Being a transfer student is an amazing thing, it comes with many new adventures, but also many struggles. Yeah it is a scary process going to a whole new school and system than the previous year, but the minor details are what really can cause a transfer student to struggle and here are some that have been personally discovered.
1. Not knowing where ANY of the bathrooms are on campus.
Recommended for you
This is by far the roughest thing of all, its a rough thing when all you need to do is use the restroom BUT you sadly do not know where any of nearest bathrooms are located. As a transfer student you consider it a major victory when you discover your first restroom on campus, and the more you discover in various buildings the more you feel like a champion.
2. People asking you if you are a Freshman/1st year student.
NO NO NO NO NO. The answer is no. That is all that needs to be said about that.
3. Figuring out how to schedule your classes.
Yes, I understand I need to wake up at 6am to get the classes I want. Yes, I understand I need to meet with my advisor to make sure I'm on track for graduation, but HOW THE HECK DOES THIS ONLINE SYSTEM WORK. Between colleges they can be very different and VERY confusing so figuring that out is a blast.
4. What the heck do these abbreviations mean for certain majors, programs, and buildings? (Yes UC this is a specific shout out to you).
DAAP? CCM? TUC? SOL? MOM? CC? CRC? CEAS?: Like come on people you expect me to understand this? It's like a foreign language! I'm about to make a abbreviation for transfer students to confuse people with ... TSOA (Transfer Students of America). There it is. Done.
Clapping, chanting, then jumping, singing, wait what? I'm lost, I'm confused, and I don't know what to say right now. They need to send transfer student a guide for these things. I want to be a spirited student and all but how do I do that when I don't know when to yell "Go Bearcats" or put my arms in the air and make a 'U' and a 'C.' Life is tough.
6. What's the quickest way to class? How am I supposed to know?
A shortcut map would be fabulous during this time because during the first few weeks I honestly probably took the absolute LONGEST route to classes, cause how in the world was I supposed to know which way was quickest and that I could cut through certain buildings and all that jazz?!
7. What dining halls to eat at, and their specialties.
Well going from a university that had one dining hall to a university that has three things can get kinda crazy. Three dining halls, wait, one closes at eight but the others open till midnight? Oh and ones not open on the weekends.... but one is only open consistently till 2? This is A LOT to remember all just for where to eat.
Oh so I can use my swipes at dining halls but not at the restaurants but I have bearcat dollars for those...? This. Is. Insane.
BUT WAIT THERES MORE...
Milk Shake Monday, Chicken Tender Tuesday, Chicken Wing Wednesday, Surf N Turf Thursday, Fried Fish Sandwich Friday...WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN AND WHY DO ALL THESE FOODS HAVE DESIGNATED DAYS!!!!
8. No, I did not transfer because I had no friends. So please stop assuming and asking that.
People transfer for SO MANY different reasons, mainly because the school they were previously at just was not home for them. So please stop assuming transfer students transferred solely because they did not make friends at their previous university because trust me that is NOT the reason.
9. So you're telling me I spent money on all this college gear last year and now I just have to buy more?
Yup. The answer to this one is yes. Because you can not not support your new school. And of course there will always be the little piece of you that will support your previous school but the harsh reality is the new college gear has to bought which means the money has to be spent.
10. Finding your new study spots.
Wow this is fun cause you just perfected your study spots last year and now you have to start all over again. Testing out new coffee shops, libraries, study rooms, dorms, campus greens and all sorts of areas. So who will be in the running of [insert name here] next top studying spot?
Stay tuned to find out who wins...
There it is. Yes it's tough but worth it. Transferring is a big jump for any student at any year in school but I applaud all who do it because putting your happiness first is the most important thing in the world. And hey, sometimes these few struggles make for some good stories and laughs later in life, like remember that one time I used the same bathroom in the student center for the first three weeks of classes because I didn't know where any other restrooms were located? Yeah. Me too. But its fine.
So to all my fellow transfer students out there, you keep going, keep kickin' ass, and be loud and proud that your a transfer student because its a pretty cool thing.
And to those that are nervous about transferring, its okay to be nervous, but do it, put yourself out there, and never look back. Because if you do that you'll have the time of your life and never have to question if you made the right decision or not.
