Your Transfer Transition: Support & Resources

Welcome Home! At least, that’s how we hope you feel. This is the last edition of the Transfer Tips newsletter. We hope that it has been helpful to you in making the transition to Michigan. However, it is likely that as you settle in to this new environment and look ahead to the completion of your degree, there will be ups and downs along the way. Here are a few tips to help you manage your first few months on campus.

1. Yes, you are drinking out of a fire hose:

Take a look at all of your syllabi. Do you see a lot of reading? projects? labs? At Michigan you will spend a significant amount of time, outside of class, doing homework. For some of you, it may be substantially more time than you had to put in at your previous school. As one former transfer student said, “At my previous school they knew I had a life outside of class. At Michigan, they assume I don’t.” Time management is key to being a successful Michigan student.

2. You are more than a letter grade:

To be successful, you will spend more “time on task” than you may be accustomed to, but you also must find balance and time to take care of yourself. What will “success” mean to you at Michigan? Will you have really made the most of your Michigan education if you get good grades but never take advantage of the opportunities outside of the class? If you never make connections with the other students from all around the world with diverse perspectives? If your health or mental health suffers? Personal well-being is part of your journey at Michigan.

3. Faculty are Friends, Not Fiends:

Yes, Michigan faculty members have high expectations of you. They will make you think critically and apply learning in ways that you may never have had to do before. They will challenge you and push you out of your comfort zones. And they can be some of your greatest resources on campus. Make the time to go to office hours and to get to know your instructors. It takes a bit of effort on your part, but the rewards may be life-changing.

4. Ask For Help:

If you are coming from an academic environment where you were not challenged, you may find yourself needing help for the first time. It’s OK. Good students at Michigan use their resources. Whether its help from an academic support center, a faculty member or graduate student instructor, or even a fellow student, it’s important to reach out for help when you need it.

5. Find Your Place:

Part of the “Michigan Difference” is the community that you will find here, if you look for it. Whether it’s designing for environmental sustainability, dancing to help sick children, or running around on the ice at Yost with a broom in your hand, finding people who share similar interests and passions as you do is essential to your Michigan experience. Research shows that transfer students who get involved and connected with their new school are more likely to graduate. It may take some time to figure out the balance between your academic workload and the time commitment needed for a student organization, but don’t forget to make it a priority in your short time here. Many transfer students end up regretting that they didn’t get involved sooner.

6. Connect with Other Transfer Students

At first, some transfer students want to forget about the fact that their path to Michigan was different than most other U-M students. You are a wolverine now, so what does it matter how you got here? And that is absolutely true.

It is also true that you may need support through this transition, and no one can support you as well as others who understand what you’re going through. Transfer Connections offers Transfer Turf for students in all academic units, regardless of whether you are a member of Transfer Connections. Transfer Turf is an opportunity to connect with other transfer students and enjoy a free dinner! You can also use the space to study, network, and learn about some of the great resources available on campus. Transfer Turf is offered on the following dates from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at 2011 Student Activities Building on the dates listed below:

• September 18
• October 2
• October 30
• November 13
• November 27
• December 11

You can also connect with other transfer students in the virtual world by joining the Umich Transfer Students facebook page. This is a great space to get advice from other transfer students, learn about ways to get involved and connected, and engage with others who understand where you're coming from.

In addition, LSA offers numerous events and activities for new transfer students to connect into the University resources while at the same time meeting each other, and many of these events are not exclusively for LSA students. In addition, the LSA student government’s Committee Advocating for Transfer Students (CATS) works to improve the transfer experience on campus and is available to answer questions that you may have. Contact Alissa Dickerson (alijandi@umich.edu) for more information about CATS. Those of you involved with Changing Gears will have ample opportunity to connect with other transfers – be sure to take advantage of these opportunities. In addition, the College of Engineering’s Michigan Engineering Transfer Support Program (METS) connects and supports new Engineering transfer students, and students in smaller academic programs may find help connecting to other new transfer students through their academic advisors or in their classes. The Central Student Government's Transfer Student Resources Commission is another way to get involved through advocacy for transfer students on campus. Contact Saveri Nandigama (snandiga@umich.edu) if you'd like to learn more. No matter what, throughout this transition, always remember that you are not alone.

7. Never Forget:

Your time here is short. Make the most of it. It’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine, and you are an essential part of this community. Welcome home.