gotta get out of here--cheap schools for engineering/business double major?

Transfer Students
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<p>I'm currently in my first semester of my freshman year at college park, and really, really, dislike it here. I'm an engineering/business double major, and thus would like a school that not only offers those majors has a fairly decent ranking in those programs (umcp is pretty good, and I wouldn't want to move down). However, I'm willing to accept a lower ranking for a school that suits me more, socially.</p>

<p>However, finances aren't too great--that's why I'm attending an in-state school in the first place. I'm probably going to finish up with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.5, but no extracurriculars. I'm a female to male transsexual, so I'm not sure if that would help out in some way at more progressive-minded schools. In terms of what type of school I'd be interested in, I tend to lean towards more LAC-type or northeastern schools.</p>

<p>I've considered NU, upenn, carnegie mellon, etc; but they all would be too hard for me to get into. Is there any hope? I'm really suffering here, and I don't seem to be able to make friends with the typical state school type student, which is, unfortunately, what I am surrounded by. I tend to be more of a chill, hang out around my room type of person, as opposed to partying, watching sports, etc. I don't mind being in a big city, but I don't like feeling like I don't much matter at my school, so I guess somewhat smaller schools are better. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Well, I think we’ll need to understand the financial constraints first. Because a “cheap” school could be hard to find.</p>

<p>Will you qualify for need-based aid? </p>

<p>A LAC-type school that offers Engineering is Lafayette in Pa. IDK re business major. There are other small unis along the Northeast corridor that offer Engineering and maybe Business (Trinity, Fairfield, Villanova, Hofstra, Fairleigh Dickinson, Tufts, Hopkins, Lehigh). But I don’t know that any of them will be “cheap.”</p>

<p>Similarly, if you want a school ranked as high or higher than UM-CP, as cheap or cheaper, and smaller… well, that may be a null set.</p>

<p>Perhaps another way to solve your dilemma is solving it where you are. The school is excellent. It has the programs you want and the price seems to fit. The problem is that you have not found it easy to make friends with “the typical state school type student.” </p>

<p>So, go find the (many) non-typical students who are there. Like yourself. You haven’t been involved in ECs as yet. Why not explore a few which would tend to attract students with your interests and values?</p>

<p>They’re there. I promise.</p>