As a transfer student, you find yourself in that awkward position where you’ve already experienced some college but still feel like a freshman when it comes to your new school and campus. I myself am a sophomore transfer student who transferred to the University of Michigan from the University of Iowa, although I hail from the suburbs of Chicago.
Before my first year, I only hoped that Iowa would be everything I wanted in a college but found my expectations falling short, especially when Iowa grew intellectually, socially, and geographically stagnant. With over 31,000 students, Iowa is considered a pretty big school, a bit smaller than Michigan’s 43,000. You might expect the two to be similar in many ways since both are large universities. However, I did not find that to be the case. While Iowa has an 80.2% acceptance rate, Michigan’s rate is 28.6%. Although something as trivial as acceptance rates don’t appear to impact the atmosphere of a university, I can tell you — from my experience — that they do.
At Iowa orientation, I found myself surrounded by peers who acted like sulking middle schoolers rather than curious young adults. The cool thing about Michigan is that you can have a passionate, engaging conversation with almost anyone, even if you both know you’ll most likely never see each other again. It’s amazing to me that such bright people can be found everywhere on campus, whereas at my previous institution, individuals as such had to be scouted with fierce determination.
Ann Arbor is amazing too, and never have I stood on a more beautiful campus. Central campus conveniently merges with downtown Ann Arbor at State and North University. There are high-quality restaurants, cool coffee shops, and the vibe that something is always happening. Plus, the Diag is pretty nice if you ever want to relax. North campus offers an escape from the city with a more quiet, suburban feel where you automatically are connected to nature (without feeling isolated and stuck in a bubble, which happened often in the middle of Iowa).
Michigan also has the most incredible resources available, some of which you could not even fathom because the amount available exceeds what you’d imagine. A student can have many advisors available for them: some according to their major, some according to what they plan for after graduation, and even more advisors if they think they might encounter academic difficulty. What an astounding way for a university to make you feel appreciated and to let you know it is here to help you in any way possible! There are also myriad resources to help students find internships, fundings, and jobs. Michigan has a great deal of resources to offer students, and has excellent staff dedicated to seeing their students succeed.
Now, I can’t forget the classes either, which have provided exactly the challenge I so desperately sought in coming to the University of Michigan. The professors are extraordinary and show much more enthusiasm that I could have anticipated.
For once, I actually enjoy going to class. I am excited when attending organizations’ meetings knowing there will be like-minded people in attendance. I can’t wait for every day to begin. College is finally now everything I hoped it would be.
After having experienced a college year I didn’t enjoy, I appreciate everything Michigan has to offer so much more than if I hadn’t attended Iowa. I haven’t even finished a semester, yet I already notice a difference and could not be any more happier with my decision to be a Wolverine. So this holiday season I’m lucky to say: Go Blue!
Photos courtesy of youniversitytv.com, siegelgale.com, and mgoblue.com.