Adjusting to Life as a Transfer Student

Written by: Aditi Sharma, Pre-Health Peer Advisor

Transferring to a large university can feel daunting - you feel out of place never having lived on campus, doing freshman orientation, or forming study groups for intro level classes with other MSU students. It can take some time for you to make new friends and to settle into life here. The first thing to know is that you’re not alone in these feelings. Everyone has felt nervous about starting their MSU journey at some point. Personally, I really struggled with the transition from a smaller community college to MSU. I had gotten into a routine, formed study habits, and made connections all at my previous institution. It felt like I was starting over here, which was both exciting and nerve wracking. 

I was excited to have more opportunities that a large college can offer, both academic and personal. The class offerings, clubs, organizations, job postings, research positions, sporting events, and numerous faculty was enough to make my head spin. I almost didn’t know where to begin. Trying to balance my college transition with personal obligations was a real struggle. It led me to cut back on credits to prioritize my personal wellbeing. It was a difficult, but much needed decision I had to make. I’ll be honest, it took me a while to fully acclimate to being a Spartan. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It’s an experience that made me grow and learn more about myself. Below are some tips on how you can learn from my transition as a transfer student: 

Reach out to transfer students at orientation, colloquium, GroupMe, and other transfer student events: Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with someone. A simple “hi” and what’s your name can be the start of your MSU community. This can make you feel less alone in this transfer journey as others are experiencing similar things. Here are some events being hosted this Fall semester specifically for Transfer students! Be sure to check them out and meet other transfer students.

Try to spend as much time as you can on campus! The best way to make this campus your home is to explore and meet new people. Commuting or living off campus can reduce your feelings of inclusion. Find study spots, join clubs, become a student employee, eat on campus, and explore all this exciting campus has to offer. 

Connecting with classmates is essential: It builds a network and gives you a starting place to make new friends. Courses here attract students from diverse backgrounds. You’re sure to find someone you instantly click with. Many of these students will be familiar with MSU and can offer insight on navigating it. Some of these students may also be transfer students, which can be great common ground to relate on. 

Getting around on campus can be tricky as a transfer student: If you’re a commuter, MSU offers parking permits to Lot 89. This commuter lot has the Cata Bus Route 32, which takes you straight into campus. This convenient lot is definitely worth the investment - it avoids the busy parts of campus and most importantly, parking tickets. Another tip is all the campus routes 30-39 are free to students! Just hop on and hop off. For easy bus routing to campus locations, download the Transit App. 

Plan out your budget! Being an off-campus student means having to take multiple factors into account, one of them being money. Smart spending habits are crucial to develop in college. Consider buying an off-campus meal plan to reduce how much you spend on eating out. Having a set amount you want to spend on outside food can help you stick to a budget. Or consider bringing snacks or a small lunch to campus. 

Don’t compare yourself to non-transfer students: It’s easy to feel disheartened that your journey may look different than the person next to you. Focus on yourself and your own path. Everything happens for the best. Be proud of your decision to take hold of your future by deciding to transfer!

I hope these pieces of advice can make your transition to MSU a little more manageable and a lot less stressful. If you ever have questions about your specific situation as a transfer student, never hesitate to make an appointment with an advisor.