Who said going to college meant that you had to stay in the same place for four years straight? Everyone makes different decisions about college and everybody’s experience is unique. You might not like your dream school as much as you thought you would, or you might have just changed your mind about what you really want. If you’re a transfer student, you may experience some more fear than others. What if everyone in your dorm already knows each other? How could you possibly find your squad so late in the game? Starting college in a new place definitely has its challenges, but picking up and doing it all again is a whole other story. Even if you get lost every day for a week straight, just know that it gets better. One day you’ll get to class without looking at a map or asking for directions. Transferring schools can be stressful, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.
1. Explaining your life story
Scare level: 1
Any simple question or conversation can lead to you having to explain your transfer status, which can get annoying really fast or even embarrassing sometimes.
How to deal:
You know yourself better than anyone else, so by know you should’ve mastered the SparksNotes version of your story. If you don’t like talking extensively about why you left your other school, keep your explanations short and sweet. Then change the subject to avoid the never-ending questions about how different your old school was.
2. Feeling like a freshman all over again
Scare level: 2
You already had to deal with being a freshman in college once, and now it feels like you’re doing it all over again. “When I got here I felt like I was starting my freshman year all over again,” UT Austin junior Laura Lindsey said. “I wasn’t looking forward to being lost and confused about everything.” At least you already the basic dos and donts of being a freshman, like not wearing your favorite high school football t-shirt.
How to deal:
Relax. Even though you’re in a new place with all new people, you’ve experienced college at some level. Feeling nervous is normal, but don’t let your fear get the best of you. In no time you’ll get the hang of everything at your new school. Remember how you made friends at your previous school and do that again.
3. Not getting the typical college experience
Scare level: 3
Transferring schools isn’t the same as spending four straight years at one university. You might be scared missed out on your new school’s freshman year activities or missed some of the best parties everyone already went to. But each year offers something new a different that can make your two or three remaining years the best.
How to deal:
Accept the reality. You won’t have the exact same college experience as everyone else, and that’s okay. It’s up to you to make the most of your experience at whatever college you attend, even if you know you won’t be spending four years there. No one wants to have the same cookie-cutter college experience as everyone else. But if you want to feel like one of the pack, most schools have Facebook groups for transfers where you can slide right into those DMs.
4. Getting involved
Scare level: 4
You might have been in three different student orgs at your old school, but transferring orgs across campuses isn’t really a thing. Involvement can look very different if you’re transferring from a small school to a larger university. But everyone loves new members in their clubs, so volunteer yourself to help out whenever you can.
How to deal:
If your new school offers the same kinds of extracurriculars, then go ahead and join. If you left a large university to attend a smaller college, your old orgs might not even exist. You could use that opportunity to try something new or start your own club. But if you were part of a club that does exist at your new school, you might have a leg up since you already know the ropes.
5. Staying close with old friends
Scare level: 5
You transferred schools but your friends didn’t. “What if I lose my friends back home? What if they replace me? What if they forget about me? I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” University of Florida junior Jordan Snyder said. “In essence, it was fear of the unknown.” You might have been at another college for just a semester or maybe two years, but you take pride in making friends. Now you’re leaving them behind to start a new journey.
How to deal:
Keep in touch. Communication is key for any healthy relationship, and it’s vital if you want your freshman year friendships to last even when you transfer. Make an effort to be involved in your friends’ lives whenever you can. Designate weekends for visits and don’t be afraid to ask for updates in their lives. Snapchat often, but don’t brag about transferring to a university that’s ranked higher than your old school.
6. Making new friends
Scare level: 6
Worrying about making new friends can cause some serious fear if you just transferred to a new school. Now you have to start all over and try to find even more people you like to be around. What if you made this big move and end up all alone? Sometimes you think that no one will understand what you went through being a transfer student, but I promise there are plenty of transfer students at your new school.
How to deal:
Get involved in activities you like and be friendly. If you’re open to conversation or ready to try new things, you’ll find some friends just like you did at your other school. Not everyone is the best at making friends, but if you did it once, you cam do it again.
7. Being in a new city
Scare level: 7
You didn’t just switch schools; you moved to a whole new city. “I had gotten so used to driving around my old city, and I felt like such an outsider for a while,” Panola College sophomore Dillon Reynolds said. Finding your way around is even more challenging on a larger scale and can intimidate anyone. How will long will it take before you figure out the fastest route to campus or the best taco place in town?
How to deal:
The navigation system on your phone helps get you from one place to another, but the best way to get the feel of a city is to go experience it. Research some popular things that people do and go have fun. And once you do start making new friends, ask them to take you out to their favorite places. Perfect bonding time and a perfect way to learn the ins and outs of your college city.
8. Regretting your decision
Scare level: 8
You spent all those hours filling out new applications and waiting for transcripts to go through, and now you think you made a mistake. “I was afraid that I might end up feeling the same exact way when I got to my new school,” Northwestern junior Sean van Dril said. “And if that did happen, what was I supposed to do? I didn’t want to have to transfer again. I didn’t want to regret my decision to change schools.” At some point everyone questions if they just wasted all of their time making the big move.
How to deal:
Take a deep breath and remember all the reasons you did transfer to your new school. Fear of regret happens to everyone, but you shouldn’t let it consume you. Focus on what you like about your new school. But most of all, give yourself time to adjust. Even students who start at a school from their freshman year and stay until they graduate may not have adjusted fully until their sophomore year.
9. Getting lost on campus
Scare level: 9
All transfer students fear getting lost on a new campus. You knew your old school like the back of your hand, but now you can’t tell any of these buildings apart. Everyone seems so busy rushing around that you feel like such a freshman asking for help.
How to deal:
I know I’ve said it before, but seriously, get a map. Even if you refuse to carry it around campus and make yourself look like a tourist, familiarize yourself with the layout at some point. Lots of schools have apps with campus maps so you can be more discreet during your wondering. Find major landmarks because when you ask for directions people usually reference easily identifiable parts of campus.
10. Adjusting to new academics
Scare level: 10
Adjusting to a new academic standard makes everyone super nervous. I mean, don’t you remember starting college after graduating high school? Your teachers made college professors seem like monsters. “My number one fear was the amount of work that I would receive,” Texas State junior Yadira Rodriguez said. “Would it be more in comparison to the school work from a baby community college?” Here come those thoughts about whether or not you made the right move to transfer in the first place.
How to deal:
Prepare yourself. You might have to put more effort into studying, or you could have a bigger workload than before. The key is to develop healthy studying habits early, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. You got accepted to this school for a reason. You obviously have what it takes to keep up and ace anything you put your mind to.
