Chance Me for transfer to Lehigh, Brandeis, Emory, UNC, Northeastern, Wake Forest/where to apply

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m currently a freshman at a small but decently ranked liberal arts school in a small, boring, conservative town. I’m pretty miserable with my college choice and I hate that I didn’t put more effort into my search. Being a gay guy in an even more conservative town than I grew up in is pretty miserable. I thought college would mean I wouldn’t have to be afraid to go on dates anymore, but that isn’t the case. Regardless, I’m trying to make up for that mistake now and hope to transfer in the fall. I am really worried about not being able to get into a bigger but still academically rigorous school. On that note, I know it’s early in the year, but please chance me for fall transfer to Lehigh, Brandeis, Emory, UNC Chapel Hill, Northeastern, or Wake Forest (or other similar schools if you have recommendations).

High School Stats:

ACT: 32 (R: 36, E: 33, S: 33, M: 27)
GPA 4.1 W, 3.96 UNW
APs (9 total): World History (5), Human Geo (5), Lang (4), Physics, Psych (3), US History (4), Lit (5), Bio, US Gov (5)
ECs: band, honor society, Mayor’s Advisory Council, FBLA, Model UN/Arab League, Young Dems
Work: started out at a pretzel stand, finished HS as a receptionist for the local Parks Dept
Volunteering: not a lot, mostly political and for some local charities

College:

Major: Double in Economics and Public Policy
GPA: can’t make that call yet, but all As so far with a few essays and exams in; hoping for a 3.7 by 2nd semester
ECs: choir, jazz band, Model UN, newspaper, LGBT club, sustainability org that’s selective
Volunteering: a few times a week at a retirement home, elementary school, and local Dem Party (aiming at 300 hours by end of school year)

Thanks in advance!

2

You think Wake is a better place to be gay?

3

I know that it had trouble in the past but recently opened an LGBTQ center on campus. I don’t know much about that part of campus, but I read that the students and faculty are supportive overall. Is that not the case?

4

I lived in Winston-Salem quite awhile ago. Not a progressive place. Based on current events I’d say it still isn’t. Did you apply to any of these as a high school senior?

5

No. I had no idea that I could apply to schools like that. My school, friends, and family were not very informed on the college search process. It’s why I have ended up where I did.

6

I’m not experienced on transfers or gay friendly undergrad locations. Your profile shows a meaningful engagement in politics and government. Maybe the Boston-area schools would work for you but what about American and GW? That puts you in an amazing location for your studies and I hear that DC has a lively and relatively open homosexual community. If you really want to be in the South look at Tulane which benefits your studies by having a law school. Vassar and Wesleyan seem like better choices than Lehigh in terms of location and tolerance.

7

Another big concern is financial aid. I have been trying to look at schools that cover 100% of need. GW and American would both be amazing places to go, but from what I have seen, there’s no way I could afford them, sadly.