Settling in as a Transfer Student

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If you’ve decided to transfer to a new college or university, that means you probably had a shaky first year. Whether you didn’t thrive on a campus that was too far from home, enrolled in a school that didn’t meet your expectations academically, or just didn’t feel like you fit in with the campus culture, you might still be a little vulnerable about the whole college experience, and understandably suspicious about what it’s going to be like at your new school. Switching to a smaller school means you might stick out more as "the new transfer student," but going to a big school also poses challenges for meeting people, especially if a lot of students your age have already moved out of the dorms or picked roommates for the upcoming year. But there’s no reason you can’t use your fresh start to your advantage. Here are some tips for adopting your new school as your new home.

  • Sort out the paperwork early: Before transferring, you should make sure that your classes and academic record will also transfer over. Follow up over the summer or semester break with admissions and the school registrar to make sure everything is in order and that you don’t have problems with your new schedule. If you can’t sign up for classes yet, familiarize yourself with the courses you need to take to satisfy common curriculum credits and your major’s requirements, when they’re offered, and what interests you. Having a solid plan will lower your stress levels and help you with other challenges, like finding friends.
  • Live on campus: Meeting friends, learning about social events, and getting a feel for the college atmosphere is much, much easier if you live on campus. Even if a lot of upperclassmen have paired off already, open yourself up to living with a student you don’t know. You’ll transition into the social scene at school a lot faster living in the dorms.
  • Visit with professors and counselors often: Especially when you’re first settling in, it’s important to meet with academic counselors and advisors to make sure you’re on the right track. Learning about all of the little rules and guidelines for earning your degree is hard enough as a freshman, and your transfer student orientation may not be enough to help you understand it all. Let professors know you’re new, too, and visit them during office hours as a way to further get to know your new school.

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