<p>Hey all, I will be a sophomore this fall and I am currently thinking about transferring from my current school for Fall 2012 entry. Here's my situation:</p>
<p>I am from a Caribbean country (which I'll try not to mention because I'm paranoid) where I've lived all my life. I am also gay and I've had a really hard time growing up in a very homophobic society (the Anglophone Caribbean is quite homophobic). For all my life I've had to pretend to be straight and I've had to pretend that the homophobic culture and the everyday homophobic words of my peers and fellow citizens mean nothing to me. My family is very homophobic and I would be kicked out if they ever found out. I'd never tell them until I am older and have enough money and a job to support myself. I felt trapped in my country and I decided that getting a sound education would be the only thing that could get me out of there. This is why I decided to come to the US. My family could barely afford the price of a degree back home and we totally cannot afford a US college degree. Luckily, I received an awesome financial aid package from my college and I've completed freshman year (2010-2011). I'm also paranoid about stating the name of the college but it is one of these twenty: </p>
<p>Best</a> Liberal Arts Colleges - A List of 20 of the Best Liberal Arts Colleges</p>
<p>I started began being more comfortable with my sexuality when I arrived in the US last summer and I've even told a few of the friends I made in the past two semesters. My college campus is great and if I were straight I would have loved staying there. I feel like the social scene there isn't really gay-friendly. I've heard a lot of homophobic slurs and there is a high prevalence of implicit homophobia on campus. One of my professors (Women and Gender Studies) said that she thinks the campus is one of the most homophobic she's seen. It doesn't seem like a big problem, but I feel like I can't be comfortable there. The small size of the school is great, but maybe this is why I don't feel comfortable.</p>
<p>Also, I wanted to become a dentist in the US but, after a consideration of the paths I will have to take, I decided that I will just get a BSc in Biology and Mathematics for now. After college I will have to return back home and I am very worried about this and I don't know if I have the money for grad. school. I don't think that the degree I will get from my small liberal arts college will be valued much outside the US so I was thinking about going to a larger school that has a stronger science department and more opportunity for research. I feel like this is the best thing for my degree because it will open up more doors for me.</p>
<p>I have always done well in school and I've been average in terms of my extracurriculars. I always had a dream of attending a world renowned university but I never took any chance to apply. Here are my stats:</p>
<p>High School:
-GPA: 4.0
-Advanced Levels: Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics (all A<em>s)
-GCSEs: 9 A</em>s and 3 As in 12 subjects
-SAT, took it twice: 1900 first time (messed up CR), 2100 second time: 710M, 650CR, 740W I'm thinking about retaking, should I? Will taking it three times look bad?
-Honors: best A Level student in my country for two years straight (2009, 2010), top 5 in my country for GCSEs (2008), award for excellence in science and English
-ECs: Prefect, Sports (track&field), Environmental Club Leader, lots of volunteer, drama, poetry and impromptu speaking</p>
<p>College:
-GPA for freshman year: 4.0
-Honors: CRC Freshman Chemistry award, Dean's List, national honors society
-ECs: volunteer, frisbee, volleyball, photography</p>
<p>Do you think I have a chance at Harvard or Yale? Thanks</p>