A Transfer Student's Guide to COVID-19

@sarah_elizabeth

According to a report by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, “More than a third of students transfer at least once; [and] of those who do transfer, 45 percent transfer more than once.” In addition, “The plurality of transfers (37 percent) occurred after the student’s second year, followed by the third year (24 percent).” More statistics can be found here. 

As a sophomore transfer at Georgetown University, these statistics did not surprise me. Valerie Strauss, a reporter from The Washington Post, did an interview with the director of college counseling at Derryfield School who explained it best. “We live in an age of immediacy and instant gratification,” she said. “Change and adaptation happens overnight and if something is not right, it is easy to start over. And this is just as true of our expectations of the college search as any other realm of society.”

Living in our fast-paced, digital world, the concept of transferring is far less uncommon and shocking than it was in our parents’ day. The idea of a “normal” college experience has since been upended by millennials who jump into new endeavors without looking back at the lives of older generations. With life placed on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, I had an ample amount of time to reflect on my first year and a half at my first university and surprisingly, found it to be the best time to transition into a new phase of my life. 

In the beginning, I never saw myself leaving my first university. I loved my classes, developed close-knit ties with my professors, and had the support from friends in my classes, resident halls, and clubs. However, it wasn’t until I lost these face-to-face encounters every day that I realized I needed a change. Growing up in New York City, I was worried about starting my freshman year in a small town in North Carolina. To my luck, it didn’t seem to matter to me as the benefits of these relationships and experiences triumphed over any apprehension. However, as the reins of depression, anxiety and boredom took ahold of college students across the country due to the new circumstances, I knew I had developed the independence and courage to do what was best for me, despite any perceptions of what those on the outside thought of my perfect “bubble.” 

I moved to Washington, D.C. about two months ago and have not looked back since. While there are many struggles that come with being a new transfer student, especially during a global pandemic with all online courses, I packed up my bags and dove right into my new college experience. The universal bad days that everyone experiences throughout life, and particularly as a teenager on a college campus, were eased by the feeling of a new city all around me. Whether it's meeting new people in line while buying a coffee or spending three hours walking around the national monuments, I have immersed myself in a bustling new city that has re-incited my excitement for new experiences - something I struggled with immensely while quarantining at home. 

To anyone thinking about transferring or worried about the process, I can assure you that as long as you take on that new experience with an open mind and excitement, it is simply another step into finding yourself and what you love most. For me, it was never about the university itself that pushed me to transfer, but rather the mental reset I needed due to the strains of COVID-19. With that said, I will always be grateful to my lifelong friends I have met at both schools and their support in my journey to rediscover my excitement for life and a deeper understanding of myself after months trying to grapple with our new normal.

By Margaret Rand

Sophomore at Georgetown University, majoring in Art History and minoring in Journalism. Born and raised New Yorker. Contemporary art lover and kitten fanatic.

Cover image: @beccatapert