(Photo courtesy of Student Loan Her) “According to UMass Lowell admissions, transfer students make up for almost 50% of undergraduate students here.”
Tanner Hume
Connector Editor
I remember it like it was yesterday: December 2nd, 2021. I received an email from UMass Lowell saying that my transfer application had been accepted. Coming from Bridgewater State, I had no idea what Lowell had in store for me. I was very nervous and anxious to meet new people. Now that I have been here for a decent amount of time I have connected with many amazing people and developed lasting friendships. We’re a month into the semester and we have a lot of transfer students that are joining our beautiful school, so here is a transfer student’s guide to adjusting to UMass Lowell.
The first thing transfer students want to do is start developing friendships. I understand that it can be difficult to meet new people and that social anxiety is real, but trust me this is going to help you adjust to UMass Lowell a lot faster. Establishing your friendship circle makes the transfer process a whole lot easier and takes a huge load off of your shoulders. This will allow you to open up more in the future, and in turn, make it easier for other transfer students to fit into our welcoming atmosphere even more.
The next thing transfer students should do is to get involved with extracurricular activities. Here at UMass Lowell, there is always something for everyone to enjoy. For some it’s things like gaming and for others it’s creative writing. For me, it was the newspaper because during my time here I got to meet so many amazing people and I love my fellow editors as if they were my own siblings. By getting involved in extracurricular activities, you are bound to meet people that share the same interests as you which opens up the window for more friends.
The third thing that transfer students should do is explore the area. Lowell itself is a vibrant and multicultural city filled with history and cultural charm. From the Lowell Mills historical sites by Tsongas Center to ethnic restaurants dotting the city landscape to just walking alongside the Merrimack River and enjoying the view. It is a key necessity that you explore the city of Lowell so that you get familiar with your surroundings. Me, I grew up about 15-20 minutes away (and still live such a distance today), so it was easy for me to learn about my surroundings. Definitely do this, as this will make you more open-minded.
The final thing transfer students should do is, just get involved. Go out with your friends to some college sporting events, like hockey at Tsongas Center (it’s free for students), a nice baseball game in the spring at LeLaucher Park or even branch out and go out for a night on the town. As it is homecoming week, this is a great time to explore and get further involved within the community here. I absolutely love it here, and I firmly believe that getting involved in the college community is an absolute must, if you want to settle into your new school.
In reading this, I hope you take this advice and just have fun here. I don’t regret choosing UMass Lowell as my transfer destination at all, and in a way, wish I had chosen UMass Lowell a lot sooner. My fellow transfer students, wherever you may come from, welcome to UMass Lowell and know that we are super honored to have you here. Welcome to River Hawks Nation.
