Dear Newly Transferred Kid,

I’m going to start this letter with a few tidbits about my transfer experience. When I was 17, I thought I knew that the right plan for me was to attend a big four-year university, major in business, meet lots of new people, and, most importantly, get away from the place I have known my whole life. I thought I had it all figured out before I even graduated high school. I believed I had an idea of how I wanted to live my life before I was even a legal adult. Months later, a light switch went off in my head, and I realized I wasn’t happy where I was. So, I decided to stay home for a semester to figure my life out.

But this article isn’t about me. It’s all about you and how I can help you transfer into your newfound college experience. So, congratulations! You did it, again! Whether your old school didn’t have your program, you’re coming from a junior college, or you just simply weren’t happy at your old school, you’re starting over. However you interpret that phrase “starting over,” it could come off as a good or bad thing, but whatever the case may be, you’re starting a new chapter that will change your life forever.

Being a transfer student really isn’t so bad. Yes, I’ll be honest, it's nerve wracking. But at least you now know what to expect in terms of going to college and taking college level courses. At this time of year, you’re probably feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. You could be living in the dorms the second time around or, like myself, you could have decided to take the high road and sign a lease to live in an apartment with some complete strangers you met online. If you’re coming from another university, it’s a weird feeling.

You have to relearn a new campus map, get used to the street names and where everything is, memorize a new student ID number, and deal with meeting new people and making new friends. Your credits also may not transfer over easily. Some credits may transfer, which will leave you behind, or as in my case, all your credits will transfer over, but not in a way that helps you get closer to graduation. The questions “Why’d you transfer?” and “Didn't you go to [insert old school here]?” will be asked a lot. That’s a given. You will also get lost and it’ll feel like freshman year again, but my main advice is to get involved! Step out of your comfort zone, join clubs, or take an interest in Greek life. Don’t listen to the stereotypes of Greek life, because it could be for you and you never know whom you’re going to meet. Learn to embrace change because it happens all the time. You already committed to moving to a new city, so put a smile on and take everything as it comes. You’re also going to meet tons of new people and make new friends and get that occasional “OMG girl you’re so pretty!” said by a drunk girl that extended the "o" in that sentence in the bathroom.

Now here I am, about to enter my junior year of my undergraduate studies at my third school, and my life has taken the biggest 180-degree turn in the past year. But most importantly, I couldn’t be any happier with where I am right now. It takes a lot of guts to transfer, but sometimes you find your niche the second time around. Now go out into the world (aka your new college town) and push yourself! Get involved, go to events and push yourself academically and socially. Show everyone out there that you’re a new you and that you’re ready to make it the best experience ever. It’ll all be worth it, trust me.

From an experienced transfer student,

Nikki