<p>I am looking for some advice on potiental schools to transfer to for either Fall 2008 or Spring 2009. I currently have about a 3.3 GPA, and I am hoping to raise it this coming semester. One of the things I am looking for in a school are smart, intellectual people that don't need to drink and party and hook up with everyone under the sun to have a good time. I feel like I don't fit in socially at my current school and though I have a couple of friends it is hard, because they are very commited to their faith, and while I respect that, I do not share their faith and therefore it is arhd for me to connect with them. I find I am drawn to smart intellectual people, the sorts that are usually much smarter than me , which is kind of tricky as the schools that I think would fit me socially I do not think I have the grades to get into right now. In terms of academics, I love the marjority of the teachers , but I feel like alot of the kids, not all, are not motvated to learn for the sake of learning new things. I always see kids that are like " I love my school, it's amazing, I knew the min. I stepped on campus", and I nevecr felt that. Mabye I just haven't find the right place for me. I predominantly am looking at LACs or slightly larger colleges, not in urban areas. I am sorry this was so long and rambling.</p>
<p>We need more info. Do you know your intended major? Do you have a geographical preference? What is your financial arrangement for paying college tuition- full pay? need aid? What is your current school or, if you don't want to mention it, what is its level of selectivity?</p>
<p>DEFY, our S experienced exactly what you are describing. He LOVED his professors, but was turned of by many of the less intellectual students at his college[ a big U]. He transferred to U of Chicago in the Fall, and for many reasons, was not happy there. What he realized, while he was in Chicago, was that there were enough smart kids at Big U, [he had made friends with them before he left] to satisfy his need to be around kids like himself. He just needed to ignore the less intellectual students that had gotten on his nerves. So he is now back at Big U, looking forward to working with the terrific professors, and is commiitted to taking advantage of the opportunities there.
So you may want to think about that, as you like the professors where you are, and because it can be difficult to transfer "up". Just a thought.</p>
<p>Do you know your intended major? Well right now I am doing Theater and Psychology
Do you have a geographical preference? I live in New York, so I don't want to go to Cali or something across the country. Probably either Midwest or EastCoast.
What is your financial arrangement for paying college tuition- full pay? need aid? I do need fin. aid to pay, I am on some merit aid and some need based aid now.
What is your current school or, if you don't want to mention it, what is its level of selectivity? My current school has an acceptence rate of over 70%.</p>
<p>Another thing I do not like is the very big percentage of instaters. A ton of people go home on the weekends and the campus is quite dead unless your into frat parties and the like.</p>
<p>"I do need fin."
OK. This should be the first thing you look for at colleges you are investigating, as financial aid is often very limited for transfer students.</p>
<p>Ok, thank you so much menloparkmom I will def. look into that.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
I was looking at Carleton and Grinnel but I know I could never get into them.
I was also looking at Earlham, Knox, Beloit, Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr
I don't know if I should look at slightly larger schools as well. I don't want to go larger than 10,000 and that is a bit big.
My mom was suggesting schools like Bennington type of schools, Colorado College/ Cornell College.
I am also looking for a little less of an athletically sports jocky enviorment, with a good psych. dept and a good theater/music department because I love doing musicals and such.</p>
<p>Maybe Goucher? My son's gf goes there and she loves it. It's social but not overly drinking heavy, and she loves her classes and professors. She's thinking of majoring in psych and some sort of community involvement kind of major that she is designing on her own.</p>
<p>What about Smith? Would you go for all-women's environment? Your GPA is actually quite nice for a transfer especially if you have great reasons to go to that specific school :) And never say never- you never know. :)</p>
<p>Thanks guys! I will check out Goucher and Smith.
Does anyone have any knowledge of the academic and social climates of Earlham, Knox, Beloit, Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Carleton, Grinnell?</p>
<p>I don't know much about any of the schools you mention, other than the fact that I have heard good things about all of them. You have to remember that what is good for one may not be what another considers good, though. It is important to try to get to the bottom of your dissatisfaction & look for schools that most likely have what you are really looking for. From what I gather you want: student body serious about learning, social life for nondrinkers (note: tough to find no drinking; more important to look for places where nondrinkers feel comfortable & can find things to do), not in a city, small to medium in size.</p>
<p>I would add a school to the list for you. Check out Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Don't laugh! It's a very cool school. If it were located anywhere else, it would be better known. It might interest you (and the financial aid is very good).</p>
<p>You might want to look for descriptions of the student body as a bit --- well, nerdy --- when searching for schools. That isn't a bad thing! I went to a school with an exceedingly nerdy reputation. It was a terrific place!! That kind of description indicates to me that the students are probably strong students, are likely to enjoy learning, might enjoy sports but don't consider them essential to the college experience, might party but probably don't care whether or not anyone else does. My own experience was that everyone was welcome to be a part of student government, plays, groups, etc. --- there were no "big men on campus" in my school. That kind of place may be what you are trying to find. Sorry, though, that particular school is out for you (it's an engineering school). These schools do exist. You just have to sift through the info & try to figure out which ones appeal to you. If a school interests you, check out relevant threads on this site, and look at other websites that discuss schools. Be careful when you look at the sites where students rate their schools, because often people with complaints are more likely to post. You can at least get a sense of a school by googling it, though.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that there is no perfect place. If you really feel the need to leave, that's fine. Just don't go to another school unless you REALLY want to go to that school. If you can't find what you are looking for, don't compromise. I think it might be better to stay put unless you are pretty sure you will be better off elsewhere.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the insightful post! There is alot of great advice in that post that I will think about.
I am looking for student bodys that are a bit more nerdy, not that that is such a bad thing lol. I think you are right that they are more into their studies and having a good time and such.
I will def. look into Hendrix though I am not sure about the whole Arkansas thing, but I will check it out!</p>
<p>I was going to suggest Beloit and Goucher too. I'd also suggest you look into Clark U. in MA and Lawrence in WI. Earlham is probably a good bet too. I helped my son generate a college list and I found that "quirky" and "unconventional" were good words to look for in the guidebooks. He really wanted that "nerdy and proud of it" kind of vibe, but without the snobbishness. I think most of the schools we're mentioning on this thread are like that (some I don't know well enough to say).</p>
<p>After further thought, I'd like to say to the OP that you may need a little more time to find your peer group at your current school. Go to clubs and EC's to find people who aren't partying crazily. This can be a problem at even the best schools.</p>
<p>Bethievt- Thank you for the suggestions. Ironically Lawrence was my top choice last year but I got rejected :( . I have joined clubs and such but I don't know, I cant find things that really interest me and that I am like I want to join this and that. The things I have joined have been a bit of a let down and one was not a good fit and I feel backed into it and don't knwow hat to do, but that is another story for another time. Bethievt, I know your son seemed to be looking for the same type of people I am looking for, where did he find them? I realzie there is partying and drinking everywere but some plcaes it is less or elss the primary social event then others.
Another of the big issues I have is that almost 70% of students are from Maryland and the campus kind of empties out as people go home or back to their high schools functions.</p>
<p>I did not have many choices last year for a variety of reasons, and i made the best choice at the time, but now I don't know.</p>
<p>Does your current school offer chem free housing? If so, this venue might introduce you to like minded peers. </p>
<p>You might check out some of the Catholic schools like Siena (Loudonville, NY) or Stonehill (Massachusetts) that at least attempt to control drinking in the dorms.</p>
<p>You could check out Whitworth in Spokane, WA, they have a strong music progrma, not sure about the theatre part- they have a merit transfer award, too of $7500 annually</p>
<p>I don't know a ton about the academic and social climates of all the schools you listed, but my impression is that that students do take academics seriously at most of them and I also don't think they are major party schools. I could be totally wrong on this but I think I remember reading that Earlham was a dry campus so you might want to look into that to see if it is or not. I would suggest looking at Oberlin and Macalester too since they seem similar to other schools on your list.</p>
<p>Look at Clark University. The social and club scenes may suit you better, and it has a bang-up psychology department. Good luck.</p>