Thinking of Transferring...

Transfer Students
1

<p>I'm a sophomore, 1st semester, at small LAC in South Carolina. I'm thinking about transferring because I really don't like the people here. I don't feel like I've gotten close to anyone, even after a year and a half of being here, and I don't see things getting any better anytime soon. The people here seem so concerned with petty things, and I'm not into the binge drinking fraternity/sorority weekend social scene. Everyone here is really the same. I've joined all kinds of extracurriculars, trying to find people who share my interests, but no luck. The reason I came here is because I got almost a full ride, but now I think I would be willing to go into some debt if I could find somewhere with people more like me.</p>

<p>Some stats:
Major: History
College GPA: 3.89
College Extracurriculars: Newspaper staff (section editor & layout staff); College Democrats (president); Students for Environmental Education (secretary); Gay/Straight Alliance; Freshman Honors Seminar (last year); Chinese scholar (traveled to China on a Maymester this past summer); International dorm resident; work study in the library
High School GPA: 4.95/5.00
SAT: 1410/2070
Rank: 2/about 275
High School Extracurriculars: Yearbook staff (editor-in-chief); Color guard; Student government (homeroom representative and senator); Beta Club; Kids Kamp volunteer; Was in a school play; Church youth group; Church Bible study; Church nursery worker; Summer job at CVS pharmacy
High School Awards: National Merit Commended Student; B-27 Club (Honor Society); Rotary Club Student of the Month</p>

<p>If I stay in-state, I will keep a merit scholarship that pays half of tuition, room, and board; Palmetto Fellows; and some need-based aid. I am willing to go out of state though. I think I would prefer to stay kind of close to home, although I'm not completely opposed to the idea of going far away if I was happy somewhere; however, I really don't like the cold. I would like to go somewhere where there are people at least kind of like me, where students are concerned about world issues, where there is a variety of social opportunities for students, where professors and students have close relationships, where the professors are good teachers, etc.</p>

<p>Any suggestions on what schools I should look into?</p>

2

<p>come to oberlin</p>

<p>it can get cold (ie, now), but if you're looking for an engaged student body there isn't a much better place than oberlin...profs. are all amazing, approachable (most), TA's don't teach any classes...also, we don't have sororities or fraternities and the drinking scene is more than avoidable...mind you, however, it can get intense...perhaps a good fit</p>

3

<p>Hmmm, at first glance it looks promising. My main concerns are the price tag (Do you know what kind of aid is available to transfers?) and that it's pretty far from my home. That being said, I guess I am probably going to have to go farther than my comfort zone to find a college that has people similar to me. Everything else looks good. Will definitely look into more.</p>

<p>Any other suggestions?</p>

4

<p>in general, financial aid for transfers is pretty terrible</p>

<p>oberlin is better than most, but still</p>

5

<p>dufflebagjesus - Thanks so much for your help!</p>

<p>I've been looking around some today, and New College of Florida seems like it could be a choice too. Does anyone know of any other colleges with a similar campus culture, preferably in the South or not too far North? It just seems like everything down here is the cookie cutter image of my current school. Also, if I stayed in state, I suppose I'd consider USC Columbia, Clemson, or Winthrop, but I'm not really in love with anything in South Carolina.</p>

6

<p>I also like American University, if that helps.</p>

7

<p>bump (10 char)</p>

8

<p>anyone else?</p>