Second time around and still a little lost -- help?

Parents Forum
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<p>I really want to transfer, because I don't feel like my current school's the right environment for me. Professors are wonderful and accessable, but it's just too small, and in the middle of nowhere and I feel stifled. Socially, there's just too much drinking, and very few alternatives that I'd be comfortable in.</p>

<p>Stats:[ul][<em>] Freshman at Juniata College (top 100 LAC)
[</em>] Estimated GPA 1st Semester: 3.83-3.96 (I have 2 medically excused incompletes, which will be removed from my record once they change to actual grades in late Jan - early Feb, the GPA depends on one course (upper level) which could be anywhere from a B+ to a A)
[<em>] Minor ECs, plan on stepping it up next semester
[</em>] At the end of the year, 3/5 Dist. Requirements will be filled (Social Sciences, Humanities, International -- missing Fine Arts (1/2 way done), Natural Sciences/Math)
[li] Possible Philosophy, Political Science, or International Relations major[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Classes taken:[ul][<em>]Intro to Philosophy
[</em>] Environmental Ethics
[<em>] College Writing Seminar
[</em>] Russian 1
[<em>] Wind Symphony
[</em>] Information Access[/ul]</p>

<p>Spring:[ul][<em>] Intro to Amer. Gov't
[</em>] Western Political Thought
[<em>] Samurai Legends and Lives (Freshman seminar)
[</em>] Russian II
[<em>] Wind Symphony
[</em>] Politics in Islam
[li] Possible Theatre Practicum[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>High School[ul][<em>] Top 15% (One person out of the top 10%)
[</em>] 3.49 UW/4.3 W GPA, hardest class load possible (Academic Average was probably closer to a 3.3 -- issues at home and undiagnosed ADD were not kind)
[<em>] 1480 SAT (800v/680M)
[</em>] SAT IIs: 700 w, 680 wh, 630 m1c
[<em>] National Merit Commended (only person in school history)
[</em>] ECs: Band (Section Leader), Debate Captain, Scholastic Scrimmage captain, 2 science olympiad district medals[/ul]</p>

<p>I'm looking for a medium sized or medium small university or LAC that is urban, or has easy access to urban areas. I'd like to stay in the northeast. Currently I'm thinking Brown, Barnard, and maybe Bryn Mawr, but I'm sure you guys may have some better ideas.</p>

<p>I've seen the wonderful suggestions given in recent posts for other students, and with no one in my family who went to college or any real help on choosing from the transfer office (who have been great at other things, but mosts tudents transfer out for financial reasons and go to state schools closer to home).</p>

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<p>Around the Boston area, possibly Wellesley, Tufts, Brandeis. Trinity in Hartford; Fairfield (Ct); Loyola or Johns Hopkins in Balto; George Washington, American or Georgetown in Washington, DC. UMd, College Park - if their Honors College is available to oos transfers. These vary as to safety/match/reach (based on freshman status; not sure how this works for transfer), are all urban or accessible, and many (I don't know about all) are particularly strong in govt/poli sci/int'l relations.</p>

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<p>For a safety school you should consider Drew University in Madison, NJ. Excellent political science program with semester programs at other universities. These include a semester in London, DC, and at the UN in NYC. I'm not sure how many off-campus semesters you can do. I did the one in DC and I know roommate did both London and DC. Also, the school is about 30 minutes from NYC.</p>