Stories of transfer students finding their place on campus

By: Xander Johnson

“See you next school year!”

Each time I heard those words, it was a bitter reminder of what could have been. 

I struggled to carry another heavy box down to the rental car, unable to wipe my eyes as both tears and raindrops ran down my cheeks. It rarely rained in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, so the weather was as gloomy and out of place as my mood. 

I made my way back inside and climbed the stairs back up to my dorm room. My freshman year was finally over, and it was move-out day. I’d already said goodbye to all my friends and my roommate. I hopped up onto my lofted bed, looking around the room I’d called home one final time. 

Everybody else was excited for summer, knowing they would return in the fall. I was not. I knew that I would never come back. 

I’d made so many memories there. The highs that year were higher than ever, and even the deepest low points were manageable with a solid group of friends by my side. However, the already high out-of-state tuition rates were set to increase the following year. It was clear that I couldn’t afford to stay. It turns out that leaving wasn’t the hardest part – starting from scratch at another school was. 

This is a common experience for many transfer students, such as Emma Pearson who experienced this at Western Washington University. Pearson, a 23-year-old English major, started their college journey in 2019 at Columbia Basin College, eventually earning an associate’s degree. They then moved to Seattle and attended Bellevue College for two years before transferring to Western in 2023.

During one of their last nights in Seattle, Pearson attended a party. They were sleep-deprived and had been drinking throughout the night, which caused their emotions to bubble up to the surface. 

“One of my friends asked if I was excited about moving to Bellingham and I broke down in tears,” Pearson said. “I had already been drinking all night, and so it was like ‘white girl wasted’ crying where I was inconsolable and couldn’t get words out.”

The struggle that transfer students often have with starting over can come from feeling isolated, which can also lead to adverse mental health effects. 

“It definitely was an isolated feeling coming to Western because I didn't know anybody here,” Pearson said. 

Transfer students tend to be less involved in campus organizations and athletics, yet involved with more work hours compared to non-transfer students, according to a 2016 study published in the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy.

“I work a full-time job,” Pearson said. “Doing that on top of school and volunteering with a nonprofit does not give me a lot of time to, like, go out and make friends.”

Like Pearson, I struggled with balancing my responsibilities with my social life during my first quarter at Western. I had to adjust from the semester system at my previous school to the faster-paced nature of the quarter system at Western. On top of that, I made the poor choice of taking the maximum credit load allowed. That didn’t leave much time for me to do anything but homework.

So, when I arrived at Western as a sophomore, the social butterfly I had become as a freshman crawled back into its chrysalis. 

The adjustment issues of transfer students can cause or intensify anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and other forms of psychological distress, according to the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy study.

Researchers examined the mental health of both transfer students and non-transfer students seeking counseling. They found that the transfer students displayed higher levels of social anxiety symptoms like discomfort around others, along with higher levels of depression symptoms like hopelessness and crying. 

However, for some students, the difficulties present at their old schools can cause the benefits of transferring to outweigh the drawbacks. 

This rang true for Lola De Puma, a 22-year-old theater major at Western. 

De Puma’s college journey started at Seattle Central College in 2019. She studied in-person for only two quarters before the pandemic shifted her classes online. 

After transferring to Western, De Puma found it challenging to return to the workload of in-person learning. Despite this, she saw the change as beneficial.

“Coming to Western coincided with the most sudden effects of the pandemic being over, and it was my first time living outside of my hometown,” De Puma said. “I felt like I had to try to make friends even if it was hard.”

De Puma ended up living on campus, which helped her make friends quickly. She hit it off with one of her roommates in Buchanan Towers right off the bat due to shared interests. 

Living in the dorms was an integral part of my social life during my freshman year. Sharing a cramped room with another person for an entire year forced me to get to know my roommate, and we became friends. Even though living in the dorms was a requirement, it ensured that I was never really alone.

So, De Puma living in campus housing as a transfer student helped shift the trajectory of her social life toward that of a freshman living in the dorms. 

However, all hope is not lost for those who live off campus. Off-campus students still take classes, which can serve as a place to have social needs met. Certain classes might not be the best environment for making friends, but many classes are quite social and geared toward fostering connections. 

For Pearson, one of their favorite classes to be social in was a one-credit beginner yoga class.

“I would get up and go to school, do my yoga, and then go to class and just be set for the day,” Pearson said. “I really enjoyed it.”

Pearson took PE 104 during the fall when they moved to Bellingham. Getting active in their yoga class helped Pearson with their seasonal depression. 

“I know how I get when I'm not actively out doing stuff,” Pearson expressed. “I needed to do something that was gonna make me feel good.”

Campus events are another avenue for making connections at a new school.

One event that De Puma especially enjoyed was a painting night at the Underground Coffeehouse. The Underground Coffeehouse is located in the Viking Union and hosts events like open mic nights, trivia and club events. 

“It was really fun to get together with people and it was very low-stress,” De Puma said. “It was just very easy and approachable to come to that space and hang out outside of school.”

Getting involved with clubs can be a great way for transfer students to make new friends as well.

During my first fall quarter at Western, joining the Hiking Club was a low-stakes way for me to make new connections and stay physically active. After a few weeks of hiking, a group of friends had formed. Our group eventually started going hiking outside of the club too. For my entire first year at Western, our hikes were the light at the end of the tunnel after each busy and isolated week. 

“We are very social animals,” said Kelsey Barnett, a temporary staff therapist at Western’s Counseling and Wellness Center. “It’s important to find connection where you can.”

My friend group at Western formed over a shared interest in hiking. Students wanting to form those kinds of connections can learn about options at events, such as the Info Fair with dozens of club tables, which takes place in the fall. I initially found out about Western’s Hiking Club at an information fair in the Viking Union. Another resource is the Western Involvement Network, which has an online catalog of clubs and sports. 

Finding your place on a new campus takes time. The Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) is a helpful resource for those who are struggling. 

“You are not alone in your feelings of isolation and loneliness,” Barnett said. “Don’t be afraid to ask for professional support.”

The CWC offers a wide range of services, including individual therapy and mental health crisis support. They also have group therapy options for building social confidence, neurodivergent support, anxiety and depression. Additionally, the CWC has wellness worksheets available on its website. 

“My advice is don't compare your learning journey to your previous one,” Barnett said. “Coming as a transfer student, it's not gonna be the same as a freshman and that’s okay.”

Starting over can whip up a whirlwind of emotions. There’s nervousness, excitement and fear. There’s loneliness, triumph and exhaustion. No matter what combination of emotions hits you, it is important to keep moving forward. There are friendships waiting to be made, fun waiting to be had, and a new path waiting for you to take that first step.