Each year IU accepts about 1,000 transfer students and organizes events meant to make sure those students feel like home. Next week, transfer students will convene for a variety of activities, such as bowling.
The annual National Transfer Student Week runs Oct. 21-25, a week during which universities put on a variety of events to help transfer students get involved and meet friends. It also allows students to learn more about campus.
“A lot of Welcome Week events are very specific to freshmen students, and I feel like this week, especially for transfer students, can help them feel more welcome here and to actually embrace the transfer community,” junior Ummi Atiyah Ahmad Zulkurnain said. “It helps the transfer community recognize other students who are also transfers.”
A big part of making IU feel like home is meeting other students, and this week aims to make that easier for transfer students, said Ben Walker, president of Tau Sigma Honor Society, the honor society for transfer students.
“My freshman year I was a basketball player in Chicago at Dominican University," Walker said. "I realized I didn’t want to play anymore so I gave up basketball and decided to come to IU.”
Walker said transfer students should take advantage of this week.
“Do your best to put yourself out there in terms of making friends," Walker said. "Put yourself in situations where you can meet the people and definitely talk to people in class. Making friends and developing a support system is the biggest goal.”
Zulkurnian agreed.
“Don’t be afraid of making new friends and being yourself,” she said.
