Being a college student is tough, but being a college transfer is probably worse. Going from an old school you're familiar with to a new school is exciting and cool, but when you finally start, you kind of feel like a born-again freshman! From not knowing where your classes are, to making new friends (then realizing they're not really good friends and making better ones), to finding your ultimate click. To having to kiss more professors' asses and getting used to a whole new grading system, to finding that great study spot. To not knowing what parties scream rape drugs to ones that are the ultimate bore fest. Let's just say the struggle is real, my friend, but it's not horrible. I should know because I'm a new transfer student myself.
Coming from SUNY Delhi to Stony Brook University hasn't been the easiest, but I'm making the best of it and rolling with the punches. Its crazy in the beginning but overall it's great. You just have to press forward a little harder than most to make sure your voice is heard. Being a transfer student is like being in the middle of a somewhat bad three-way; its kind of awkward and intimidating but somewhat familiar. You're unfortunately stuck between the new annoying freshmen and the too-cool-for-school seniors. Finding your place is hard, but fun, once you do! But like I said, I know the struggle and here are some struggles I've witnessed or been through.
1. Adapting to the new school spirit
It's kind of hard transitioning from "Go, Broncos!" to "Go, Seawolves!" You've already made one mascot your pride and joy, so now having another one kind of feels like cheating. Switching school colors, learning new sports chants and getting new school gear just feels somewhat wrong, but good, unless your old mascot was crappy and you feel like it actually brought your school spirit down. Either way its okay to wear your new school colors from head to toe... I guess... not really, but go right ahead: be that freshman.
2. Trouble applying for scholarship opportunities and internships
That transition between already having some school experience to basically not having any when you get to a new a school sucks. You don't know any of your major teachers well enough - or any for that matter - and the opportunities seem to be geared more toward students who have already been there. Despite this, I managed to get a job and find a great internship opportunity. Don't stop believing.
3. There's the possibility of rooming with a freshman or being tripled
That one sentence says enough!
4.Transferring your courses
It depends on where you transferred from, but sometimes the credits and loans you busted your ass for don't get transferred to your new school. This never made sense to me and what starts to make sense is that your new school just wants your money so you can retake that microbiology that you fought so hard to get a C in to hopefully get a C+.
5. Starting over with a new GPA
Starting over with a new GPA can be both a pro and a con. One pro is that if your GPA from your old school sucked you get to pretend that first drunk-daze freshman year didn't happen and start off at your new school looking like a genius. On the other hand, if you already had a really good GPA, you have to restart again from scratch.
6. Not having enough space for housing
Transferring to a school that doesn't guarantee housing to transfers is tough. You're basically at the school's will and have no control over where you may live. Then the only option given to you may be off-campus housing or places like where I live called Brookhaven (a residential area thirty minutes away that may or may not drive you insane).
7. When advisors give you the wrong classes or mess up your schedule
If you're a transfer student, how your classes are set up for the next two to three years is important. If you get an advisor who doesn't know what he or she is talking about (or couldn't care less if you stay another six years), then that can harm you in the long run. Sometimes the best advice can come from your peers or seniors who have already taken the classes in your major to help guide you.
8. Getting recommendation letters
The need for recommendations from a teacher who barely knows you coupled with having to attend your school for almost a year makes getting the best opportunities a little challenging. It's possible; you just have to look and dig a little more. You can try going to their office and showing previous work you did at your old school.
9. Making new friends
Sometimes making new friends at a school you know nothing about is hard, especially when you miss your old friends and just wish they'd transferred with you. You just have to try to put your trust issues and other fears aside. Go out there and be a social butterfly, make a new alias if that helps but just don't go too Bond.
10. Difficulty of classes
If you're coming from a community college to a well known four-year school, things go from zero to 100 real quick. The work load get ridiculous and may be more challenging, but remember you signed up for this and you kind of knew what you were getting yourself into. Look into your school's resources like tutors, extra help and others.
