Ellie’s Advice for New Transfer Students

Hello! My name is Ellie, and I’m a senior. It feels like such a long time ago, but it was only two years ago that I started at UMKC as a community college transfer student, and my first semester was kind of a tough one. Here’s my advice for starting transfer students, based on some things I learned the hard way.

• First, make sure you give yourself enough time to get to campus in the first place, especially if you have to drive to get here. Then, walk around campus and learn where your classes are, and do all this before classes start! Already think you know where things are? Walk around campus again to be sure, and take note of how long it takes you to get from place to place. I’m not kidding, come in the weekend before classes begin and hunt down your class locations. Take it from me, there is little worse than being late to your first class because you thought you knew where it was and then couldn’t find it. It’s the absolute worst.

• Think of ways to take time off and practice self-care. Throwing yourself head-first into schoolwork without taking time for other things may sound like a great way to get things done, but you’ll only end up burning yourself out fast. Try to think of some ways you can step away and check out when things get intense – exercise plans, personal hobbies, and a good friend or group of friends are a great place to start. Try to have an idea of these things before classes start so that you’re ready to use them when it all starts to get stressful.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help! If you’re like me and inherited a horrible sense of direction (thanks Mom), you may want to ask someone to point you to a certain classroom, or to the elevator. If you’re in class and forgot a pen, don’t be afraid to ask to borrow one – it may be a little bit embarrassing, but it’s tons of times better than missing out on taking notes! There is no shame in having to do this, we’ve all had to at some point and probably will again.

Written by Ellie Rieber, Senior History Major, Four Semester Peer Academic Leader

The Best Study Spots on Campus

Classes are returning to campus, and we are so excited to meet our new classmates this fall! If you started in Fall 2020, or are starting in Fall 2021, it’s likely you haven’t been on campus that much yet. Today, I want to tell you about some of my favorite study spots on campus.

6. Outside

When the weather is nice, studying outside can be a real treat. There are benches outside at Miller Nichols Learning Center. There are also tables and chairs on the patio at the Student Union. If you are comfortable taking a blanket and sitting on the grass, try the Quad or the lawn at the Linda Hall Library. Fresh air can be so refreshing!

5. Downstairs at the Student Union

The main floor at the Student Union hosts the Bookstore, a computer lab, vending machines, Jazzman’s Café, Baja Fresh, and my personal favorite, Chick-fil-A. If you like background noise when you study, this is the perfect place for it! You can get a snack, grab a coffee, and bask in lots of natural light. It’s also a great place to study with friends!

4. Upstairs at the Student Union

Upstairs at the Student Union tends to be quieter. The third floor has lots of seating and can be more private. My favorite space, though, is the fourth floor. If it’s too hot, cold, or rainy to be outside, you can study indoors beside floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook campus. If you do choose to go outside, there is a beautiful rooftop garden! There is plenty of seating out there if you decide to study there. I think it is one of my favorite spots on campus!

3. Atterbury Student Success Center

If you like to study over your lunchbreak, the cafeteria is a great place to be! I find this especially useful if your lunchbreak is at a weird time, like mine tends to be. It can definitely get hectic at 12:00 exactly!

If you like studying at the ASSC, but the Caf isn’t for you, try one of the unclaimed tables in the hallway or upstairs. If you learned anything from my review of the Student Union, it’s that I love floor-to-ceiling windows, and the ASSC also has plenty of those! The ASSC can also be a great place to study with friends, which brings me to . . .

2. PAL Space

The PAL space is a great place to study, even if you aren’t a PAL! Located upstairs at the ASSC, it is directly above the cafeteria. If you enter the building from the University Walkway, you can’t miss the PAL space. You will frequently find PALs working there. If you like to make friends, come hang out and study with us! It’s a great way to meet PALs other than your own, make connections, and learn more about campus.

1. Miller Nichols Library and Learning Center

What would we be doing if Miller Nichols Learning Center was not on our list?! The MNLC is one of the best places I know to study. There are computers and printers if you need access to them. The different volume levels on each floor can cater to your needs. There are individual study rooms too. The Robot has hundreds of thousands of books available to check out! The Robot Café offers coffee and sandwiches, as well as other snacks.

I hope this list will help give you some ideas if you’re new to studying on-campus. It’s a great place to be!

-Written by Hannah Edwards, Junior Music Therapy Major, Fourth Semester Peer Academic Leader