To transfer, or not to transfer, that is the question. Most people choose to attend a university believing that they will be there for all four years. Or students choose to complete their associates degree at a community college before transferring to a different college to finish their bachelor’s. At my school, Central Washington University (CWU), the latter is the case for most transfer students. But sometimes, the college experience is not as idyllic. Students may transfer due to homesickness, changing majors, loneliness, environment, financial situation, etc. For me, when I transferred away Brigham Young University (BYU), I was escaping discrimination and choosing my wellbeing over complacency. And in the end, I have found myself rolling with the punches and thriving in my new, chosen environment.
I attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah my freshman and sophomore years. It is a private, Mormon college. My parents went there for their bachelors’. I was told going there meant a high-class education in a community of high standards at an affordable price. I was ecstatic when I received the email saying I was admitted. However, I found myself disconnected in such a large campus, dealing with ridiculous housing prices on federal minimum wage and real issues being whitewashed to fit conservative sensibilities. On top of this, I was taking prerequisite classes to apply for their Animation BFA, which is highly competitive. The environment and approach to the classes made me feel extremely inadequate; push everyone into the pool and whoever can already swim gets in. It felt like doing my best wasn’t enough, which got me in a self-defeating mindset rather than a growth one. As time passed, being there became more and more difficult. In June of 2021, I applied for the program and did not get in, meaning I had another year and one more chance to get in. But my spirits were already in the gutter. Already disillusioned with the school, I had an immense personal upheaval during the summer where I came to grips with being a lesbian, and my faith in the church I was raised in shattered. Unfortunately, due to my housing contract and a hope of getting into the animation program, I stayed another year.
My friend who was attending CWU listened to my struggles. She suggested that I consider transferring to CWU, as they have a strong transfer program. While I was trying to make up my mind, I emailed and video called with a transfer advisor at Central. She helped me understand my options and estimate what would or would not transfer. She was incredibly sympathetic to my story and helped reassure me when all the hypothetical planning was becoming too much. The counselor informed me that some credits, the Mormonism-specific courses, would not be accepted, but all the other ones would be taken. However, a number would not have a direct equivalent. This meant I now had three more general education requirements to fulfill, and many of my art credits would not translate into progress on the Graphic Design track. I would be behind, but not by too much.
Meanwhile, another semester had started, and I watched as things at BYU actively got worse. A speech given before classes began used the analogy of taking up ‘muskets’ to defend the family and forbade professors from speaking against the teachings of the Church. Using a new definition of ‘protest’, students sitting with baskets of queer stickers for students to grab were told they were holding an unauthorized protest and had to take it off campus. A BYU landmark, the Y, was roped off after alumni and parents of queer children lit it up with rainbow flashlights. I followed many Instagram pages at this time of queer BYU students banding together to provide resources and advice. It was stunning how often these students emphasized getting out while you still can. Add not being Mormon to being queer, and I could get kicked out of school and my transcripts withheld. While I was enjoying and improving in my animation courses, I knew that getting into the program would not outweigh everything negative about BYU. I knew it was not safe for me to stay there. As the school year ended, I didn’t even bother to apply to the Animation program.
Instead, I returned to Washington, lived with my parents and worked at a movie theater, preparing to attend a new school in the fall. Feeling relieved to be back in the Pacific Northwest, I was able to be productive. I paid the fees to send the appropriate transcripts to CWU. I picked out my classes with the help of my advisor. I talked to people who were also art majors at CWU over Discord. I came up to Ellensburg in April and got to explore the art building. In terms of housing, it worked out with my old friend that I would be able to take over one of their roommate’s spots in the lease. I secured an on-campus job. I was prepared for change.
In September, I finally moved in and began school at CWU, and that’s where I am now. My friends helped with a smooth transition, being adopted into a large friend group. Many of my friends are also queer, and a surprising number of them are ex-Mormons. My classes have been more rewarding due to the smaller class sizes, meaning more mentorship from the professors. The campus community is much more diverse, and I do not feel the need to self-censor here. The roads are safer to walk beside and drive on. Actual protests are allowed to happen on campus, and the administration listens, but the bureaucratic process leaves something to be desired. With all these positive changes, my well-being has improved drastically. The transfer has been so worth it to me.
Admittedly, not everything has been easy. My tuition was much cheaper at BYU, and my bills are higher here. But a bigger issue only made itself apparent in October. Usually, students officially enroll in the Graphic Design track in their junior year, as they have the prerequisites done by then. As a transfer student coming from a different curriculum structure and medium study, I did not have these prerequisite classes. I spoke with the head of the Art Department and he determined I will likely need an additional year of school in order to pursue Graphic Design. Somehow, I wasn’t devastated by this news. Disappointed, sure, but from being in a better environment, I’m more adaptable to curveballs. On top of that, the Head of the Department has been immensely helpful in planning my schedule and meeting my needs. I have resigned to make the most of it.
In my experience, transferring colleges has been worth it. I have grown as a person and moved beyond my past. I am in a safer, more welcoming environment, where I can develop my skills and have fun doing it. Transferring takes time, work, and self-advocacy, but I found myself to be capable of all this and more, especially when I utilized available resources. The incurred costs were worth it to me to live somewhere where I wanted to be alive. And if I must spend an extra year at CWU, at least I like it a lot.