Sophomore transfer (four year college to a different four year college)...stats, ideas, etc.

Hello,

I previously posted a few months ago about transferring colleges, and I’ve decided that if I’m going to do it, I want to apply for junior year (so apply as a sophomore). I am at a small, midwestern LAC, and I’m interested in creative writing, but also interested in studying something along the lines of English, philosophy, or psychology. I just completed my freshman year of college, and while my second semester was better than my first semester, I still just don’t see myself at my current school. Don’t get me wrong, taking some upper level classes within my interests last semester, I found that I love the professors at my college as well as the small class sizes. However, the school I attend is not very “academic”, and I don’t feel challenged. Most of the students here (only ~1500) party a lot and don’t really care about school, which is very alienating for me since I haven’t made any close friends. I understand that all schools party hard, but I am doubtful about finding my niche at a school with so few students, most of whom seem a lot more interested in the social aspect of college than career goals (not that I’m completely asocial, but I do care about my future even if my job prospects might not be the greatest :/). I really just don’t know what I want at this point in the transfer process. I like the small class sizes at my current school, but would like a greater variety of people to choose from and to connect with. I’m worried about the social life of a transfer because I’ve heard mixed things about it. I want to have a good gpa for grad school, but also feel sufficiently challenged.

I have to say, my personality type is somewhat introverted. I like to do fun stuff on the weekend (not heavy drinking) and study during the week, all while sleeping at a decent time every night. I tend to enjoy deep conversations more than small talk. I like writing, playing piano/guitar, and art. I know that most colleges aren’t suited to this type of person, so I am worried.

I’d really just like some more transfer suggestions. I’m up for anything at this point. I have a 3.9+ gpa (3.8something first semester, 4.0 second). My only leadership is that I am the editor/president/ of my school’s writing/literary mag. I also write for the school newspaper, am involved in a community service org and a political org, as well as a club sport. My high school stuff was not stellar, but not bad. I started getting wait-listed when I applied to schools with acceptance rates around 30-35%. I don’t know how else to describe it…above average, but not stellar SATs, GPA, extracurricular–although I did take a very rigorous course loud. Am I even eligible for some more selective schools…do students more like me attend those types of schools?

Big school? Small school? Selective? Non-selective? I just don’t know what I want. Help.

If you will apply to transfer as a junior, then you will have enough of a college record that your high school record will be less important (or not considered at some schools). But you will have to be ready to declare a major when you transfer to the new school.

As to what schools to apply to, you may want to consider which schools have the desired academic majors you are interested in, and which will be affordable to you. Since a small school with a heavy population of party students is not something you like, you may want to consider a larger school where there is a larger number of less party-prone students. Perhaps the state universities in your state of residency?

Perhaps apply for philosophy at your state flagship for Spring 2018. If that doesn’t work, apply to colleges that have a reputation for being relatively intellectual and/or are strong in the humanities- Carleton, UChicago, Reed, Kenyon?

Do you have budget constraints?

Keep up your grades since they’re your best shot at transferring.