I was at my old school for two and a half years before I finally got the courage to go through with transferring. It was the best decision I ever made. In my particular case, the school I'm at now was my top choice when I was applying for colleges in high school, but unfortunately I didn't get accepted the first time. So when I got in when I applied to transfer here, I was ecstatic. This was, and still is, my dream school. Overall I'm so happy I transferred and I'm so much happier here. Though now that I've been at this school for a year and a half now, graduating in May, there are some things I know now about transferring that I wish I knew before.

You're going to feel like a freshman.

In every since of the word. You're leaving a campus you knew like the back of your hand to go to a campus where you'll probably have to carry a print out map around the first day just to find your classes. You also don't know the quirks of the area, like the best coffee shops or which bus is always late. So just like freshman year, walk around campus to find your classes BEFORE the first day of class. Also just ask people for help and take advice. Don't be like your freshman self that didn't want to "look like a freshman" or was too embarrassed to ask for help. Ask random people "wheres a good place to get coffee?" or "what's good at the dining hall?"

Also just like freshman year, you're going to have to put yourself out there to make friends. Join clubs, talk to people in your classes and reach out to people in your dorm or apartment complex.

Don't believe the myth of "you're past the friend making stage"

This myth is referring to the fact that if you come in as a transfer, everyone will already have their group of friends. Contrary to what Drake thinks, a lot of people don't have the mindset of "no new friends." Don't let the fear of being the "new person" keep you from joining a group of already established friends. The hardest part about making friends as a transfer, for me, was that I felt like I missed out on that group of friends that people make freshman and sophomore year. I felt like the odd man out because I was a transfer, and it wasn't like freshman year where everyone was trying to make friends. I was the one who was trying to make friends. Don't let that intimidate you. Talk to people in your classes, in your apartment complex and join clubs etc.

A new place won't fix all your problems

At my old school, I was so miserable. One of the main problems was I didn't like the area. It was in a big city. I'm from a really small town and love the outdoors, so a big city was a not where I wanted to be. Being at a school I didn't like for two years took a toll on my already faltering mental health. I was miserable and very depressed at my old school. So when I transferred to Appalachian State, the school I loved, I thought things would be so much better. I was definitely happier here, but I still had to take my mental health seriously- a new environment isn't a cure all. Another example is if you don't like getting out of your comfort zone and stayed in your dorm room a lot and didn't make many friends, even if you transfer, if you do the same things you'll have the same results. Take this new school as a chance to do the things you wished you had done at your old school.

It's not too late to get involved on campus

When I transferred, I really wanted to get involved with student government and be a tour guide, but I decided that I just wanted to get acclimated to the campus my first semester. Then I felt like it was too late. Don't make this same mistake. It's never too late to get involved. I was really intimidated by the fact that I was coming in with junior credits, so I "only had a year and a half, two years tops" at my new school. I thought it was pointless, or harder, for me to try to be a tour guide or be involved with student government because I didn't have as much time. This is a myth. I can't speak for every campus, but my campus really values the opinions of transfer students so there spots in the Student Government Association that are specifically for transfers. There's also a transfer organization that let's transfer students be leaders and tour guides to help other transfer students get acclimated. There are so many opportunities for transfer students to get involved on campus- it's not too late.

Go to transfer events

I went to a lot in the beginning, but I wish I had kept going. Even if I couldn't go as frequently, I still wish I went to transfer events throughout the semester, so I could be around people who I could relate to. Transferring is difficult, and it would've been nice to have a support system that understood first hand what I was going through.

I think I believe that transfer events were just to help me get acclimated, and then I'm done, but I've noticed that there are people who transferred here a year or even two years ago that still go to events and have met a lot of friends through them.

Go to Tutoring

In my case, I took a semester off before I transferred, so I was a little rusty when it came to school. Also I completed all of my general education classes at my old school, so I jumped right into major and minor classes. It was rough. I should have gone to tutoring before I got too stressed. There is also so many resources on campus that will help you get organized and get acclimated. The school doesn't want to see you fail, you just have to be willing to ask for help. If you don't know where to go, The Office of Transfer Services is a good place to start.

Transferring was the best decision I've ever made, but I regret some of the decisions I made along the way. If you want to transfer, do it! Hopefully these things I wish I knew will be helpful to make your transferring go more smoothly.