Feeling Behind as a Transfer Student
Let’s talk about one of the hardest parts of being a transfer student: feeling behind. Coming into a new school a year or too later than most first-year students, I felt behind in terms of social life, classes, knowledge of Tufts, knowing my way around, and figuring out the “Tufts lingo” (which I covered in my last blog so you don’t have to feel behind with that!) For all other aspects I felt behind in, my overall realization has been: it just takes time. I know that may not be what you want to hear and I get it; I’m not a particularly patient person, either. But, perhaps this blog will help ease your mind when it comes to entering a new school and feeling behind…
I’ve separated the two main areas in which transfer students may feel behind: socially and academically.
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1. Socially, I felt like everyone around me had established friend groups and besties in their first year. I didn’t know if I could get close to people without being in on all their stories and history which they’d built during the years when I’d been at another university.
But here’s the thing: people come into our lives at different times and getting to know someone later in life than their other friends doesn’t make your friendship less valuable.
Think about the people you value most in your life. I can pretty much guarantee that you didn’t meet all of those people on the same day or in the same year. Perhaps some came into your life in elementary school, while other friendships were formed in high school or college. The duration of a friendship doesn’t dictate its importance, so try to let go of the belief that coming into a new school means you won’t be able to get close to people. Comparing your friendships with others which started earlier won’t bring you anything but distress. Instead, try to focus on the new friendships you’re building; soon enough, the memories you make with them will become stories in the future!
Also, remember that there are many new transfer students coming into Tufts with you who are having similar experiences. During Orientation Week (which we call O-week at Tufts), there will be events specifically for new transfer students — I encourage you to take these opportunities and meet students who may be sharing this feeling of being behind. You can help each other get adjusted to campus, whether it be walking around to find your classes together or sitting together in the dining halls.
Once you make a new friend (which will happen sooner than you think!), I encourage you to tell them you’re feeling behind. I found that opening up to friends about the more difficult parts of being a transfer student has only brought us closer. People love to help others, whether it be showing them how to get to a class, introducing them to new people, or bringing them to Tufts events you might not know about!
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2. Next, I’ll address the feeling of being behind academically when you enter a new university.
Figuring out how to navigate a new campus environment is daunting. I assure you that you’ll learn your way around very quickly. Just think about how long it took you to adjust to a new middle school or high school — or college, the first time around! Direction-wise, there’s this magical thing called … Google Maps. I relied on this app for the first couple of weeks at Tufts. Pro Tip: before classes start, add pinned locations for your classes in the Maps app so you can just click on them quickly between classes. After just a few classes, you’ll have the directions memorized in no time!
Also, Tufts students and professors are always very willing to help point you in the right direction; one of my favorite things about Tufts is how kind and approachable the community is to new students! Another important resource for academics is your advisor, who you’ll meet with and discuss anything school-related. Advisors can help with questions about classes, majors, or anything Tufts-related. Tufts has resources dedicated specifically to helping new students get on track with their classes and major(s). And remember: everyone has a different academic path, so try not to compare yourself to the path which other students are taking.
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I hope you found some of this advice helpful! I’m really thankful I transferred to Tufts, and I found that overcoming the fear of being a new student has built my confidence socially and academically. Stay tuned for more blogs about the transfer student experience!