I don’t know why a synonym for goblin was censored from my above post (I promise I did not call that man a swear word I swear!) but whatever. Thanks for actually being the one person in this thread giving advice that is in accordance to my situation instead of just creating their own headcannons. I’ve had brief contact with some folks back at Phillips Exeter, but I think it would be worth reconnecting as you said, especially if I end up taking a spring semester off. I will also look into both of the schools that you’ve mentioned! The nice thing is that since I’m both low-income and a transfer student, I qualify for the HEOP/EOP program, which should ease the financial burden inflicted by some of these insitutions. And thank YOU for being so nice and understanding 
. It’s been a rough road here but I’ve learned a lot from the trials and tribulations I’ve encountered and I’m really hoping to find someplace where I can finally be comfortable being myself to some degree instead of everyone never having time for any fun or 1on1 hangouts or any respite from the agony that is college sometimes.
I am not sure qualifying for HEOP as a transfer student is a given. @sybbie719 @myos1634 do you know?
From the SUNY site (and many NY private colleges have similar wording):
Are transfer applicants eligible for EOP?
Yes, transfer students may apply for EOP consideration if they have been enrolled in EOP, College Discovery, HEOP, SEEK or a similar program at the previous college. If the previous college did not offer EOP or a similar program, you may be considered for transfer to EOP and should notify the college to which you are transferring of your interest.
I have done research on how much SUNYs and CUNYs cost and while I will do more research, most of them seem to be within my price range considering in-state tuition and enrolling in a program like HEOP. Unfortunately I transferred to Grinnell early decision (truly a deal with the devil, that program is), so I don’t have a record of exactly what kind of schools would or wouldn’t accept me. I do have my mom avaliable as a co-signer if need be for debt.
I appreciate all of your other advice! I get where you’re coming from with the ‘stay’ at Grinnell biz but I’m gonna have to reiterate what I’ve said above. What’s happened to me isn’t like a one off thing that can simply be solved by just going to more clubs and meeting more people; it’s a systemic pressure and fundamental conflict between the immaturity of young adults who haven’t lived on their own before, the pressures of a rigorous and prestigious institutional workload, and the lack of available time and emotional energy that results because of the two of those.
As far as I know, HEOP is avaliable for transfer students because it falls under “ineligible for admission under traditional standards, but demonstrate potential for completing a college-level program.” Either way, I still am a low-income student and qualify for HEOP because of that anyways, so it’s a mute point.
So sorry youve been through so much. On the YCBK podcast, the host (a college counselor with decades of experience) said he used to advise students to stick it out, but over the past few years he’s seen how students thrive when they transfer. So, hugs to you and good luck with the transfer. Thank you for sharing your experience here. It must be hard to have to reflect on all of it.
I’ll put a plug in for CWRU based on your interests and goals. It’s a Biology powerhouse. It’s very different academic and social environment from Grinnell. They meet full demonstrated need for transfer students. Transfer Students | Undergraduate Admission | Case Western Reserve University
I also like the above suggestions for a SUNY or CUNY.
I’m not sure that the transfer application is going to be very onerous. You are a great writer. Apply to a dozen places, then see where the chips fall in terms of fin aid and transfer credits. I think thats going to be easier than meticulously evaluating a lot of places and applying to only 3 or 4.
I am so impressed that you are framing your transfer search in terms of personal growth. I think you’ll find a fit elsewhere.
Seconding the idea of connecting with the Philips Exeter college counselors since they’ll know you well. What colleges admitted you beside Grinnell?
I wouldn’t consider any CUNY since you want (if I understand correctly) a friendly social vibe so you can connect with people - and those are commuter schools, so it’s really hard to make friends.
If you qualify for EOP/HEOP (contact their office at Cornell&explain NYS resident, low income, currently attending Grinell on full-need scholarship, need to transfer) I’d try for
Cornell Cals - a definite reach but as a lower income New Yorker it’s worth a try (especially since EOP/HEOP will give you a boost). It’s a competitive, stressful university although CALS less than Arts&Sciences and since you handled Philippe Exeter
Among SUNYs, perhaps Geneseo would work - larger than your current university, perhaps closer to the vibe you want, but I don’t know their supports for ND students.
You wouldn’t qualify for EOP there but would potentially qualify thanks to your 3.2 and research interests.
Contact the Head of Biology Dept about opportunities to pursue the research you’re working on right now if you were to transfer (if you feel a need to provide a reason, just say “due to personal reasons I need to be closer to home.” No need to explain though.)
Stony Brook would be logical choice except it’s a suitcase school where even freshmen find it harder than elsewhere to connect.
For transfers to qualify for HEOP/EOP AFAIK they need to be currently enrolled in HEOP, EOP, or College Discovery. I don’t know how NYS residents enrolled at an out of state college are considered but it’s quite possible that you wouldn’t qualify.
A friendly, full-need option that’s recognized for biology would be St Olaf in Minnesota.
Do you have any interest in music (singing, band, instrument..?)
Another college that’s cool&friendly, meets full need, and not unreachable is Whitman, in the Pacific Northwest - so, not bringing you closer to NY, but mentioning it in case your wish to get away from Grinnell is stronger than your wish to be close to home.
Not sure Case Western would work financially but definitely worth trying. Good happy medium socially.
Is it still time for you to borrow your 6.5k from Sophomore year and “bank it”? Not sure how easy or practical it’d be but someone here might have an idea whether it’s possible and a good idea in your case. This way you’d have that on top of the 7.5k loan, just in case.
If you’re a woman you could look into Women’s colleges (Mount Holyoke, Agnes Scott in particular?)
Cornell limits their number of transfer hours to 60. So OP would be losing a lot of credits there.
Much love and thank you for your advice! I’ll definitely look into case western. I feel like I’ll fit in great elsewhere too just because I’ve recieved so much love and support when talking about this with various faculty at Grinnell; I know I can succeed if given the right opportunities, I just need to find an environment that will allow me to grow as a person.
For me, the most frustrating part of all this has not been the lost friendships or the rude interactions. If people don’t like me, that’s okay! I can get that my personality is a bit much. But when people just cease to communicate, and don’t allow any sort of interaction oncesoever once they’ve gotten their perception of you, it makes it impossible to grow and improve as a person. It’s so hard to make active change when every time you mess up everyone around you claims that this means you’re not trying to change, that all of your growth means nothing. What’s even more heartbreaking to me is that I’m not alone in this aspect; the free speech club (it’s not as right-wing as you would think lol, it was lead by a very advocational trans-man) was full of people with stories of how their peers isolated them and made it impossible for them to thrive socially, and the president of the club was even worried about how great their social interactions would be once they graduate (despite being very eloquent themselves as well!) After hearing about all of these stories from people who were all different in their own ways, I unfortunately realized that as much as I love and cherish Grinnell, I can’t change how the institution influences the behaviors of the students. So for my own well-being, despite all of the difficulty I know I’ll go through having to transfer, I know that in my heart it’s the only option that will allow me to continue growing in the ways that matter to me as an individual in this world where communication and emotional connection is more important and more difficult then ever before.
OP will need to spend 2 years on campus at another university and will lose a lot of credits anyway. There are very few meet need universities that will let them graduate with just 3 semesters of credits at their institution (and the semester abroad is unlikely to transfer anyway.)
The upside of Cornell Cals is that it may be a good medium social situation for OP and would meet need. The downside is that odds are low, especially if attending college out of state voids HEOP.
Unfortanutely I was an EDI student, so I have no idea who else would have accepted me :c. And agreed, I’m trying to avoid CUNY’s because living at home sounds…not very fun, and the commuter nature of the schools make it difficult to find time to meet friends as you said. Thanks for the advice in terms of reaching out to schools, and I’ll look into Geneseo, Case Western & Whitman, as well as contact them to ask about if attending an out-of-state school makes me inelgible for HEOP. If that’s the case then just…aaaaaaaaa. It’s fine. I will make it work. Just thinking about going back to Grinnell brings me a dread that clouds my mind with screams and anxiety. Shutters.
Honestly losing 12-14 credits isn’t ideal, but is a compromise I’m willing to make depending on the institution and how much I think I can succeed in it. Especially as MYO said in their reply, many instituions only accept up to a maximum of 16 courses/64 credits, so while I’m hoping to find the ones who accept more, I can roll with the ones who don’t if need be. With that being said, I don’t think I’ll be going to Cornell. The toured there and the environment there is much the same in terms of academic pressures and the devotion of your time to prestige and masking.
Unless OP already took the $6,500 second year loan, the deadline to do the loan paperwork was 6/30/26.
Cornell A&S is worse than Grinnell in terms of intensity/work-life balance but CALS is a bit different (it’s Cornell’s “contract” college, it’s state-related and has a mission to enroll NYers enrolls a lot of transfers - as a result, the vibe is different from A&S). Might be worth reaching out to organize a visit when you’re over there, plus I hear the Gorges are gorgeous in the summer 
Don’t sleep on St Olaf but do demonstrate interest. (Also, your study abroad in Copenhagen would likely be a plus for them and I know they take Spring transfers - you’d have to ask Admission if your FA situation would make applying for a Fall transfer better from their FA budget pov).
BTW, to an older person, 22, 23, 24… Are all the same. Even 25! All seen as young. (I know it feels different when you’re living it that’s why I give you the elder perspective that all 20somethings “look 12” to us. Almost not exaggerating
.) IOW whether you’re 22 or 24 at graduation will not matter at all.
I figured the deadline had to be close. 
Thanks.
Masking?
Is that a GenZ term for “passing”?
If you mean passing in terms of like cis and trans-gender, then kinda. Masking is basically the phenomenon of putting on a different personality around certain individuals. Everyone does it of course, but the type of masking I’m specifically referring to is this sort of ‘intelligence’ masking. Everyone at Grinnell feels like they sort of need to prove themselves as smart or worthy of being there, so it’s hard to get anyone to be vulnerable or open up about their problems. So many students here hide their struggles and attempt to portray themselves as perfect and capable, instead of being honest with other people and learning how to deal with those difficulties through shared community. And as someone who enjoys being my authentic self, I can scare people off because being associated with me can be interpreted as being less then perfect, and those type of social affiliations really matter to Grinnellians for some reason. I just like being honest cause it makes things easier.
The only reason why I didn’t say anything about St. Olaf is because I’m musically deficient, because after 7 years of violin and 3 years of piano in high schoolI have nothing to show for it LOL. I’ll for sure look into St. Olaf and CALS as well, because I’ve never heard of it before. I’ll add it to my visit list, thanks!
And thanks for the comment about ages too. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to our peers and it’s important to realize that in the grand scheme of things, one or two years are mere stepping stones to the grander experience that is an entire life.
Hi,
I am sorry that you are not having a good experience at Grinell.
As far as EOP/HEOP is concerned, you are not eligible. You only have one opportunity to get in to a NYS Opportunity progroam (EOP, HEOP, SEEK, College Discover) and that is as a firts time high school studet (you are accepted senior year in high school)
Once you start as an opportunity student, you can transfer from one program to another For Example:
If you are CUNY Community College College discovery student, you can transfer to SEEK (CUNY 4 year schools), EOP (SUNY schools) or HEOP (private schools in NYS which include Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Colgate, Hamilton, etc).
Since you did not are not currently in an opportunity program even if you meet the income threshold, you will not be Opportunity program eligible in NYS.
However, I did read that you have ADHD. While you are home on break, I recomend that you apply for ACCES-VR Services.
they can assist you with funding for college
They also don’t take spring external transfers. But it sounds like OP isn’t very interested in Cornell anyways. And the gorges are beautiful in every season, IMO.
I am very familiar with several LACs, including Grinnell. I know exactly what you mean when you describe the small school gossip culture. Yes, it sucks. No, it is not a problem specific to Grinnell. (Other schools have their own version of the term “Grinnell smackdown,” though that one might be the harshest I’ve heard- wow.) My point remains that the social difficulties you have encountered at Grinnell may persist even if you transfer out. They might also be replaced by new social difficulties. If you have investigated transferring to a SUNY or CUNY and it’s affordable and close to home + support, then transferring could be a good option. However, I will reiterate that you should not base your decision to transfer on the assumption that it will completely remedy your social environment. Make sure you are okay with giving up the academic rigor and attention from professors that Grinnell provides.
All of us on this thread wish you success some of us have a more “tough love” approach but we do try our best to give good advice.
Don’t take it personally that certain words you used were blocked - the list of disallowed words was chosen years ago and the blocking is automated.
Kudos for explaining yourself so articulately and for advocating for yourself. You have given that environment every chance; knowing when to pull the plug is a very important life skill, whether it’s a college, a job, or a relationship.
If you are sufficiently low-income, you could try applying to Berea College; their transfer acceptance rate is relatively low, and your GPA might not get you in, but there’s no harm in trying. Berea admits only low-income students, and is tuition-free; other expenses are covered through an on-campus work program. The school and the alumni network are highly supportive, giving students access to great career opportunities. A reach, but worth a try; hopefully they’re aware that Grinnell is relatively grade-deflated. This may be the one option that would still get you through debt-free. The downside is that it’s still a small-LAC environment… but I would expect the experience to be quite different from Grinnell.
If SUNYs work financially, SUNY ESF could be worth a look. It’s very environmentally-oriented but is good for other sciences too. It is physically adjacent to Syracuse U, which provides additional social/extracurricular opportunities in addition to cross-registration. Could be best-of-both-worlds in terms of providing a more intimate community but also a larger social pool for branching out. (Also robust disability services via Syracuse, if that’s a criterion.) Their Biotechnology major might dovetail nicely with your interests, and give you some additional avenues to explore. Academic Programs - Biotechnology, B.S. They don’t have a straight-bio major but they do have biochem.
I agree that Whitman could be a good one to look at; they offer merit pre-reads, if NPC results indicate that you’d need merit to fill a gap between your EFC and what need-based aid would cover. This recent thread might be of interest: Whitman vs Grinnell College (Spoiler: student chose Whitman!)
Earlham is even tinier than Grinnell but has a super-friendly reputation and pretty deep pockets vis-a-vis aid. Their retention rate is on the lower side as well, but I haven’t heard that any social harshness is the reason… and their transfer acceptance rate is high as a result - over 85% based on a cursory search. (And they do meet 100% of documented need for transfers.) The student in this thread had somewhat different parameters from yours, but the thread covered a lot of interesting ground, and the parent returned at the end of the thread with a positive report on the student’s experience: Earlham College 3/2 Engineering & Chemistry program (ETA: Earlham has announced some budget cuts recently, but they’re well-endowed and I think it’s more a matter of being responsible for the long haul vs. being in true financial distress.)
I’d definitely stay away from Stony Brook in this case. If I were looking beyond Purchase in the SUNY system, I’d start with New Paltz.