THE TRANSFER EXPERIENCE

Welcome!

All of us at the First Year Center are thrilled to welcome you to WashU. We hope to make the transition to your new home as seamless as possible. We recognize that being a transfer student presents unique challenges and may seem difficult in the beginning. However, in our experience, these initial hurdles have been overcome through patience, campus involvement, and creating connections. You have the unique opportunity for a fresh start and will have many experiences available to you.

You will find everyone at WashU helpful, so never be afraid to ask questions. Your WUSAs, teaching assistants, professors and mentors are all here to provide support. It is your job to seek them out and ask for their support and guidance. Throughout Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome, make an effort to attend all of the transfer student events. Bear Beginnings is a great opportunity to bond with other new transfer students.

As the semester carries on, keep in touch with your transfer friends. Even now, some of my closest friends are the ones I made during orientation. Finally, know that everything is going to work out. As WUSAs, we will be your point of support and guidance throughout your first year at WashU and are sources of information regarding classes, academic deadlines, campus activities, and more. You have the power to create and shape your identity and legacy at WashU. I highly recommend putting yourself out there, keeping an open mind, and engaging with your WashU and St. Louis communities. By doing so, I’ve made friends from various academic divisions and backgrounds and we have enjoyed sharing our interests and hobbies with one another.

My decision to transfer to WashU was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and the benefits continue to pay off as my time here passes by. Enjoy your break and please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at firstyearcenter@wustl.edu. We look forward to meeting you this fall!

—Misheel Sodgerel,Transfer WUSA, Olin Business School, Class of 2022

As you begin this next phase of your education at Washington University in St. Louis, keep in mind that you are engaging with a new campus culture. Depending on your previous college experience, you may encounter an academic culture that seems similar to the one you —Warren J. Davis, have known, or you may find that it’s different here. Regardless, there Assistant Dean, are plenty of resources to assist and support you in your transition. College of Arts & Your WUSA has a wealth of information about Washington University Sciences and can aid you in getting to know your new academic home. The same is true for your academic adviser, with whom you may be working over the summer. Finally, when the semester begins, get to know your instructors. Attending office hours is an excellent way of introducing yourself and of building rapport with your instructors. As a former dean once said, ‘Learning is not a spectator sport.’