<p>I currently attend Duke University. I am in my third semester (Sophomore). Before attending Duke I was accepted to both Amherst and Swarthmore, and I’ve realized since then that either one of those schools would have been a better match.</p>
<p>I have received very bad grades, due to my extreme unhappiness here, and too my discovering and attempting to handle mothers bout with advanced breast cancer.</p>
<p>If I were to apply to Amherst and Swarthmore again, would I be at an advantage, since obviously they saw something in me before, or a disadvantage, because of my grades??</p>
<p>And if I were to apply for the year 2008-2009, when I would be a Junior, should I apply as a transfer, or as a freshman, sincerely I feel seriously deprived of most of my college experience?</p>
<p>You don't have a choice but to apply as a transfer. Transfers have a more difficult time than RD (percentage-wise), and with your grades not so good, I am concerned. Perhaps you could explain them away, but the situation with your mother? That would still be there. I wish I could be more positive, but transferring is very difficult.</p>
<p>You have no choice but to apply as a transfer and with poor grades the odds are against you, regardless of your reasons for doing poorly. Your college experience is what you make of it and an admissions committee is going to assume if you're unhappy with your Duke experience, then you're doing something wrong, because Duke isn't a commuter school or a school with extremely limited major options, or any of the other "good" reasons for transferring.</p>
<p>Thanks for the honesty. I agree with the both of you, that's mainly why I was concerned. Part of the reason I was unhappy about Duke was because of my sexuality. I came out about a year ago, and have found close to zero LGBT life, and this is no exaggeration. So, don't get me wrong, I HAVE tried, but it just hasn't worked out.</p>
<p>What is it that attracted you to Amherst and Swarthmore? If you like the LAC experience, there are many other LACs that will take you in spite of your grades. Take a look at Loren Pope's book "Colleges that change lives" for some that you may want to consider. These schools are much easier to get into but offer high quality LAC experiences. Here is a website: Colleges</a> That Change Lives.</p>
<p>Accionara, going to Amherst wont help you in any way. Its not like you are going to find good LGBT support at Amherst; just the other day, a gay student from hampshire college attended an Amherst party and got harrassed by some Amherst students.</p>
<p>
[quote]
On Saturday night, five Hampshire College students who left a Gay Amherst Party were allegedly called names, threatened, spit at and were blocked from leaving the dorm.
<p>You might want to consider taking a class at nearby UNC. There's a regular shuttle bus between Duke and UNC and cross-enrollment is supported by both institutions. UNC developed a new minor in Sexuality Studies a couple of years ago and you would very likely find some supportive students in those classes. </p>
<p>That incident is antithetical to the views of the vastly overwhelming majority of the student body. Students and faculty alike have roundly condemned that behavior, rightly so. That's the only incident of its kind I can recall in my experience at Amherst. People generally don't care whether someone is gay, straight, or whatever.</p>
<p>Accionara - I can't tell whether you are a man or a woman. If you are a woman, you might want to look at Smith College. It's got great academics but has less rigorous admissions standards than Amherst and of course is just about as open and supportive on the LGBT front as could be . . .</p>