Hey there, friend! Today I am going to talk about my experience as a transfer student and give you some practical advice that will help make the transition to another school much easier. This article will also give you some tips on how to be a successful transfer student! Let’s get started! 

I began my education at a community college and had an amazing experience. I loved my classes, professors, and clubs that I was involved in. My community college allowed me to have smaller classes and more one on one help. I completed an associate degree before transferring so I’ll be speaking from that perspective. 

Community College

I LOVED my community college experience. Not only did I save a lot of money, but I also met some great friends there. I still talk to several of them today! *I actually set up a coffee date with one of my friends from my community college as I wrote this piece!

Transitioning from high school to college can be tough for some students so make sure to get involved on campus. I was fortunate to have an on-campus job and to be involved in several clubs. But make sure to put your studies first! Always finish your homework, do the projects, readings, and study for your exams before you go to a club meeting. If you do these things, you will most likely be successful! 🙂

As you take all the required classes on your degree plan you will want to talk to your advisor about the next step. You will have to decide when you want to transfer to a four year university. Your advisor can help make sure that you take ALL of the classes you need. You can also reach out and speak to the department that you are transferring to in order to make sure that you have all of the classes you need.

You will want to look up the application deadlines for the university you want to attend and make sure that it is filled out and turned in. You’ll need to gather materials, write an essay, and have official transcripts. After submitting the application, you have to wait. Once you’re accepted you can begin the next steps! 

Take time and enjoy the accomplishment of finishing an associate degree. That’s a big deal! Congratulations! I am so proud of you, friend!!! 🙂 

After, graduation you can attend the summer camp at your university for transfer students. Make sure that you’ve signed up because you’ll make friends who are in the same position as you!

University

Alright, now that you’ve had the summer to celebrate your associate degree it’s time to begin life at university in the fall (this also applies to students who begin university in the spring too!) 

Typically, universities in the United States have something called “welcome week” for students in the fall. There are a lot of events, activities, and free food to be found all across campus. Try to attend a few events that are interesting to you – this is where you’ll meet people with similar interests. If you live in the dorms, make sure to introduce yourself to the people on your floor and in the common areas. These people will be great to have as study buddies!

Personally, transferring with an associate degree meant that I was a third year student at my university. I met with my university advisor and we made a plan for my final two years of my undergrad degree. You can also ask your advisor what clubs are in your department. (My department had the History Club and Phi Alpha Theta!)

Make sure to find the Transfer Office on campus for your university. This office will have a lot of resources and will be able to connect you with the mentors you need. I think it is important for universities to be learn how to support transfer students and this is a good place to start. 

Another great place to look for campus resources is the library! Often, there are community bulletin boards posted throughout the building with flyers about events and helpful resources. Personally, my university had these bulletin boards throughout all of the buildings on campus so make sure to take a second to read them! 

My university also had an online platform for clubs and organizations that you could browse. This was super helpful in finding organizations to join. This was also a great place to look for community service opportunities! 

Also, I loved participating in intramural sports. My favorite was inner-tube water polo! So much fun! This is another great way to meet people from all across campus.

Spend some time trying things that are outside of your comfort zone! I hope your university experience is a good one and that you meet a bunch of awesome people!

Concluding Thoughts

Community colleges and universities are crucial to education. Make sure to enjoy your experience, meet lots of new people, and try a bunch of new things. I loved both my community college and university experiences. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people who helped shape me along the way in both places.

Good luck in your next endeavor! I am cheering for you!

I’ll talk to ya soon! 🙂