This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Howard chapter.
For many transfer students, Howard may not have been our first choice, but we learned it was the right choice. Starting my first semester at Howard as a transfer student was exciting, overwhelming, and so much fun for me. Coming from a PWI, Howard offered a different cultural experience that I wasn’t accustomed to. I fell in love with Howard, but it definitely took time to adjust to my new environment.
Before coming to Howard, I would scroll through YouTube videos looking for advice from current students. In almost every video I watched, they kept mentioning something called the Howard Run Around. I wasn’t really sure what they meant, but by the end of my first week, I fully understood. This brings me to my first point:
- ATTEND YOUR ORIENTATION. And if you miss it, contact the administration to reschedule. I missed my transfer orientation because I had a longer-than-expected layover in an Atlanta Airport. I figured orientation was just a quick tour and would be okay missing it. I was very wrong. During transfer orientation, students met with advisors to form class schedules, received their financial aid package, and most importantly, connected with other transfer students. Missing your orientation will make your first few weeks more challenging than it already is.
- JOIN THE HOWARD TRANSFER STUDENT ASSOCIATION. Connecting with other transfer students makes the transition so much easier, especially if you are transferring in during the spring semester like I did. There is a GroupMe for this organization that is open to all incoming transfer students, and you can be added without being an official member that pays dues. There honestly aren’t many resources for transfer students like there are for freshmen, so your greatest source of help will be each other. People will be sharing advice and other chats at orientation, so be sure to talk to your future classmates.
- GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO ADJUST. Experiencing Howard for the first time can be a culture shock, especially if you are transferring from a PWI like I did. To help adjust, take time to explore campus on your own, join some organizations that interest you, and get to know your classmates. During my first semester as a transfer student, I was overwhelmed by how kind people were and how much they were willing to help me. Let other students know you are a new transfer, and they’ll be more than willing to help. The adjustment period takes some time, but you will eventually find your place at the university.