@UCSBMentalHealthPeers Transfer Experience:
​Whoa. I wasn't expecting that.  #Yowza #Likeclimbingamountain #I'mtiredjustthinkingaboutit #TransferExperience #UCSB

This is Harder Than I Expected

As a transfer student you have had some experience with college-level coursework, However, many transfer students find that the pace and rigor of courses at UCSB surprise them and it requires them to really step up their game. Here's some tools to take your academic game to the next level:

  • Go to your professor’s office hours. Remember, your professor is the one who designed the class and who will design your assignments and exams. So, they know what they are expecting of you and can help you to learn how to best study and learn the concepts.
 
  • Find other resources that will give you additional support for your class. TA’s will hold sections, office hours, and review sessions. Many STEM classes will have regular open study labs (e.g., MathLab) where grad students are there to answer questions. CLAS offers tutorial sections for specific classes but also has workshops and individual appointments to get help on everything from writing a paper to studying for exams.

Balancing Everything on Your Plate

The quarter system moves fast.  For each of your classes, you will likely cover in 10 weeks the amount of material that you would have covered over the course of a whole year in high school. On your first day of class you will get your syllabus with the readings, assignments, and exams that you will have throughout the term. There is no warm up period--work begins on Day 1. Before you know it, problem sets will pile up, midterms will creep up on you, and papers will be due. The accelerated pace, increased rigor, and looming deadlines requires you to be consistent with studying and use your time efficiently to be able to get it all done. 

Here are some tips to tackle all that you have to do with greater ease:

  • Put all of the due dates for your assignments and exams in your calendar. As soon as you get your syllabus it is time to schedule in these dates so that they don’t sneak up and take you by surprise. Also, it is probably good to track back from those due dates and set an alarm for yourself to alert you of your upcoming deadlines. For example, if you have several exams or assignments due in the same week you will need to start prepping for these early. Give yourself some extra time in your schedule as padding in case your estimate of how long it will take you to complete your assignments or prep for your exams was off.
 
  • Create a template of your weekly schedule. Besides scheduling when you are in class, create a daily schedule that includes your wake up and bed time, meals, study time, breaks, and leisure/down time. The key is to create a consistent schedule that helps you to operate at your best each day. Check out this example of how to construct a balanced schedule and click here to get a blank template to use for your own planning.
 
  • Consider what you can reasonably get done in the chunks of time that you set aside. For example, if you know that you have an hour in between two of your classes, perhaps you can read part of a chapter or outline the paper you have to write during that time. Starting a “big” task that requires more time and concentration when you only have a small chunk of time may be more frustrating than productive. But don’t forget, all “big” tasks need to be broken down into smaller chunks so perhaps you can chip away at it in those periods too.
@UCSBMentalHealthPeers Transfer Experience:
​Who needs a gym when you carry a full course load (literally)? #MyHandHurts #MyBrainHurts #UpperDivOverload #CollegeGotMeLike #TransferExperience #UCSB
  • Make time for breaks! On a good day, most students have the capacity for 45 minutes of work before their attention and concentration start to wander. On a tougher day, you might need to take breaks more often.  

  • Do the tasks that need more of your brain power earlier in the day when your energy is highest. If you try to do a difficult task when you are tired, you will likely take longer and it will be more challenging to complete the task when you are not operating on a full battery.
@UCSBMentalHealthPeers Transfer Experience:
​When getting into your major feels impossible... #LetMeIn! #DetourAhead #TransferExperience #UCSB

Running the Gauntlet: Getting into a Major

Transfer students often find that they are trying to get into their desired major within the first term that they arrive on campus. Getting into a major is hard but it can feel all that more challenging on a tight timeline! Sometimes it can feel like the odds are stacked against you.

Creating a short-term and long-term game plan and learning to balance your academic load, especially with taking upper division classes rather quickly upon your arrival, often requires some guidance. 

The Transfer Center has academic advisors who are specifically designated to help transfer students figure out a plan A as well as back up plans for finding a major. Make an appointment with an academic advisor and be on the lookout for workshops that the TSC offers that are geared towards students who are either wanting or needing to change their major direction.

Preparing For Pass Times

“Pass times”---the opportunity to vie for coveted seats in classes that everyone else is also trying to get into. It is inevitable that at some point you will likely not be able to register for a class that you had hoped to get into. The thought of not getting the class you need or want during registration can be very stressful. Here are some ways to make this process feel more manageable:

  • Set an alert or alarm for yourself about when your pass time opens. Students often get themselves in trouble by forgetting to register during their first pass time. If you miss your first pass time everyone else on campus will have had an opportunity to register for their classes before you get another shot. What does that mean for you? There are likely going be a lot of classes that are now closed to enrollment.
 
  • Have a plan. Take time to look at the options for classes next term. Consider talking with a Transfer Center academic advisor or an advisor in the department you want to major in so that you can get some guidance in creating an academic plan. They know what courses will satisfy your academic requirements for your major and your general education credits. They can also help you plan out not just this upcoming term but also help you start to formulate a long term plan for the year and beyond.
@MentalHealthPeers Transfer Experience:
Signing up on Gold has us feeling like we’re in the Hunger Games. #priorityregistration #TransferExperience #UCSB
  • Have a back-up plan.  As the Rolling Stones once said “you can’t always get what you want”. So, that means you need to have some viable alternative classes that you want to take. Preparing for plans B, C, D, etc. will make registration easier.  

  • Be open to exploring different areas of study. Some students know from the start exactly what major they want to pursue and they end up sticking with it throughout their time at UCSB. However, more often than not, students will develop new interest and find their skill in areas that they might not have initially considered. So, make sure to take the opportunity to try out classes that just sound fascinating. You may be pleasantly surprised by what gets sparked in you and what amazing new things you can learn.