Transfer students make up about 5 percent of the total student body and will have a somewhat different Drexel experience compared to other first-year students. Often, transfers may feel out of place with their fellow student body who are either first-years or have been at Drexel University for their entire college career. To combat that, it is necessary to take full advantage of what the school has to offer, from countless resources to finding one’s own community — whatever that may look like.

Clubs are the foundation of finding one’s own community; one specifically targeted to transfer students is the aptly named Drexel Transfer Student Association. DTSA’s aim is to “foster mentorship and community among new transfer students who will need more support and guidance” as well as “provide additional opportunities to transfer students by providing networking events, extra advising, and a safe place to come to for support,” according to the organization’s DragonLink.

DragonLink is Drexel’s go-to resource for finding events on campus. There you can find the hundreds of sports, clubs, and student organizations that Drexel has to offer. Viewers do not need to know what organization they are looking for in order to take full advantage of DragonLink; rather, they can find out about events happening around campus as well. The site also lists events that students can attend without searching for a specific organization.

Transfer students should also make sure to know about the Intensive Course Abroad program that the school offers. ICAs give students the opportunity to study abroad in a short time, often between academic terms, for seven to ten days. Locations include Greece, Cuba, Republic of Korea, and Japan, depending on the term. What makes ICAs different from the typical study abroad program is that those interested do not have to speak with a study abroad advisor to start an application; rather, one can be opened at any time — though it should be noted that anyone interested in ICAs will need to meet with the faculty lead of the relevant program beforehand. While short, this can give transfer students a taste of what a full study abroad program would be like without having to calculate how it could fit into one’s academic plan for graduation.

The Steinbright Career Development Center at Drexel is also a fundamental resource for all students, especially transfers. Steinbright, which also oversees co-ops, offers countless events and opportunities for students to make themselves the most competitive in the job market as possible. Steinbright’s calendar includes resume workshops, peer mentoring, student panels, and career fairs, including events specifically curated for Welcome Week.

While transfer students may have a different start than most first-years, by no means should that be a disadvantage. Rather, transfers should take full advantage of what both Drexel and Philadelphia have to offer. Finding community is the cornerstone of any college experience, regardless of the trajectory.