Transferring colleges can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be!
There’s nothing wrong with the fact that your first pick doesn’t work for you anymore. It might have been the campus vibe, the academics, or the location of the institution that made you feel uncomfortable. Either way, it’s a bad idea to stay at a college or university if you don’t feel like you belong there. But transferring colleges can feel like a daunting task.
If your first college choice turned out to be wrong, you may decide to transfer to another school that will become a better place to succeed academically. In this article, we will focus on some of the key methods to make the process of switching easier. Check some of the simplest pieces of advice for undergrads considering transferring colleges.
Avoid Overwhelm when Transferring Colleges
Talk to an Expert
When you’re in need of professional writing help, you contact an essay writing service to work with an expert in the field. Similarly, you approach your advisor if you have doubts regarding the process of transferring. Check your advisor’s work hours to set up a meeting. When you’re finally there, make sure to talk about what you need to do to get ready for the switch. Before you see an expert, ensure to create a list of questions that you need to be answered (whether there’s something that you can do during your summer break, some questions about your area of study, as well as what credits will be transferred with you). It’s no doubt, college advisors are experienced with transfer undergrads and know what to say to make your experience as enjoyable as possible.
Consider Living on Campus
Although you may have already benefited from dorm life, ensure to consider living on campus at your new college. It’s no doubt, you may feel like you’re getting back to the stage of freshman year when it’s time to deal with strangers again. However, it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and make some great friends.
Feel free to communicate with your roomies. Do not hesitate to ask where this or that building or the first aid kit is. Feel free to take a campus tour in order to get to know more about the new place.
If you have an opportunity to choose, consider living on campus. That’s where most of the exciting things take place. Once you are immersed in your new college, its people, and culture, you will have a much more enriching academic experience.
Keep in Touch
Just because you’re not going to attend your previous college anymore doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep in touch with your school fellows. You do remember the good that you had in your previous school – some great people that you met there and, who knows, maybe even fell in love with. While saying goodbye can be painful, it’s possible to keep in touch! If, at some point, you feel homesick at your new college, call your pals to counter feelings of loneliness.
Learn from Your Mistakes
Our part is the best teacher. Make sure to benefit from it to make the best of your current situation. Create a list of all the things that you have done wrong at your previous school to make sure you don’t do the same mistakes twice.
Get some coffee, make yourself comfortable, and think about your previous experience at the college you’re about to switch from. Was there something that you really liked? What did you dislike? Was there anything that you would change if there was a second chance? In contrast to many undergrads in your new college, you will be the one with a completely different background before arriving. It’s time to benefit from your past to make the most of your today’s experience!
Focus on Some Intense Research
You have definitely done some research already on your future institution. However, as you get closer to the big day at a new school, make sure to focus on the details.
The truth is, you might happen to be a little behind in comparison to undergrads who have already spent some time on campus. Let’s face it, they have already had a chance to prove themselves in their current school. Plan a trip to your future campus to get a better understanding of where you’re going to spend your next four or five years. Once you familiarize yourself with what to expect from your future alma mater, you will find yourself feeling more comfortable when your first semester starts over there.
If you have already signed up for the classes that you’d like to take, ensure you’re aware of all the requirements that you need to fulfill in order to graduate solemnly. What is more, it is important to check all the organizations and clubs that are available on campus. Contact, if possible, the leaders of the groups to get to know more and decide where to join.
Think Positively
To make your transferring experience more enjoyable, make sure to have an open mind. You are going to juggle many new experiences: new dorm, new friends, new activities, new professors, and new classes. Ensure to stay confident knowing that you are about to have the most interesting life journey. It might be tough at first since college transition isn’t something that happens every other day. However, it is important to keep in mind that you have made your decision to transfer colleges for a reason. It means that eventually, things will work out.
The reality is that transferring colleges can become a complex process. Nonetheless, if you are not happy with your current college or university, you can’t just leave things as they are. Transition is a crucial step to take to make sure you will progress academically and keep your mental health strong. While most undergrads consider the switch quite scary, there are some simple ways that will ease the process and make it as smooth as possible. After all, you are about to make the best memories in your life that you will cherish forever.