Beginning college can be daunting. Adjusting to life on campus can be difficult, even more so if you have transferred schools.
That’s why Kelly Rice, senior, is a transfer orientation mentor. She wants to provide transfer students with the warm welcome she first received on Hawk Hill.
Transfer orientation is fairly new to SJU. Incoming transfer students used to be required to attend the orientation sessions for freshmen. But, as Kelly says, an incoming transfer student’s experience is completely different from a freshman’s experience.
Rice spent two years at the University of Delaware before switching to SJU. Even with only half of her college experience at Saint Joe’s, Kelly now feels that she is fully a part of the school community through getting as involved as possible.
This is the type of advice she gives the transfer students she mentors. Over the course of one day, Kelly and the other mentors give students a tour of the campus, help them find their classes, present valuable information about the SJU community, and facilitate ice breakers. This day is completely run by students who have transferred themselves, so they have a better understanding of how to accommodate their mentees.
Listen to Kelly Rice and her roommate Billy Trimmer, who also transferred, share their transfer experiences.
