Leaving to a new place for higher studies can be equally exciting, yet overwhelming. People transfer colleges for various. It can be due to financial difficulties or to attend a better academic program or any other personal matter. The point is transferring colleges is a lot more common than we presume. Many even jump at the opportunity to study at another institution. Youngsters feel empowered as they get a taste of independence and enter a whole other territory with different opportunities. While many look forward to this experience, others may have a hard time adapting to these changes.
Initially, all transfer students must navigate through certain obstacles to make their transition a pleasant one. To offer some insight, we’re compiled five tips on how to better adapt to campus life as a transfer student.
Attend Orientation
To get you settled in, the first thing you need to do is familiarizing yourself with the campus, the faculty members of your program, and classes so it’s recommended that you attend your orientation. The current student body normally offers a guided tour to transfer, first-year, and international students to make them aware of the campus life, academics, social activities, clubs, etc. They help new students to transition to college so they’re not entirely on their own on the first day. It’s important to note that the orientation week is one of the first places many students establish their first friendships in college.
Take Part in Campus Activities
A foolproof approach to handling change is by being open-minded. Once you’re there and settled in, it’s time to get exploring and learning more about what your school has to offer. A great way to make college feel more like home is to partake in the variety of on-campus activities and clubs that could be of interest. College campus clubs, societies, groups or any student organization are helpful ways for transfer pupils to meet like-minded people and connect with other students. It gives you a sense of belonging, and once you’re participating in an activity you enjoy it’ll keep you busy and you won’t feel homesick.
You can visit your campus’s student services to find out about these organizations and attend a few meetings. It’s a great way to discover a new hobby, make friends, and gain extra-curricular credit points as well. There are tons of ways you can expose yourself to new things, so make it a point to take part in events and extra-curricular activities and you’ll surely have a blast.
Meet Other Transfer Students
College isn’t just about learning and digesting concepts and facts from books and presentations. It’s about being open to exploring new subjects, listening to different perspectives, and meeting people from different backgrounds.
There are many others in the same boat as you, and the best way to meet other transfer students is by attending the institute’s orientation program. Most students attending orientation are new and probably feeling the same way as you, so it’s the perfect way to make friends. When you get to meet people in a similar situation as yours, it’ll make your transition into a new place a lot more reassuring. Get to know the student body, make a few friends with other transfers or other freshmen, and you’ll feel better knowing you’re all going through the same situation.
Some colleges have Facebook groups for transfer students where they can meet others before a semester begins. If you’re lucky enough to make some good friends, you can even find a roommate which will make your stay all the more pleasant.
Set Realistic Expectations
When it comes to settling into a new place, don’t set yourself up for disappointment. College isn’t like Google, where searching for ‘Carpet Cleaning London’ will only bring you London based carpet cleaning services. Hence, you probably won’t find your circle on the first day – but if you do then that’s great. However, it’s okay to give yourself some time to take in your surroundings, explore, and meet people around campus. Visit the student lounge, talk to any other students moving in, or interact with any sophomores or seniors in your homeroom.
There’s so much to get accustomed to so it’s best to give it time to set in place. The first couple of weeks can be a struggle before you start developing a sense of belonging so there’s no need to rush. Allow yourself to walk around campus, check out a coffee shop or library, or you can focus on settling in at your dorm so it’s more personalized. This can help you successfully transition into your new college life without any added pressure.
Find Your Ideal Workspace
Everyone has a special place on campus where they prefer to work and study peacefully. The bigger the college campus, the more places for you to find until you’ve chosen the best fit for you. This could be a specific couch in a corner of the library, a table next to the window in your favorite on-campus shop, or the student lounge. Ask your classmates and friends if they’re willing to share their study space with you or offer some ideas on where you can find your ideal spot to work.
Once you’ve picked a location where you prefer to complete your assignments and prep for examinations, you can easily complete your pending work which gives you time to focus on other activities. Whether you fancy studying in solidarity or with a group, having a stationary spot where you can regularly meet to study makes you more productive and efficient.
Wrapping Up
In the end, whatever you choose to do it’s helpful to remember that you’re not alone and many others go through the same situation. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by a new place and people but this isn’t the time to feel discouraged. There are many steps you can take to make this new-found freedom a memorable experience as long as you’re willing to. It requires you to step out of your comfort zone, but embracing these new opportunities can help you discover the right crowd for you.