Every college student knows the struggles of trying to adapt to a new place, new people, and new independence. Transfer students may have a harder time adjusting. While others pull all-nighters at Davis, sit in huge lecture halls and survive 3:00 a.m. fire alarms; we’ve been at home enjoying our own familiar way of life. Suddenly, we have to face this scary and exciting place all by ourselves. During our first semester, we’re trying to make friends, learn the dining hall schedule, and attempting to survive Bio 101. Here’s a list of eight things that transfers learned in their first five months on campus.
1. Most transfers didn’t realize that UNC is a competitive school.
UNC ranks high in a variety of categories. Carolina is listed as number one in the nation for best public university and number one in the state for affordable rates for future military members. Everyone always talks about what a great school UNC is but once you announce your acceptance, you’ll hear “Wow! You’re so smart! Isn’t that a hard school to get into?” At least until you graduate, then you’ll hear “YOU graduated from Carolina?!”
2. UNC offers an endless amount of research opportunities.
Carolina is known for medical research such as studies that may find new cures for cancers and Alzheimer’s disease. One can also do research in the geography department mapping out the ancient world, or in the statistics departments investigating the social impactions of sports in the state of North Carolina. If you can think of a research prospect, Carolina probably offers the information you need for it.
3. If you do not get into one of the professional schools your first semester, it is okay (to us, it’s the end of the world).
You can always apply again to any one of the professional schools. It can’t be that hard, right?
4. Athletics.
If you don’t know every basketball championship or football hall of famer, then you’d better learn them fast. Sports at Carolina are the heart and soul. Sitting in the student section of any game is an adrenaline rush. If you ever get the chance to meet an athlete, snap a picture with them.It’s one of the best things about going to UNC. And in case you didn’t know, the legend Michael Jordan did play basketball here under the greatest coach ever, Dean E. Smith. Go Heels!
5. FDOC (First day of classes) and LDOC (last day of classes).
These are the best days of the semester. FDOC because everyone lines up to get a drink from the Old Well for good luck and a 4.0 GPA! LDOC, because let’s face it, we’re all burned out and ready to be home.
6. Have you seen the size of the campus?
It seems like we’re traveling across America just to get from Chapman Hall to Fetzer Gym in ten minutes. North Carolina’s humidity seems to enjoy our suffering in September. You quickly learned to ride a bike, catch the bus or run everywhere.
7. One of the hardest things to do besides leaving home is approaching a professor about a question.
These people have doctorates and we’re struggling to figure out the carbon bonds in the equation or the French language. Relax; it’s okay to lean over to your neighbor in class and ask a weird question. Professors aren’t that horrible to talk to either; they love to interact with their students. The student that sits beside you is probably struggling just as much as you. One thing every student quickly learns is to have study groups; they are life savers.
8. Some of the most important things that many transfers learn during their first semester are things about themselves.
We learn to become independent of our parents; it’s hard at first but after a few weeks we’re fine. There might always be a hint of homesickness in the back of our minds but everything will work out for the best. The things that looked impossible in August have become possible in December. Simple things such as washing our own clothes, getting up in time for classes, and cooking meals in our dorms have become a routine for us.As Audrey Hepburn once stated “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!”
If freshmen can make it to senior year, then we can make it in two or three years. I have faith in every single transfer student on campus.Heads up Heels, our grades don’t define us!
