Some students may feel a strong connection to their chosen college campus after the first visit. However, others may need more time and information to make a final decision. For some, even after hours of research and planning, their chosen school turns out to be a poor fit.
Every year, thousands of students transfer colleges, navigating the complexities of new campuses and academic environments. In 2023, 63,000 students decided to transfer, according to the fall 2023 Transfer and Progress report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Kent State University offers many resources to incoming freshman students, such as Destination Kent State, a program that lets students experience life at the university. They learn about the community, clubs offered and how to navigate a new chapter of their life. Transfer Kent State is a similar program for transfer students, helping them get involved on campus and in the community.
“My experience at Kent has been amazing so far,” said Maddie Rennecker, a freshman early childhood education major, who transferred from Bowling Green State University. “The TKS program at Kent is amazing, showing the new students the ropes of the college and making us feel at home. The process was super easy.”
Junior journalism major Reilly Hall, who transferred from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said he also felt comfortable adapting to a new college campus.
“My experience transferring has been great,” Hall said. “The process of getting everything transferred over was relatively seamless, and it’s been very easy acclimating to life at Kent State.”
When freshmen start college, they are typically introduced to numerous social opportunities and events designed to help them meet new people. Transfer students, however, may have fewer opportunities to form connections during these initial stages. Rennecker said she has found ways to interact with Kent State students.
“Joining clubs and talking to classmates has helped me find a community at Kent State,” Rennecker said. “It is hard to branch out, but it is so important. The more you interact with others, the better.”
While transferring can be a scary experience full of change, Hall said it gave him an incredible chance to follow his career goals.
“A major opportunity I’ve gotten by coming here is being able to work for the Kent State Athletic Department as a photographer and grow further as a sports photographer,” he said.
Career opportunities aren’t the only reason students transfer. Feeling comfortable at school is important, and some students appreciate being close to home, like Rennecker.
“Kent was one of my top choices from the beginning, but I ultimately decided to go somewhere else,” she said. “I realized the college I was at was not for me, and I wanted to be closer to home. My parents graduated from Kent, so I was influenced. It is always nice to have familiar faces around.”
Hall also enjoys being close to home and the opportunities Kent State offers.
“I decided to transfer here to switch from a film major to a journalism major,” he said. “I also wanted to be closer to home since my last university was the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.”
Rennecker advises transfer students to branch out and meet new people.
“For me, talking to people in my class has been super beneficial,” Rennecker said. “If you have a feeling that you want to transfer, do it. It is never too late. Find somewhere you are happy and feel at home.”
Savannah Carroll is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
