<p>Ok, here’s the deal. I go to a Catholic university in NY. I’m just finishing my sophomore year, and to be honest, it has been a truly awful experience so far. I’m being driven out by a lack of any type of social life/scene whatsoever. Everyone here is extremely unfriendly, boring, stuck-up, rich as hell, uptight, and way too insecure for their own good. Cliques are a way of life and people refuse to branch out. It’s pathetic really. People sit in class in complete silence like they’re at a funeral. I thought this was a time for everyone to grow the hell up and meet new people. This place accentuates all the negative aspects of high school that I thought we left behind. Plus, I’m an atheist and a liberal so I’m a lot less reserved than the rest of the people here and I need to be in a school where students are outgoing and progressive. And the girls…don’t even get me started. I don’t want to just throw away any chance of having a future, so I’m not going to transfer to some 3rd tier party school. Ideally, I would go to a “work hard, party hard” school, but I just need some suggestions.</p>
<p>Does anyone attend or know of a school that would be a good fit for me?</p>
<p>Macalester might suit you. Students are friendly, liberal, accepting, and non-snobby. I personally don’t party, but there are plenty of people here who do, usually on Friday and Saturday nights, though I’m sure there are some at other times as well. If you want to hang out on campus with friends, there’ll be people to do that with, but if you want to go out into the Twin Cities, there’ll be people to do that with as well.</p>
<p>OP: “Everyone here is extremely unfriendly, boring, stuck-up, rich as hell, uptight, and way too insecure for their own good. Cliques are a way of life and people refuse to branch out. It’s pathetic really. People sit in class in complete silence like they’re at a funeral. I thought this was a time for everyone to grow the hell up and meet new people. This place accentuates all the negative aspects of high school that I thought we left behind.”</p>
<p>MorganRichman:“Lehigh University might be a good option.”</p>
<p>This is not at all a typically “Southern” school.</p>
<p>Definitely a “work hard, play harder” mentality. Students are really intelligent, talented and motivated but not at all snobby–I don’t know one person who doesn’t love it here; it’s big enough for anyone to find his niche, no matter his interests.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine being a liberal agnostic (which I am) at a Catholic school. I ruled strong religiously-affiliated schools off my list first thing. To be honest, you picked one of the few Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic colleges that are generally conservative. Try American or GWU if you like politics. Temple is very diverse.</p>
<p>^I am a liberal agnostic, and I have gone to Catholic schools all my life (elementary, middle, high school) and am off to a Jesuit school next year. That said, I have never had any trouble with others, or the school, and my beliefs. </p>
<p>I feel you, OP, and the other liberal agnostics/atheists attending religious schools/universities.</p>
<p>I’ve attended a Christian (non-denominational) school since kindergarten (currently a senior). I am a liberal atheist and it sucks here, although I’ve only been an atheist for a couple months. It sucks having to waste two class periods on BS classes (philosophy and Bible) plus weekly chapel services. Just a waste of time.</p>
<p>Luckily I’m off to a public university next year!</p>
<p>After a few posts here, i realized that most of the ppl posting on collegeconfidential are, in some way, NOT happy at their current school.</p>
<p>as for me, its not that im not happy per se. i feel that i can do better than my current school.
Given where i live/the friends from before, i would MUCH rather prefer a private school.<br>
But my parents, using the “if its ranked the same go to the public one” excuse, sent me here. </p>
<p>I have some pretty big aspirations (i refer to them as long term attainable goals). And if you look at the bios of the most successful CEOs, hedge fund managers, etc, more than 85% of them graduate from a private institution. </p>
<p>Then again. Undergradaute is just a start. Grad school is the dealbreaker.</p>
<p>Excuse me for being totally and completely nosey, but if I may ask, what school are you talking about? I’m looking to apply to two Catholic schools in New York next year; Fordham and Manhattan. </p>
<p>Please, please, please give me a warning. I don’t want to get into the snobby stuck-up thing if I can help it.</p>