5 Pieces of Advice for College Transfers

As the University of Tampa has reached the end of its third week of fall semester, most students have become well adjusted to their new classes and weekly routines. But for college transfers, things may still seem daunting. It may feel like freshman year all over again, but with less guidance this time around.

Transferring colleges can be scary and one of the hardest transitions a student can go through, so here are five pieces of advice to help make your first semester at the University of Tampa easier.

#1: Remember that everything will be okay.

I know things may seem hard right now, and you may be asking yourself, “Did I make the right decision?” You’re going to have those days, especially in the beginning of the semester, when things feel a bit hectic. Remember that everything will be okay.

You’ve already made it past the hardest part. You made the difficult decision to transfer and now you’re finally here, ready to start a new and exciting adventure in Tampa!

As a transfer student, it is very important to maintain your mental health during this transition period. In a study done by the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy in 2016, it was found that transfer students experience higher levels of anxiety and depression than non-transfer students.

UT offers counseling services virtually and face-to-face in the Dickey Health and Wellness Center. For students looking to make an appointment, call the Health Center at (813) 253-6250. If you don’t have an appointment, crisis walk-ins are available.

#2: Get involved on campus.

Whether it be joining a club, greek life or an intramural team, find a way to get involved on campus. This will give you an opportunity to meet so many new people. UT offers hundreds of different clubs and organizations, so take advantage of that.

“Put yourself out there,” said Maddy Wiza, junior transfer student. “There are so many ways to be active on campus, and that is how you will meet people and make college feel more like home.”

Wiza transferred to UT last year as a sophomore. She said that it did not take long before Tampa felt like home because she decided to join Greek Life.

“I joined Delta Zeta, and through that I made so many friends and connections,” said Wiza. “It definitely made my adjustment easier.”

To see what clubs and organizations UT has to offer, check out ENGAGE on MyUTampa.

#3: Make sure your credits transferred.

This is probably one of the biggest worries students have when it comes to transferring schools. Make sure you meet with your advisor early on to go over your courses and see which one’s transferred over.

“We are a very transfer friendly school,” said Shannon Rutledge, UT transfer-student admissions counselor. “It’s not guaranteed that credits transfer, but we do have a tool that we can utilize, the Transfer Widget, which allows students to search their transfer courses to see if UT will accept them prior to even applying to UT.”

Rutledge said that even if a student's transfer course isn’t listed on the Transfer Widget, UT will still evaluate it to see if it is transferable.

Make sure you utilize your academic advisor and the UT Transfer Widget, which can be found on UT’s website.

#4: Remember you’re not the only one.

Transferring schools can feel very lonely. You may feel like you’re the only one going through this big change, but you are mistaken.

According to a Transfer & Mobility report done by the Association of American Colleges & Universities, more than a third of college students transfer at least once.

You may have come to UT not knowing anyone, but don’t convince yourself that everyone already knows each other and has all the friends they need. Put yourself out there and introduce yourself to others. You may be surprised to see how friendly people on campus are.

“There are plenty of other transfer students in the same boat as you,” said Wiza. “Although it can be scary, you will adjust.”

According to Rutledge, roughly 300 students have transferred to UT this semester. So please rest assured, you are not alone.

#5: Do not isolate yourself.

College is supposed to be the best time of your life, so instead of binge-watching a Netflix series alone in your room, try to make some memories. There are endless opportunities in Tampa, so make an effort to explore it with new friends.

Trust me, I love having alone time to just chill by myself, but don’t make it a habit. If someone offers you to hangout with them, whether it’s going to Fresh Kitchen, the Riverwalk or HPC, go! Make some memories and have fun.

This piece of advice is also very important for transfer students who live off campus. It’s so easy to come to campus, go to class, then leave immediately. Try to familiarize yourself with campus and get used to hanging out there outside of class. Try doing homework in the library, Starbucks or Vaughn courtyard, you may meet new people there.

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I know you may be feeling anxious. You have to get used to a new campus, a new education system, new professors and overall new friends. Remember that you made a great decision coming to the University of Tampa. Everything is going to be okay.

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Websites to Utilize as a Transfer Student

ENGAGE:

Found through MyUTampa, ENGAGE provides a list and brief description of all clubs, greek organizations and intramural sport teams. Get involved on campus!

Transfer Widget:

To see which of your credits can transfer to UT, visit the Transfer Widget. It can be found by searching “transfer widget” on ut.edu.

Spartan SOS App:

UT developed an app designed to help keep students safe on campus. The app provides quick access to resources like Campus Safety, Laser Team and a map of campus.