Hi.
So, my son is a sophomore at Columbia, and is considering transferring. He might take a gap year next year, so probably would be applying for fall 2026 or Spring 2026 for schools that offer that option.
He really enjoys his classes and teachers, is a writer for the student newspaper, and does love NYC but it’s all getting to be too much with the constant police presence on campus, the protests (which he supports, but they’re constant), the locking of the gates, the ongoing threats and funding cuts from the trump administration. Last year, he was shoved by a cop in riot gear while going to class, and also was outside the building in which cops fired shots. He feels like the administration does not have the best interests of the students as their priority, and doesn’t feel safe (primarily emotionally and I guess “psychically” safe, but also the frequent presence of cops affects him too). He’s a sensitive guy, queer, an artist, writer and actor, and has always dreamed of attending Columbia.
Last year was manageable but he thought this year would be better. But it’s not. And with trump in office for another 2 years he just feels the vibe on campus isn’t going to improve. He thinks going to a school that isn’t as much of a target, and isn’t in the biggest city in the country, would be better. He recognizes that all liberal arts colleges are being targeted now, but feels Columbia is getting affected the most. He also thinks that if he takes a gap year, it might be more clear which schools are managing everything better than others.
He is an English major, with a focus on writing, but also loves fashion, theater, design and art. So first thought was Brown. Is there anyone at Brown who can speak to the energy on campus now? Is it more student-centered than Columbia? Another school he’s looking at is Wesleyan. I love Williams for him, but it’s probably TOO isolated. His brother went to Bard and loved it, so that’s also an option although tbh he probably wants something more “prestigious”. He’s gotten straight A’s at Columbia and has teachers who would be happy to write him a recommendation.
So schools that he is considering are (not in any order)
Brown
Wesleyan
Swarthmore
Amherst
Pomona??
Middlebury
Princeton (transfer rate is miniscule)
Oberlin
Ohio
Thoughts on these for him? any other ideas. TYSM
My son is majoring in Fashion Design at WashU and LOVES it. He’s someone who loves NYC, art, writing, design etc–many of the same things your son does. Feel free to DM me. My son very intentionally chose not to go to school in NYC because he’ll move there right after graduation and (he says) live there his whole life (can’t blame him!). We looked at Cornell, but be aware that the fashion / design program at the College of Human Ecology there is nothing like what a fashion program at an art school is. Just go to an in-person info session. You’ll be surrounded by…definitely NOT art students. Brown / RISD would be amazing. As for writing and English majors, it depends what he wants to do with that. I also agree with another poster that maybe a year abroad could help? But I also hear your son about his reasons for considering a transfer. I’m in that neighborhood often and have observed that it must be rather difficult to be a young student there at times in recent years.