don't want to make another wrong choice!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm currently a freshman at a small (<1800 students) liberal arts school, and I'm thinking about transferring. I know I might need to give it more time, but I want to apply to schools to transfer to just in case. The thing is, I have never liked it here, so that's why I'm a little worried at this point. I've adjusted just fine to college life, and I really enjoy it, so that's not the issue. I just don't feel like I'm at the right school... The semester is almost over, and I am still not happy here, and that is unnerving since a lot of people love the school and a lot of my high school friends love their new schools. </p>

<p>My problem is that I have no idea where to transfer to, and I'm worried about making another wrong choice. I can't make another wrong choice. </p>

<p>So can anyone suggest some schools for me to look into? I'm not going to lie, I've been researching schools like crazy... but I'm just so worried about all of this. </p>

<p>I think my biggest issue with this school is that I'm having trouble fitting in with the social dynamic and the people here. I had tons of friends in high school, and I enjoy partying in moderation, but the social life here revolves around Greek Life (i'm not in a sorority), and I am having trouble finding people I connect with. I've met almost everyone in my grade already, too. The campus feels suffocatingly small sometimes... but, on the other hand, I love the idea of a small, united community. My school now isn't very united, though. People are connected because everyone knows each other, but there's no sense of unity or school pride or anything. I can't decide if I need a bigger school or a smaller one with "better" people (i dont mean that in a condesending way, I just mean people better suited for me) </p>

<p>I also cant decide if I want to be in a big city or not. The school I attend is in a medium-sized city, but i might want something bigger. I dont feel like I can grow and explore here. I need adventure. But then again, I've never been a huge city person, and it could overwhelm me. And small town isolation promotes unity and community for many schools</p>

<p>Basically, I'm torn because it seems like I want both ends of many extremes.. really big school or really small school... really big city or isolated town... </p>

<p>Can anyone help?</p>

2

<p>Why not look at cluster areas. Towns or areas that have a multuple schools links to each other. Umass, Smith,Hamphire,Mt Holyyoke are all in one valley in Mass. Nearby WholeFoods and Trader Joes, Big enough to have a bus sytem connecting the colleges, big enough for town life but not a city. Providence area is also a cluster RISD Brown Darthmouth? Is’nt that nearby?</p>

3

<p>Try looking for slightly larger schools, maybe still with a liberal arts feel if you like that. Perhaps you’d do well at a school right outside a large city, in the suburbs but with easy transportation to a major city (schools that come to mind right now: American, Tufts, Georgetown, Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr etc.). What kind of feel are you looking for? Intellectual, more of a party school, lots of athletics/school spirit?</p>

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<p>Thanks so much; both of you guys gave really good advice. </p>

<p>ellopoppet (love love love your username, btw), I’m looking for a combo of all three, if that’s not asking too much. I want an intellectual school, but I also would love a good social scene. Definitely not one with too much partying, but more of a moderation. Like, work hard play hard type of environment. A school with strong athletics and school spirit would be great, but I also want to avoid an overly preppy school. No J Crew models.</p>

5

<p>What is your major?</p>

<p>Do you have any regional preferences?</p>

<p>Would some Jesuit schools be ok? I don’t think they are big into Greek systems.</p>

<p>What is your budget? How much will your parents pay? Transfer students often don’t very good financial aid or scholarships.</p>

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<p>I’m an English major. I would prefer to stay in the south/southeast, but I wouldn’t mind the new england area, either. At this point I just want to find the right school so I’m really opened to almost any location. If you have any Jesuit suggestions I’ll definitely check them out! I’m not very religious at all, so the student body would have to be okay with that. But otherwise, I am opened to Jesuit schools. As far as budget goes… right now, including scholarship/financial aid my school gave me, my parents pay around $30,000… so probably nothing more than that. I don’t want to make my parents pay more for the school I transfer to. </p>

<p>Thank you :)</p>

7

<p>I would look at Rice (in Houston), Emory (slightly larger but right outside of Atlanta), and Loyola University New Orleans (obviously in New Orleans). Oh, and also the University of Richmond. Loyola is Jesuit, but usually this means nothing about your experience there as a non-religious person. Most students at these schools aren’t Jesuit or Roman Catholic. All four are good schools and they all offer financial aid, with Loyola and Richmond offering merit aid as well, so you should be ok in that regard.</p>

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<p>I applied last year to Richmond and was waitlisted (though I didnt tour or show major interest, so that could be part of it). Will that affect my chances of getting in a second time? The school seemed great, but I was worried it was a little too preppy for me.</p>

9

<p>What were your high school grades and scores? College? </p>

<p>Is your aid merit or need based? Do you qualify for need based?</p>

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<p>I went to a college prep high school, and my GPA was 3.44
I made a 2075 on the SAT and a 29 on the ACT.
I’m not sure what my college GPA is yet… I’m thinking it’ll be around a 3.4 after this semester…but I’m not positive. </p>

<p>I only received merit-based aid. I was not elligible for any need based financial aid.</p>

11

<p>I think you need to check the FA pages of schools you are interested in, because you are likely to discover they only offer merit to incoming freshmen, not tranfers, and since you didn’t qulaify for FA, your parents could be looking at much more than $30k.</p>

<p>You might decide to stay where you are. Sometimes it just takes a while to find your group/life.</p>

12

<p>OK, I am dying to know where you are going now. It wouldn’t be Washington and Lee, would it? That’s one of the schools my older son is applying to, and our main concern is the dominance of Greek Life there. </p>

<p>If you don’t want to reveal your current school openly, please feel free to PM me. Thanks!</p>

13

<p>Rice and Emory won’t work…too expensive and she doesn’t qualify for aid.</p>

<p>Look at Spring Hill, Loyola New Orleans, and Southern Catholic College.</p>

<p>What state are you in? I have some other ideas as well.</p>

14

<p>In addition, look at Loyola Maryland and American University. </p>

<p>I doubt she is at W & L with a 2075 and 3.4 gpa from high school. They have an 18% accept rate. </p>

<p>Are you at Furman?</p>

15

<p>@mom2collegekids – does Southern Catholic still exist? I thought it was closed down after the Legionaries’ scandal exploded. (I think the Legionaries had taken it over.)</p>

<p>If you have more up-to-date info, I’d certainly welcome it. :slight_smile: Thanks!!</p>

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<p>@ghostbuster – I think the fvirst one to guess the right school should get a special prize. :)</p>

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<p>Thanks for the suggestions! I am sort of interested in Sprill Hill… anyone have more information on it? Are they accepting of non-religious students?</p>

<p>And I don’t want to reveal which school I go to, but I will say that it’s not Washington and Lee or Furman… but both of those schools are much preppier than the one I go to.</p>

18

<p>I think most Catholic colleges are accepting of students who aren’t religious. You should visit Spring Hill and find out if it will work for you.</p>

19

<p>hmmmmm…are you at Presbyterian College? Its a wonderful school but also a bit preppy. Or Wofford? Same scenario. </p>

<p>Hollins University in Virginia is a wonderful school, well known for its superb creative writing department. </p>

<p>Did you look at Goucher College too?</p>