<p>So highschool has pretty much been hell for me, I enjoy hanging out with people so I wouldnt call myself a complete introvert. But in my highschool there is nobody like me that i really fit in with so i have been very introverted. My school is full of jappy and cliquey girls that i just dont relate to. I am mature way beyond my years and cant stand people whose concerns are materialistic things. I would consider myself smart im in all APs and see that i get along with people that are intellectuals because i do enjoy discussing school (ii know its weird but i cant help it) i want to be around people that are smart and friendly and dont feel the need to get drunk and party all the time. I take my school work very seriously and put alot of effort into it and Im hoping to find people that do the same rather than my friends in my high schools who make fun of me for doing all my work and trying so hard. </p>
<p>What kind of school do you see me in??
Small or big?
Any certain areas where these people exist??
Any specific schools come to mind?</p>
<p>Please help because I am so tired of having only one friend!!!</p>
<p>Look for schools where academics are valued. Three ways to do this are 1) get into top schools, 2) get into the honors college / honors program of a regular school, 3) find schools with academic fraternities / sororities and plan to be in one of those. Also, you might be happier in the substance-free dorm of whatever school you get into.</p>
<p>The “top schools” are all the ones you’ve heard of - Stanford, Yale, Harvard, etc. They are also schools that aren’t as well-known but still attract top students - Caltech, Harvey Mudd, Olin, Rose Hulman, Webb Institute, Case Western, the service academies (for STEM); Reed, St. John’s College, Williams, Hampshire, Deep Springs (for humanities) - to name a VERY few. One way to find them (probably not the best, but it works) is to go to the collegeboard.com college finder, enter your criteria such as location, major, etc., and sort by SAT score descending.</p>
<p>There are plenty of schools, and programs within schools, where you can be happy. Good luck!</p>
<p>thanks! </p>
<p>i dont really get along well in big groups of girls, do you think i should stay out of greek life then?</p>
<p>Major in computer science - it’s STILL hugely male! As for greek life - I have no clue.</p>
<p>Take a look at some of the top liberal arts colleges where students are intellectual, quirky, understated and non-preppy. The midwestern LACs come to mind right away (Macalester, Carleton, Grinnell, Oberlin). Some of the west coast schools too (Reed, Pomona).</p>
<p>If you can give us GPA, test scores and your areas of academic and social interest, we can help you find a few places that would be a good fit. </p>
<p>I’d also check out sub-free housing at any school you attend: It doesn’t mean that no one drinks or parties, but it generally attracts students like you who don’t want alcohol or pot to be the center of their social lives. Most schools offer this option.</p>
<p>My gpa is a 97 as of the beginning of junior year, and this year ive gotten all a+s in AP’s so hopefully it will be going up. Still waiting for my SAT scores back but on practices i have not been doing well and only really been in mid 1900’s 
hoping to bring it up to 2000s </p>
<p>My parents want me to stay closer to the east coast mainly so i can be close to home. They said the closer to new england region the better. So my distance range is probably from virginia as the farthest south and illinois as the farthest west, and then all the way up to maine.</p>
<p>Just as a way of looking for potential schools, you might use [Phi</a> Beta Kappa Society :: Phi Beta Kappa Society](<a href=“http://www.pbk.org/infoview/PBK_InfoView.aspx?t=&id=11]Phi”>http://www.pbk.org/infoview/PBK_InfoView.aspx?t=&id=11)</p>
<p>Are there financial constraints? What do you hope to study? What state are you from?</p>
<p>If money is not a constraint, look at Oberlin near Cleveland - not preppy at all. More intellectual, artsy and granola. They have an excellent music conservatory as well. Hampshire might be a fit too. </p>
<p>Swarthmore and Haverford near Philadelphia are both highly intellectual and you have the grades - but you will need to get your test scores up significantly. They are reaches.</p>
<p>If you are in-state for Maryland, St. Mary’s college, the public LAC, is a hidden gem.</p>
<p>Google the Common Data Set for each school to see how you compare to accepted students. For some good safeties, take a look at Colleges that Change Lives by Lauren Pope.</p>