Listen Here
By: Aliza Stahl
stahla@findlay.edu
Transfer students are often a little lost coming to a new school after transferring from another institution — here are some tips to help
There are first-time freshmen, there are gap-year students, and then there are transfer students.
Students who have been through the transfer experience have to completely readjust to life on a different campus. Bill Johnston, who works in the Oiler Success Center as Director of Orientation and Student Persistence. “Anywhere from eight to 120 students transfer into the University of Findlay every year,” said Johnston.
Johnston discussed that if a student switches to another major, that student may have an additional semester or year added on in order to graduate. This is also normal for a student who is not a transfer. Changing majors could cause anyone to gain an extra year of college.
Dr. Allison Baer, reading specialist and full-time professor in the College of Education at the University of Findlay, suggested nice and calming study places for students who may not enjoy an environment that is heavily used. The first place she recommends is in the College of Business and Student Life building (CBSL) on the second floor.
“There are incredibly comfortable tables and great lighting,” Baer said.
Other places include the Alumni Memorial Union and the Davis Building. There is a campus map online, where it labels all the buildings and could possibly be useful for getting around campus.
Graham Shore, an transfer student and exercise science major from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, finds the University feeling more as a home rather than back in Colorado. A personal study place that he enjoys going to with some of his friends is the CBSL.
Baer advises education students at UF and says those students tend to stick to their original plans. “The majority of people who started as education majors stay as education majors,” Baer said.
“I thought the transition was pretty easy,” Shore said. “Everyone was pretty nice and welcoming, including the professors, students, and the wrestling team.”
Shore went around campus the day before classes started in order to find all the buildings and rooms for his classes. This is something he recommends for transfer students who may struggle with finding their way around a new campus.
“Do your research [before transferring,]” said Shore. “Make sure it is a place that you want to go.”
