I’m currently a student at a top 10 university, but am taking the semester off from school for mental health reasons. I’m hoping to transfer to a less stressful school–I went to a high-pressure boarding school for high school, and I’m really fed up with the stress culture at many competitive schools. I’m from Massachusetts and am interested in attended college in an area that’s more relaxed, and I’m especially drawn to the South for its weather and the Rocky Mountain region for its beauty. However, I’m bisexual and far left politically, and I really dislike Greek life and preppy culture (which I had more than enough exposure to in high school), and I want a school where I’ll fit in. I’m especially interested in hidden gems since I’m late to the transfer process and the deadline at many top-tier schools has passed. What are some schools that might fit me? Thanks so much!
I haven’t checked the transfer application deadlines; you may need to wait out at least one semester.
In the Rocky Mountain region, the most obvious possibility might be Colorado College (although you wouldn’t completely escape stress or preppies there, and their unusual one-course-at-a-time Block Plan isn’t ideal for everyone). The University of Colorado - Boulder, the University of Denver, or perhaps St. John’s College (Santa Fe) are other possibilities. Most of your other Rocky Mountain options would be directional state universities (unless you’d be interested in an engineering/tech school like Colorado Mines or New Mexico Tech.)
In the South, check out Warren Wilson, New College of Florida, Eckerd, Hendrix, and Guilford.
That about covers all the PR “Tree Hugging Vegetarian” colleges in the South and Rockies, and then some.
You might also want to consider some Pacific NW schools such as Whitman College or Lewis and Clark.
If you would consider expanding your geographic boundaries a bit – Earlham, which is in between Indianapolis and Dayton. Very inclusive community, good academics, no greek life. Or, if you would really expand your geographic preferences, Kalamazoo College in (you guessed it,) Kalamazoo, Michigan. Also no greek life, very inclusive, and has an open curriculum so you wouldn’t be behind in taking care of gen eds as a transfer student. It does require a writing class and foreign language, but that’s it.
You might consider coming further west as tk1769 suggests, there is a more open culture and relaxed attitude here, especially in the coastal areas. California has great weather and Oregon and Washington have incredible landscapes. the Cascades and Sierras are truly impressive. How big a school are you comfortable with? Although it’s not coastal, Whitman is a very liberal, small, friendly and outdoorsy campus, students work hard but it’s not a pressure cooker. University of Puget Sound gets rave reviews. Occidental in LA is worth a look if you want a more urban experience. How far down the selectivity ladder are you willing to go? There are many good small schools that nobody talks about on CC that would be less pressure and not preppy.
Thank you all for your help! @tk21769 I’m majoring in history and English, so tech schools aren’t an option 
I also second New College and Eckerd for your interests.
UNC Asheville
Take a look at Quest University in British Columbia.
Is cost an issue? Many of the public universities that you could easily transfer to won’t necessarily offer the best aid.
I second the recommendation to check out the Pacific Northwest - if you want a lower-pressure, more relaxed, liberal culture with a strong LGBTQ community this region is tops for that. I second the recommendations of Whitman and University of Puget Sound and I’ll add Lewis & Clark College and Willamette University to that. If you’re interested in a more selective school, Reed College may have what you’re looking for - I’ve heard varying things about the competitiveness of its culture, though, so someone may be able to speak to that. It is super liberal and LGBTQ friendly, though.
In addition to CU Boulder there’s also Colorado State University, which is a great one.
In the South, you might be interested in Davidson College (probably a little preppy, though), Sewanee-the University of the South (maybe a bit preppy), Agnes Scott College if you’re a young woman (not preppy at all), Furman University, College of Charleston (this is public, though, so not sure what the transfer funding would be like), Berry College, or Birmingham-Southern College.
When I think of stressful schools I think of Reed, Swarthmore and UChicago, but I wouldn’t call Reed competitive. If you satisfy the professor you get a B; you’re not in competition with other students. From the Reed web site: “The average GPA for all students in 2016–17 was 3.10 on a 4.00 scale.” No easy A’s. Otherwise I totally agree with juillet.
Ft Lewis College is a CO public in Durango. Liberal arts focus and about 3500 students. great snow sports and mountain biking
Fort Lewis College is not for OP. Unranked LAC that loses over one third of its students after the first year. Has a 6 year graduation rate of just 45%. Beautiful campus & location, however.
Also, someone suggested conservative, preppy Davidson College for OP. I think that OP wants the opposite. Also, Christian, preppy Sewanee–University of the South does not match OP’s wishes.
i dunno, it sounds like he’s looking for a lower pressure and non judgy environment. Ft Lewis might be just what the Dr ordered.
Thirding New College of Florida - sounds like a perfect match.
Guilford College in Greensboro, NC
UNC Asheville
Fourthing New College of FL.
@NCalRent Except that Ft Lewis isn’t a very good school – I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to someone who’s currently in a top 10 university and wants a solid humanities program… he/she would likely want to transfer within a semester.
Fort Lewis is a totally inappropriate suggestion for OP. (Although I do believe that Native Americans attend for free.)
Others may be able to help you better if you listed your cost constraints.
A friends trans student is having a very good experience at Tulane. I imagine it has its share of preppy kids but its pretty darn popular with kids from the liberal utopia of PNW.
Eckerd and New College are great options as others have posted. I had a student just graduate from Eckerd with a background similar to you and she did great and really loved it. Look up Eckerd on the Colleges that Change Lives website at ctcl.org. They usually host their college fairs this summer and the now director of CTCL use to be admissions director at Eckerd. She is great and also gay so be sure to reach out to her. Her name is Maria and last name starts with an F like Furtado (I think). She is super friendly, funny and helpful.
"Not a very good school’ in the eyes of the preppy elites sounds like just what he’s after. @katliamom and @publisher
The OP notes he’s taking a semester off due for ‘mental health reasons’ and is looking to escape the competitive pressure cooker that exists at many top universities. It is not an environment where everyone thrives. Sending the OP right back into an environment that caused him to withdraw from school t begin with would probably be counter-productive. The OP wants to avoid the Greek system, find a low stress community in the Rockies and is also looking for a school that will accommodate an off cycle transfer after a semester off. That’s a pretty short list. That is why i suggested FLC might be worth a look as it meets most of those criteria. I am not tossing it out as an elite school. It ain’t that. The fact that it isn’t ranked at anything but mountain biking is exactly why it could be just what this person is looking for.
As an accredited CO public college it’s academics can only be so suspect from the perspective of a potential employer.
@tranfernew12 mental health is nothing to mess around with, please take the time you need and get the help you need, then take an objective look at your educational options. Perhaps a semester or two part time at your local CC while you work on you…
good luck.