Sometimes coming to a new college as a transfer student can be difficult. Even if you’re used to certain aspects of university life, transferring often means adjusting to a different culture, a different city, and a different rhythm.
At a school like UVA, this process can seem daunting. But with an undergraduate population of 16,000, UVA is small enough that you’ll end up knowing most of the people in many of your classes, but large enough that you probably won’t see them every day or know most of the people on Grounds. Classes range in size from as small as eight students to as large as over two hundred students.
Your current college might be bigger or smaller than UVA, and might be very similar or drastically different. So how can you make an all-new school feel like home?
Tip #1 – Understand UVA’s application process for transfer students
Students hoping to transfer to UVA at the start of their third year have eight different programs they can apply to. In addition to the five schools students can apply to as incoming first years (College of Arts and Science, School of Engineering, School of Architecture, School of Nursing, or School of Kinesiology), transfer students can also submit applications to the McIntire School of Commerce, the School of Education and Human Development, or the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Transfer applications to those three colleges differs from applications for first years to the other five; for more information, please visit our article on applying to those as an upperclassman.
Tip #2 – Get involved with Class Council
Each year has a Class Council and spots are always held for transfer students. Council members serve as representatives of their class for the Alumni Association in a variety of ways, including maintaining communication with the class and building a sense of unity. Class Councils fundamentally serve to create and maintain class identity. By helping maintain students’ special ties to their class, Class Councils play a large part in making the University a special place their class will cherish for a lifetime.
Tip #3 – Match with a Transfer Student Peer Advisor
Students also have the opportunity to be matched with a Transfer Student Peer Advisor (TSPA). TSPAs serve as initial contacts for newly admitted students, assist with the implementation of orientation and Wahoo Welcome programs, and provide general support for their group of advisees through emails, phone calls, and small group activities. You can then be an advisor for a new transfer the following year!
Tip #4 – Take stock of your housing options
Transfer students can choose to live on Grounds if they wish. Students transferring to UVA for the fall semester should submit their housing application after May 1 and before June 1. Students transferring for the spring semester should submit the housing application as soon as they enroll at UVA. Incoming transfer students complete the online Transfer Student Housing Application and are randomly assigned to a room. Students can either request a roommate or be randomly assigned.
All on-Grounds apartments have fully furnished living rooms and bedrooms and include all utilities except telephone and cable TV. Every student living on Grounds has a Resident Advisor (RA) who lives within the residential community, and all housing groups have laundry and mail facilities, though there are some differences between housing options. Below is a list of housing options for transfer students:
Apartment Style:
New Dorms:
Residential Colleges:
No matter when you get to UVA, there’s a place you’ll fit perfectly, as well as plenty of resources to help you along the way. And for more transfer tips, take a look at these links:
- UVA Lingo and UVA Traditions
- Student Health Resources and Mental Health Resources
- Transfer Credit Evaluator
- UVA Career Center
- Lou’s List (database of class offerings for current and past semesters)
- UVA Housing and Residence Life