A Love Letter to My Incoming Transfer Community
This is a list of advice that I wished someone would have given me before I started my journey as a transfer student here.
Step out of your comfort zone and make friends!
As a transfer student here, I have encountered many people from our community who struggled to make friends due to various reasons. Many are commuters, have their own established friend groups at home, have kids and/or domestic partners. However, I would like to say it again even though I believe that many of you are aware of what I’m about to say, your friends make or break your college experience. Regardless of your situation, you should actively try to find people that you can form meaningful connections with. Step out of your comfort zone in your classes, discussion sections and office hours to start a conversation with the people around you.
Explore the clubs and join them!
UC Berkeley has over 1100+ clubs for students as you may have guessed they are a great space for you to meet people and make friends. We have countless different types of clubs such as cultural ones, consulting ones, and interest-based ones. These are the typical places where you find people that you can form deeper bonds with! Through clubs you are able to get in contact with people that you have at least one thing in common with, whether that is your love for coffee, tennis or the environment. I personally have found some of my closest friends through the clubs that I have joined and participated in, and they have definitely made my college experience a lot sweeter and enjoyable.
Utilize the resources available to you!
The abundance of resources available to transfer students at UC Berkeley has truly helped me throughout my journey here as a student. There are many other resources available to students and my advice is to search for them. Look into them and see if there are any that could cater to your needs and if so reach out to them!
Consider studying abroad!
You may think that two years is not enough time for you to be able to study abroad, however as transfer students we absolutely have the time to study abroad! You need to plan carefully and ahead of time, but it is an absolute possibility. If there is a program that intrigues you, investigate it and apply to it. Don’t let your own mental blocks keep you away from possible life-changing experiences!
Off campus housing Facebook groups
If you are looking for off-campus housing options, one of the greatest sources to see the available options would be through the Facebook groups. It goes without saying that you should be cautious of scammers when searching for housing on Facebook groups. I would like to also add that you should not be hesitant of housing with students from different grade levels, whether they are a graduate student, or a sophomore give people a fair chance. It is a great way to connect with others and learn from their experiences and perspectives.
The moral of the story is that you need to step out of your comfort zone and explore what is available to you and utilize it. Remember access to education is a privilege, and since you are here, why not make use of what is available to you? Embrace your journey and remember you are not alone here. Make the most out of your time at UC Berkeley!