Dear Natalie: Questions from Transfer Students on Housing, Credits, and Community
Welcome back to my blog! I’ve been getting lots of emails recently from prospective transfer students, I will be answering your questions in this new blog segment. To write in your questions about anything transfer student or Tufts-related, send an email to: natalie.bricker@tufts.edu. For this blog, I’ll be answering some questions about housing for transfer students, transferring credits, Tufts community, graduation timing, and more…
Dear Natalie,
I’m currently a first-year student looking to transfer to Tufts in 2024. I received your contact information when I reached out to connect with a current Tufts student who transferred. I wanted to reach out while it was on my mind…
My questions:
* How was your experience finding housing after getting accepted? Did you stay in on-campus housing? Were you placed with other transfer students?
* Do you feel like you were able to integrate into the Tufts community? Are there plenty of activities for transfer students to meet existing students? Are people still willing to connect and expand their existing friend groups in later years?
* In your experience, was Tufts accommodating with your transfer credits? Are there any specific courses that you had trouble getting credit for? Do you feel like you’ll be comfortably able to graduate on time with your peers?
Thank you for your time and your insight. I’ve read through the articles on the Jumbo page and feel really excited about Tufts! With gratitude,
Prospective transfer student
Dear prospective transfer student,
Thank you so much for reaching out. I'm happy to answer your questions as best as I can!
1. How was your experience finding housing after getting accepted? Did you stay in on-campus housing? Were you placed with other transfer students?
My answer: I was a little nervous about finding housing after getting accepted because transfers are put on a housing waitlist for on-campus housing. I'm pretty sure you have to email to be put on that waitlist, so it's definitely worth writing into housing as soon as you decide to transfer. This site will have more info.
Thankfully, I was put in a sophomore dorm with another transfer student as my roommate! It was such an ideal situation and we're still friends. However, I'm the only person I know off who was paired with another transfer student as their roommate; most of my transfer student friends were paired with random Tufts students. And that has its pros, too, because you're living with someone who already knows Tufts!
I do know of some transfer students that didn't get on-campus housing; they connected via Facebook and lived in an off-campus house together! So, there are definitely options, no matter what housing you get from Tufts, and this should not be a big worry for anyone looking to transfer. I would focus on if you like the school and worry about housing once you make your decision.
2. Do you feel like you were able to integrate into the Tufts community? Are there plenty of activities for transfer students to meet existing students? Are people still willing to connect and expand their existing friend groups in later years?
My answer: There are absolutely activities for transfer students to meet existing students! O-week (Orientation week, before classes start) is designed for new students (first-years and transfer students) to meet each other, and there are some fun events that are specific for transfer students! This was the program for last year, if you're curious what some of the events were like.
I also HIGHLY recommend doing a pre-o program (I wrote a blog post about it if you want to check that out + I'm sure there are a lot of blogs on the Admissions page about pre-o programs! I'm still really close with some of the people I met on that trip and am even living with one of those friends now!
I have found Tufts students to be super welcoming with new students and while people may have friends established from freshman year, no one (who I've met) has been closed off to meeting new people! There are also SO many clubs on campus and things to do to meet new people so you will definitely be able to meet new people who aren't transfer students, as well!
3. In your experience, was Tufts accommodating with your transfer credits? Are there any specific courses that you had trouble getting credit for? Do you feel like you’ll be comfortably able to graduate on time with your peers?
My answer: Transferring credits process is a little bit tedious, but I got all of my courses approved, even some kind of niche ones – Tufts has a LOT of departments so there's bound to be some course that's comparable to anything you've taken before. And don't be afraid to talk to a professor if your course is still pending! I emailed some professors and explained my situation – they genuinely want to help transfer students + respect when students make a compelling argument.
I will also be able to graduate on time, even with taking two part-time semesters last year. Let me know if you’d like me to talk more about my experience with the STAAR center, being a part-time transfer student, and taking summer classes.
I hope this was helpful! Please let me know if you have any more questions! I highly recommend hopping on any virtual Zooms that Tufts may be offering for prospective and admitted transfer students (I may be on a couple of the Zooms, in which case, please say hi!).
I look forward to answering more emails. Until next time,
Natalie