Transferring from one college to another can bring a whirlwind of emotions. It’s an exciting next step on your college journey, but also a new experience with a lot of unknowns.
Here are 6 tips for incoming transfer students from one of our own students, Sarah Hamilton ’21, who made the same journey as a transfer student.
- Connect with as many people as you can when starting on campus
Transferring schools is an exciting time. You get to have a fresh perspective of the school while also bringing your prior experiences along with you. When arriving to campus be confident and know you are here for a reason. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible. Our student body is extremely friendly and one of the best resources for getting information on clubs/organizations and social events. Seeing familiar faces around campus is a great aspect of a small school, so the more you connect with people, the more friendships you will build and the more faces you can say hi to on your way to classes. - Personally introduce yourself to your professors
It’s important to also connect with your professors. After the first or second day of class, introduce yourself to them and let them know you are a transfer student. Professors will be excited to meet you! If they are teaching a course you are particularly interested in, tell them that. You can even ask about their own research. Forming meaningful relationships with your professors is an important feature of a small school. Your professors are extremely connected and can help lead you to great experiences. Plus, the professors genuinely care about their students and want to see them succeed in and outside the classroom. - Get Involved
At the beginning of each semester, there is a Forester Fair where you can learn about all of the clubs and organizations Lake Forest College has to offer. There are several tables and you can walk around learning about each extracurricular. There are sign-up sheets, so you can be informed of when and where groups meet. Not only is this a great way to start getting involved on campus, it is a great way to meet new people. You can also lookup which clubs you may be interested in joining online. Click here to learn more about getting involved on campus.
- Stay Organized
It is important to stay organized so you know your own schedule and other events occurring on campus. A big wall calendar or dry erase calendar are helpful tools to have in your dorm. Write down you class schedule to get more familiar with it, and write down other events you want to attend. Keep it in a convenient place, like by your door, so you are able to check it before you leave your room each day. It is also important to consistently check your Lake Forest College email. Students at the college check their emails at least once a day. A lot of information is shared through email about your classes or events on campus and it is important for you to stay up to date.
- Be Yourself
There is something for everyone at Lake Forest College and you are not bound to any one thing. For example, our athletes on campus often are involved in many different extracurriculars on top of their sport. You might see a football player who is also a research assistant and part of student government. Our students involved in greek life are also involved in many other clubs on campus. At big universities being involved in sororities and fraternities can often take up most of your time on campus. However, at Lake Forest, our students in greek life are very active in numerous extracurriculars on campus. The point of these examples is to be yourself. Now is the time to explore all of your different interests and meet like-minded people.
- Enjoy Your Time
College goes by quickly so make sure with all of your classes, work, and responsibilities you are having fun and making memories. Walk to the beach to relax or hangout with friends. Take the train into the city and explore the museums and restaurants. Make a late-night milkshake run to the cafe in Deerpath Hall. Go to the Homecoming festivities. Dance at the All Campus Program events. There are so many fun things to do at and around the College, so make sure you are giving yourself a break and taking time to enjoy the things going on around you.