Image Credits: Kari Alfonso
About 30% of West Chester’s student body is made up of transfer students. So, how does campus life accommodate the often-unnerving transition these students experience? I talked to multiple transfer students about their experiences, and this is what they had to say.
Some students said that WCU was good at sending emails about events for transfer students, while others said they never received any. Hannah Hagy said, “There were no events that West Chester had for transfers. If there were, I do not remember because it wasn’t promoted enough.”
On the other hand, Ava Colantoni said, “West Chester hosts a transfer student orientation as well as several welcome events at the beginning of the semester.”
From talking to transfer students, it seems like their experiences vary depending on which semester they joined WCU. The fall and spring semesters bring very different opportunities. The fall semester offers the involvement fair, where clubs, sports and Greek organizations are actively promoting themselves and trying to get students to join. This is where many transfer students learn about different ways to get involved on campus.
Spring semester transfers may be at a disadvantage because they do not have all the same opportunities to learn about organizations. Instead, they must learn about clubs and activities from people they meet or posters they happen to see around campus. Meghan Maggetti transferred during the spring semester of her freshman year. She said, “I feel like they didn’t really make any clubs super apparent besides ones that applied to my major.”
Spring semester transfers are also at a disadvantage because most sports are not in season at the time, and sorority recruitment starts before they move in.
Almost everyone I talked to said that their roommates or friends helped them adjust to their new experiences. Braden Burger said, “I got involved because I knew people here already, and that is how I got involved in Greek life and intramural sports.”
Another student, Logan Brown, said, “After I joined Greek life, I was more aware of the sports and other clubs available through my peers.”
Joining Greek life appears to be a common way for transfer students to become more involved and learn about other organizations they can join. However, students who do not join Greek life may have fewer opportunities to discover other activities and organizations.
Transfer students who opt out of on-campus housing can also have a difficult time finding a place to live. Many students have to go onto Facebook and find strangers to live with. Gina DiMauro, another transfer student, suggested that the University should send out emails explaining how and where students can look for off-campus housing. I think this is a great idea that could help not only transfer students but all students who are looking for housing.
I also recommend that living on campus during a student’s first semester as a transfer could help them make friends. Living away from campus can make it harder for transfer students to meet new people and become involved in campus life. Hagy said, “I felt very alone and felt like I had no guidance or way to meet new people.”
Overall, WCU does a good job of sending emails and posting on social media, but I believe it could do more to encourage transfer students to live close to campus and become involved in campus life. I would also love to see a transfer student program where new transfers are paired with current students who can show them around, introduce them to other students, and even invite them to hang out.
Transfer students are an important part of the West Chester community, and making sure they feel welcomed and supported could make their transition to campus much easier.
Olivia Catalina is a third-year Political Science major with a concentration in International Relations. OC1051596@wcupa.edu.