Spring Break
For transfer students, a bumpy transition
Ronald Quiroga
Issue date: 2/19/09 Section: News
As the new semester seems to be flying by and students are starting to feel comfortable with their new classes and schedules, others are just beginning to get familiar with the bustling campus.
These new undergrads, like Samie Ahmed, a 2nd-semester exploratory major, have transferred from other private or out-of-state schools and are feeling a great difference in atmosphere here at UConn.
Other students, like Carl Belamour, a 6th-semester physical therapy major, are simply moving up to the main campus from regional schools, find that the transition more difficult than expected.
Many students are ready for change after the fall semester, and for most of these new UConn undergrads, there has been a generally good feeling about the process of switching mid-year. For Belamour, it seemed as if it was long overdue, saying that "the university encourages regional school students to transfer up to Storrs."
After spending two years at the Stamford campus, Belamour decided that it was time to make the move to Storrs and finish his bachelor's degree. Most students who choose to remain at regional schools can accumulate up to 54 credits before they are admitted to the main campus.
After commuting for a couple of years, Belamour was caught off guard when moving, saying, "Moving was the worst part. I forgot the most important things, like my jacket."
Other students like Samie Ahmed, a 2nd-semester exploratory major, said the process was too unaccommodating. Many of the transfer students, unlike those who are simply changing campuses, are at a great disadvantage when transferring mid-year. Ahmed, who intends to become a business major, was disappointed because he failed to enter the School of Business this semester.
"It was hard picking class because I'm a transfer and you pick last," Ahmed said.
The option of choosing housing is also not available for the spring semester, but an even greater task seems to be finding classes that are both appropriate for their majors and have openings after all other students have chosen.
Although settling in seems to be the hardest phase of transferring, many of the students are taking it in stride with some help from the university. The Associate Director of Housing Services at ResLife, Pamela Schipani, said that there are programs in place to help transition the students from other schools to the main campus. One of the more prominent programs is the living community for transfer students that was developed last year in the Alumni residence halls.
"The students seem to feel more comfortable when they know everyone is in the same situation," Schipani said. "Some of them have even chosen to stay for a second year."
The acclimation of a mid-year transfer student is a major concern, as more programs are being organized so that students are not alienated. Orientations, which had been separated between incoming freshmen and transfers for the fall semester, may be combined to allow for better integration of new students.
These new undergrads, like Samie Ahmed, a 2nd-semester exploratory major, have transferred from other private or out-of-state schools and are feeling a great difference in atmosphere here at UConn.
Other students, like Carl Belamour, a 6th-semester physical therapy major, are simply moving up to the main campus from regional schools, find that the transition more difficult than expected.
Many students are ready for change after the fall semester, and for most of these new UConn undergrads, there has been a generally good feeling about the process of switching mid-year. For Belamour, it seemed as if it was long overdue, saying that "the university encourages regional school students to transfer up to Storrs."
After spending two years at the Stamford campus, Belamour decided that it was time to make the move to Storrs and finish his bachelor's degree. Most students who choose to remain at regional schools can accumulate up to 54 credits before they are admitted to the main campus.
After commuting for a couple of years, Belamour was caught off guard when moving, saying, "Moving was the worst part. I forgot the most important things, like my jacket."
Other students like Samie Ahmed, a 2nd-semester exploratory major, said the process was too unaccommodating. Many of the transfer students, unlike those who are simply changing campuses, are at a great disadvantage when transferring mid-year. Ahmed, who intends to become a business major, was disappointed because he failed to enter the School of Business this semester.
"It was hard picking class because I'm a transfer and you pick last," Ahmed said.
The option of choosing housing is also not available for the spring semester, but an even greater task seems to be finding classes that are both appropriate for their majors and have openings after all other students have chosen.
Although settling in seems to be the hardest phase of transferring, many of the students are taking it in stride with some help from the university. The Associate Director of Housing Services at ResLife, Pamela Schipani, said that there are programs in place to help transition the students from other schools to the main campus. One of the more prominent programs is the living community for transfer students that was developed last year in the Alumni residence halls.
"The students seem to feel more comfortable when they know everyone is in the same situation," Schipani said. "Some of them have even chosen to stay for a second year."
The acclimation of a mid-year transfer student is a major concern, as more programs are being organized so that students are not alienated. Orientations, which had been separated between incoming freshmen and transfers for the fall semester, may be combined to allow for better integration of new students.
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