Did you know that, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 37.2 percent of college students transfer at least once within six years? That is over one-third of college students!
As a transfer student, I learned many important lessons over the past year. Although I learned these lessons during my transition as a transfer student, I strongly believe each one will help me in any future endeavor. Here are six lessons I learned this year that I consider some of the most important.
1. It's okay to be unhappy.
My freshman year at my previous university, I tried everything I could to make myself happy. I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried new things, yet nothing ever felt "right." As much as I attempted to convince myself I was happy, I just wasn't. Eventually, my lack of happiness reached a point where others close to me, such as my roommate (my childhood best friend) and parents, noticed a difference in myself that I couldn't see.
It is okay to not be happy. What isn't okay is ignoring the problem, which leads me to my second lesson learned as a transfer student...
2. If you aren't happy, do something about it.
Let me repeat my first lesson learned: it is okay to not be happy. But, if you are not happy, do not ignore the problem. Do something about it! I know it can be scary. I was terrified to transfer! Although transferring may not solve the issue, making a change in attempts to solve the issue is better than doing nothing.
Look at it this way. You can ignore the fact that you are unhappy and remain at your current university. You'll also remain unhappy. Or you can attempt to make a change and transfer to a new university. Of course, there is the possibility that you won't be happy at a new university. But, there is also the possibility that you will find what you need. In the end, you have absolutely nothing to lose.
3. You aren't alone.
More people transfer than you think! This is one of the most important lessons I learned this year. When I decided to transfer, I was convinced that I would be a part of a minority, that nobody else would understand what I was going through. In just my first week of classes at my new university, I met more transfer students than I could count on one hand. I finally realized that I was not alone.
4. There is nothing wrong with transferring.
There is nothing wrong with deciding to transfer schools. I remember when I was first considering transferring universities. Of course, I was worried about my decision and how it would affect me. But, I found that the thing I worried about the most was how my decision to transfer would affect how people thought about me.
This is what I learned from this: just because you decide to transfer does not mean there is something wrong with you. In fact, your decision to transfer says a lot about you as a person. As a transfer student, you recognized a problem (that you were not happy) and decided to act on the problem rather than simply ignoring it.
5. Sometimes what you want is not what you need.
As a high school senior, I thought my previous university was my "dream college." It turned out to be the exact opposite. I never even considered the university I transferred to. In fact, I immediately crossed it off of my list because it had "too many students," was "near a big city," and "too close to home."
This year I recognized that everything I thought I would hate about Ohio State ended up being everything I loved about it. So, don't be afraid to take a chance, because you might come to realize that what you want is not what you need.
6. Everything will work out in the end.
At the beginning of fall semester, I would have never imagined my year would have gone as it did. I was nervous about becoming comfortable with a new campus and making new friends. Now, my first year at The Ohio State University has concluded. I love tOSU's campus, met some of my very best friends, and can finally say that I am living the "college experience." More importantly, I have come to realize that everything will work out in the end.
