1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Getting in is tough, but staying in is tougher for MIT's "fascinating" and "dedicated" students, all of whom have to survive a battery of "hard-core science and math classes" during their freshman year. Fortunately, the overarching spirit of MIT is one of cooperation: "If you are willing to put in the work, there is always a way to get enough help to complete all assignments." Prospective students be warned: "If you want college to be a joyride, MIT is not for you."

2. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)

Students who are lucky enough to be accepted to Princeton will be spoiled by "amazing resources, world-class professors, beautiful architecture, great people, a fun social life, and the inability of the school to say no to anything that you want." From an administration that "runs like butter" to professors that "treat [you] like colleagues," students here are adamant that their school is the "best place to get an undergraduate education."

3. Harvard College (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

There's no magic formula for getting into Harvard, and the students who are accepted are "some of the most eccentric students in the world." Beyond stellar grades, solid test scores, and great extracurriculars, Harvard students all have one thing in common: They "tend to be secure in their own fabulosity, so they really don't brag, and they'll totally be happy for you if you do something cool."

4. Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island)

Brown attracts "individual, free-thinking" students who are "pretty well-grounded, open to new ideas, and [having] fun." The emphasis here is on "the process of learning rather than simply the results" and often "the most amazing discussions take place outside [the] classroom." Brown students are all "supremely talented" and are comfortable being "self-led in all aspects of life--academic, social, [and] artistic."

5. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

Yale students agree that "there are two overarching characteristics that everyone here has been blessed with: talent and motivation." With an applicant pool that might include "a science prodigy, [someone who] speaks 12 languages, or [someone who] has spent time doing aid work in the third world," Yale admits students who are "the leaders of tomorrow." What distinguishes these "fun, creative, and down-to-earth" students is their dedication to real action: "Community programs, public-health advocacy and work, and political campaigns are all vital to campus life."

6. California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, California)

At Caltech, "your worth is determined by your work ethic and your intelligence, not your appearance." It's not surprising that applicants to the school are some of the most inventive minds around. "The academics here are intense" and Caltech students tend to live in their "own little bubble of problem sets and lectures." The school's collaboration policy helps ease the pressure as "homework is usually done in groups" to help students practice "piggybacking ideas, and accomplishing more with the help of others." 

7. Stanford University (Stanford, California)

Stanford's "laid-back" students are closet overachievers. Nobody lets on that they're trying really, really hard to clean up in their classes. But Stanford's "multifaceted, multitalented" students are "very driven, even if they don't say so and pretend it's not true." Many different backgrounds and experiences are represented in Stanford's applicant pool, including students who "have written a novel, or have gone to the Olympics." However, the one thing all Stanford students have in common is their "very chill" approach to academics.

8. Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri)

WashU students "were the best of the best in their own high school" and "are concerned about their futures and their careers." While being smart is a prerequisite for admission, WashU students have a low-stress approach to academics that causes them to be "willing to take breaks…often." WashU students are "over-committed, fun-loving, high-school all-stars" who coexist on campus with "very little animosity or competitiveness."

9. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Penn attracts "insanely smart" students who tend to be more career-oriented than students at the other Ivies. The university "does an excellent job of placing these students" in some of "the country's most prestigious jobs" after graduation. With a reputation for being the Ivy at which students unwind most enthusiastically, the lucky applicants who are accepted to Penn will be "studying hard on the weekdays, and partying harder on the weekends" in no time.

10. Columbia University-Columbia College (New York, New York)

Columbia admits "smart, motivated, independent, and intellectually curious" students who don't need a lot of hand-holding. With coursework that "can be tremendously grueling" and "professors who are known to grade harshly," the most successful Columbia students are "hardworking, [and] continuously busy." In exchange for their efforts, Columbia students get to learn from professors who are "leaders in their fields" in a "chic, cultured city of opportunity."

1. Pepperdine University (Malibu, California)

Comfortably settled in the oceanside community of Malibu, Pepperdine students enjoy lots of sunshine, great beaches, and tons of celebrity sightings. The campus itself sits right in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains, and for many students that means "the beach is visible" from their dorm rooms. When they finally pull themselves from their "breathtaking" bedside views, they "walk to class with the Pacific Ocean right there."

2. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)

Students at Princeton know they've got a good thing going. The school's "amazing resources, world-class professors," and "beautiful architecture" make it a plum choice for students seeking a well-rounded college experience. From gargoyles perched on various campus buildings to a faculty room modeled after the British House of Commons, Princeton is the epitome of old-world learning in historically inspired splendor.

3. Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar, Virginia)

A "beautiful campus, quirky traditions, [and] really friendly people" are just some of the reasons students sing the praises of Sweet Briar College. The well-rounded students at this Southern women's college enjoy doing it all: "If you want to be in three clubs, have great professors, [attend] horse shows every weekend, be on student council, and do it all while working your butt off in your classes, this is the place for you." The college's campus "is beautiful and quickly feels like home rather than a school." The dorms "are gorgeous as well."

4. Agnes Scott College (Decatur, Georgia)

The appreciative students on ASC's campus enjoy the perfect Southern backdrop. When they're between classes at this women's college, many Scotties simply hang out in their "absolutely amazing dorms with high ceilings and hardwood floors." The campus itself is "beautiful," with "large trees, flowers, a gorgeous quad, [and] historic buildings." The women on this campus agree that ASC is a "really supportive, nurturing place to get an undergraduate education."

5. Sewanee-University of the South (Sewanee, Tennessee)

As one might expect based on Sewanee's moniker, this university combines the best elements of Southern living in an environment dedicated to higher learning. Sewanee's mountain-top location and sprawling campus afford students many opportunities to "do a lot of outdoor activities" such as kayaking, rock climbing, caving, hiking, and swimming. At Sewanee, "all the buildings are made from stone that comes from the same quarry," contributing to a "beautiful, peaceful" atmosphere for its lucky students.

6. Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, Massachusetts)

Mount Holyoke is home to the "best golf course and equestrian center ever, dorms like palaces," and "classic brick buildings covered in ivy." While hometown South Hadley can be a little boring, the beauty of the natural surroundings more than makes up for it. "In the fall, the colors welcome students. In the winter, the skating rink is within walking distance of many sledding hills and cross-country skiing trails. In the spring, the lakes are home to baby geese and the campus is covered in flowers." All in all, life is beautiful at Mount Holyoke.

7. Scripps College (Claremont, California)

At Scripps, "the dorms are like hotels," and this fact contributes to the "calm atmosphere" at this all-women's college in the much-praised Claremont consortium. While "some people wonder how Scripps students get work done in such a beautiful place," the better question might be, "What more can motivate you to walk to class than 80-degree weather in February?" The campus itself has "flowers, fountains, and gardens everywhere." When it's warm, students enjoy the "smell of growing oranges wafting in the air." Even the grass here is "beautiful."

8. Kenyon College (Gambier, Ohio)

Since there's "not a lot to do" in hometown Gambier, it helps that the "beauty of the campus" makes students want to stick around. Students "love to go biking and take walks on the Kokosing Gap Trail," while "wintertime brings sledding down hills on trays, cardboard, and mattresses." This classically beautiful hilltop campus is also a great example of organizational planning: "The whole campus, end to end, is a mile long; you can walk anywhere you need to be in under ten minutes."

9. Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, California)

The students at Loyola Marymount agree: "Life at LMU is awesome!" It boasts "one of the most beautiful campuses ever, right on a bluff overlooking LA," so that you "definitely feel like you're in southern California." Life off campus offers "tons of things" to do--from "clubs, beaches, museums, [and] shopping" to anything you can think of.  At LMU, every student "has the potential to expand their mind, body, and spirit" while being surrounded by a "beautiful atmosphere, encouraging professors, and plentiful resources."

10. University of California-Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, California)

Fun at UC-Santa Cruz can be as simple as taking in the natural surroundings; the campus is "in the middle of the forest, and the beach is only three minutes away. It's the most awesome campus overall." The school is home to many beach fanatics who enjoy surfing, scuba diving, sailing, and swimming. As one student puts it, "What's the point in living next to the ocean if you waste it?"

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