I’m at headed into my sophomore year, during which I will be studying abroad and I find myself unhappy with my home institution so I have decided to transfer the fall of my junior year. I have earned a 3.8 GPA and I am heavily involved in extracurricular activities. I am the president of my dorm, member of numerous clubs and have conducted my own research project. As a member of a living and learning community I recieved the freshman of the year award and I was the only bachelor student in a school of 35,000 to be chosen to give a TEDx which I gave the spring of my freshman year. Do you have any suggestions on the types of school that may accept me? I am a political science and economics double major with a history minor. Any suggestions would be great! (I apologize for any typos I am having some trouble with my keyboard)
What can you afford to pay each year since Transfers usually do not get good financial aid? Since you are posting in the California colleges forum, you are looking at public or private universities? What school are you currently attending? Each target transfer school will have specific transfer requirements so you need to have an idea of where you would like to go plus you need to consider if your study abroad courses will be transferable? Are you a CA resident and what kind to school experience you are looking for and what about your current school you dislike?
After reading your thread I am impressed. I believe honestly any school with top economics, political science, and social science would be happy to admit you. If your looking for a school in California, Stanford and Berkeley are some of the top universities in the world with great economics programs. I would recommend applying there and starting early. I’m also going to assume you have great standardized test scores along with the other aforementioned accomplishments. For you, I would honestly suggest applying to a few selective reach schools. I don’t know if you’ll be admitted, but I’m pretty sure you have a fighting chance. You never know if you don’t try.
Stanford takes very few transfer students but worth your time to research. UC Berkeley will not consider your test scores, only what you have accomplished at your current university, however CA community college transfers get priority followed by UC to UC and CSU to UC Transfers, then in-state private universities followed by out of state universities for the UC’s.
I am retaking my SAT in August so that my scores will be a better representation of my current skill level. I don’t like making excuses but due to several personal issues I was not a stellar student my first two years of high school so my GPA (a 3.1) was far from impressive. However I was able to overcome my struggles and my grades steadily improved. I currently attended Colorado State University which has given me many opportunities to thrive but I would like to transfer to be closer to my family, some of whom live on the east coast and some on the west coast. My big concern is that I will not be able to get into a great school because of my high school grades, not only has my intellect grown since that difficult time but I believe my character has too. Do you think my highschooo grades will be a substantial setback? Thank you for you advice!
SAT’s are taken in high school. It won’t do you any good to take one now because you have already attended a university setting.
Your high school grades do not matter in transfers. They look at your university work.
Trying to get the prestige factor, as a transfer, doesn’t bode well. Most ivy league schools take few transfers.
The public universities in California have a hierarchy for admission and there is no financial aid for non-residents.
If you’re doing well at CSU, you should finish out your education there and then go wherever you want after graduation.
If you’re in-state for Colorado, then you’d be looking at OOS or private U tuition when you transfer - can you swing that financially?
Also, some schools, especially public U’s, can have complicated and restrictive distribution requirements. You don’t want to transfer and then get bogged down in back-filling arbitrary requirements instead of moving forward with the interests you came there for. Look closely at how the programs would align and make sure you’re not just signing on to major in red tape. 
At some point staying the course and focusing on grad school admissions would be less hassle. But, there may be transfer options that would be smooth and worthwhile.
If you can, than focus especially on schools that accept a lot of transfers. Both USC and Cornell are in this category, and could be a big enough change to make transferring worthwhile.
What parts of the east and west coasts are you hoping to get to?
Bank thank you so much for your advice! I am actually from California so I am looking for schools in California or on the east coast potentially near D.C or Boston.