During orientation and the beginning of each school year, signs welcoming the newest freshman class greatly outnumber the few signs that acknowledge students who transfer from other schools to Ole Miss. But don’t be fooled by the lack of signs: Thousands of transfer students attend the university, and many are as involved in campus organizations as other, more traditional students. Last year alone, there were 1,469 new transfer students on campus.
Mary-Holly Fletcher, a senior biology major and transfer student from Mississippi Delta Community College, is a member of the transfer section of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class, the Transfer Leadership Organization, and the Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Association, an organization just for transfer students.
“I believe that transfer students bring diversity to the traditional four-years-at-one-college experience,” Fletcher said. “We have experience outside of just the college life in a college town.”
Christie Sim, a transfer student from Delgado Community College, spent spring semester in France on a study abroad trip. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Alumni, the Golden Key International Honour Society, Ole Miss Democrats, Students for a Green Campus and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Sim said that, while freshmen are the main focus for many organizations, she is beginning to see recognition for more non-traditional students.
“I think, as with any larger university, traditional students are going to be the ones that organizations cater to,” Sim said. “However, in my two years at Ole Miss I can already see more of a push for transfer students to become actively involved in campus.”
Orientation leaders direct incoming students to their sessions. (Photo by: Logan Kirkland)
Anna-Lauren Inman, a senior biology and pre-med major, agreed. Inman transferred to Ole Miss from Northeast Community College.
“If you had asked me this question when I first became a student at Ole Miss, I would have said no,” Inman said. “But after being an active advocate for transfer student success on this campus and seeing behind the scenes while working in the admissions office and with other faculty, I have seen exactly how many people are supportive and working very hard to make this a reality. The transfer student support team at Ole Miss grows more every day.”
Inman’s involvement on campus includes being a founding member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, a member of the first transfer Chancellor’s Leadership Class, the president of Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Association, and a member of the Transfer Leadership Organization. Inman had several pieces of advice to give to those transferring from community colleges or other campuses.
“Prioritize your list of goals before you dive right into everything you want to accomplish. Don’t overwhelm yourself just because you may feel behind,” Inman said. “Don’t be intimidated. There are plenty of ways to get involved on campus, and there are many people who want to help you succeed. You will be just as successful at a university as you were at your community college. It will just take a little time to get used to.”
She also recommended using your status as a transfer student in a positive way.
“Use being a transfer student as a way to network and connect to students on your new campus,” Inman said. “You will be surprised at how often that will be immediate common ground.”
Fletcher also had several pieces of advice for transfer students.
“The advice I would give to another transfer would be not to be afraid to ask someone for help. You never know who you will meet that was in the same boat as you,” Fletcher said. “Nothing is handed to you like it might have been in community college. Don’t be afraid to ask your peers or even your professors about how to get involved on campus. If you never ask, the answer will always be ‘no’.”
