Harvard among others.
Students who apply to Northwestern most commonly also apply to:
Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Michigan, Penn, Princeton, WashUStL, & Duke.
In addition to honors colleges at state public flagship universities, one might consider Dartmouth College, Brown, Michigan, Virginia, UNC, Florida, Texas or most LACs (not Swarthmore) for a more relaxed environment. Duke as well.