PCC Blog by Megan Luong - Transfer Student Experience and How to Get Involved
Coming into Santa Clara University in the Winter Quarter of 2020, I spent 10 weeks on campus in my first quarter before going fully virtual due to COVID-19. Entering SCU as a transfer student is definitely already a daunting experience before you even add the virtual component. Not only are you no longer a starry-eyed freshman with the same young excitement that many other incoming freshmen have, but taking classes from home further limited my interaction with school and students on campus.
Finding your place on campus as a transfer student can be particularly challenging because there is a constant feeling of being behind. From having to make entirely new friends to acclimating to a new academic environment, the change can be overwhelming. In my experience, the biggest obstacle is breaking out of your comfort zone. Utilizing school resources such as the Involvement Fair and visiting different Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) will best suit what you may be looking for; whether that is a social setting, a business-oriented group, or something relating to your own personal interests. This same advice applies to professional development. The school offers Career Fairs that will help students network with over 50 different companies, from the Fall/Winter Career Fairs, to BASH and STEM Career Fairs, which are great ways to connect with different companies and make professional connections. Various student organizations also offer panels and workshops, from introductions to Majors/Minors, to networking sessions with various companies such as Stryker, CrowdStrike and more. Utilizing them not only gives you access to professional exposure, but also an opportunity to network within the Santa Clara community.
Whether you choose to join a social student organization, audition for a play, or a professional business fraternity, the ways to make this campus yours are endless. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to lean into the hobbies you already have as it is highly likely that there will be a group of individuals that share the same interests as yours.