Transfer student experiences and academic integration

Transfer Students - Challenges of Change

From his personal experiences, William Sea might, in a round-about way, be sharing insight to several counters to challenges of changes in life, such as one a transfer student may experience.

Changes frequently encompass what Sea described as."...a pretty disconcerting feeling," as he left a close group of friends. Feelings, however, are also subject to change, psychologists contend.

Fears often factor into a transfer student's move from one school to another. Sometimes, students may feel forced to transfer from one location to escape threats of violence. In other instances, a transfer student may be leaving a peaceful place and entering into a frightening environment where he/she will have to face personal, as well as, fears other individuals or situations may trigger.

Facing fears, however, triggers growth, and usually during the process of change a transfer student is going through, he/she changes for the better. "For better or worse," the line in a marriage vow proclaims. The same line also could be considered a question a transfer student must ultimately answer.

Transferring; changing; moving - whatever one chooses to call the process, it may help a transfer student to remember to note that as another adage states, "This too will pass." While in transition and choosing whether the experience will work to make him/her better or worse, it's also good to seek out programs and individuals to help adjust to the new world.

Sea faced his fears and in the end states, "My fears were unfounded. Both the University and students combine to make transfers feel welcome. Not only does the University offer such programs as Transfer Information Day, but 150 students also compose the organization of T-Camp, which exists solely to welcome and bring transfer students into the Aggie family."