One Transfer Student’s Advice to Those Beginning the Process

How was your transfer process to Wichita State?
I started thinking about transferring when I knew I was going to graduate from Barton Community College within one year. During my time at Barton, I started researching schools that I might be interested in and that had good support for students who wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. I was blessed with an amazing advisor at Barton, Christy DeWitt, so when I told her I wanted to transfer after graduating Barton, she was an amazing help. She showed me which schools had an easier transfer process and even attended a tour with me. Once we decided which school I wanted to transfer to she got in contact with my advisor at WSU, something called Dual Advising, and they worked out a plan for me at WSU. There is also the Transfer Gateway, and that has all the information you need to help with transferring.

How did you research schools and decide where to apply?
I really only researched schools in Kansas because my original plan was to go to Fort Hays State University.  I am pursuing a career in physical therapy and when I did my tour at Fort Hays, I learned they did not have a physical therapy program or a pre-PT pathway for undergrads.

I did more research on schools in Kansas that had a physical therapy program and there were only two options - KU and Wichita State University. I decided to take a tour at both places, but I would say when I took my tour at WSU, it felt more like home, plus their tuition was more affordable too. So, at every school I was interested in, I took a tour and that helped me make my decision.

The welcoming environment and support at Wichita State University helped me with my decision of ultimately choosing to attend. When I took my tour, everyone I met was very nice and welcoming. They value support for students of any degree, and the environment can be a span of calm to exciting, which is perfect for any student.

What advice would you give someone starting this journey now?
Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and ask for help. Transferring can be kind of an intimidating process if you try to do it yourself. There is going to be someone who is willing to help and provide resources to make transferring easier. Stepping out of your comfort zone can help you explore new things.

When I was thinking of transferring, I wanted to transfer to a school that was closer to home and more familiar, but I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to go with a school that is a little further away from home. That has provided me with opportunities that have helped me grow into a strong, independent student who is ready to pursue my career.

If you could do one thing differently in your transfer process, what would it be?
If there was one thing I could do differently in my transfer process is to look at transfer scholarships ahead of time. WSU offers transfer scholarships, but I almost missed the deadline to apply for it. So, I would recommend definitely looking earlier in the process to see what scholarships there are.

 

What tools have helped you stay organized?
One tool that has helped me stay organized is a digital calendar. Any event, assignment, club meeting, etc. goes on my calendar. I am already a very organized person, so mostly everything I do has some type of routine to it. Having a routine helps me stay organized and makes my day as a full-time student go by smoothly.

What does your weekly schedule look like when balancing work and school?
Being a full-time student and working equals a busy weekly schedule. My day to day usually consists of doing homework and going to class in the morning, after that, I go to my part-time job. After work, I go home and have some me time, either by taking my dog on a walk, reading, cooking, or watching TV. Then I would end my day either studying or completing homework. You are always going to be busy when working and going to school at the same time, but it is very important to make time for yourself!

 

What resources do you wish more transfer students knew about?
In general, I wish transfer students knew there are resources for anything. When I was transferring, I didn’t know exactly what I needed to do to complete that process, but when I started asking questions, either to my advisor or to the admissions office at WSU, they always had an answer or sources that helped me.

What would you tell someone who feels unsure about managing work, school, and transferring?
I’d tell them that feeling unsure is completely normal. Managing work, school, and transferring is a lot to juggle, and it makes sense to feel overwhelmed at times. It doesn’t mean you’re not capable, it just means you’re taking on something important.

The biggest thing is to focus on what you can control instead of trying to have everything figured out at once. Break things into smaller steps - this week’s assignments, your work schedule, one piece of the transfer process at a time. When everything is piled together, it feels impossible, but when you separate it, everything becomes more manageable.

Also, be realistic with your time and energy. You don’t have to do everything perfectly. Sometimes “good enough” is what gets you through busy seasons, and that’s okay. It’s better to stay consistent than to burn yourself out trying to be perfect.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, either - whether that’s talking to an advisor about your transfer, communicating with a professor, or adjusting your work hours if possible. People can’t support you if they don’t know you need it.

And finally, remind yourself why you started. Transferring and balancing all of this is part of building a better future for yourself. It’s temporary, even if it feels long right now. You’ve already made it this far, which shows you’re capable of handling more than you probably give yourself credit for.