End of the Semester

As a junior transfer student from a community college in North Carolina, you would not think I was as prepared as I should have been in order to succeed at UNC my first semester. That is where you would be wrong. This semester, I learned that all of the things that made me super successful at community college also made me successful at UNC. Don’t get me wrong, this will not be a straight A semester for me, but I do know now what is expected of me to earn straight A’s at UNC.

For example, the one thing I did NOT do, all semester long, was read the text before class. I think if I had read the text before class, I would have been able to pick up on key points during the lectures and had a deeper understanding of the material. Another thing I should have done was to re-read my notes at the end of the school day. It would not take long to read the amount of notes that I take in a day, but looking back at the main points may trigger a memory of something I didn’t write down in my notes. These all help to gain a deeper understanding of the material and help to make you a more confident student and test-taker.

All in all, my first semester at UNC has been a learning curve, and trying to find my place in a social group or a “university presented” opportunity has been a daunting task. My suggestion for those of you who are reading this is to look for at least one thing to get involved in, especially if you have to apply to it. It may take several applications, but eventually you will be able to find something…and that is a foot in the door for future opportunities. Make the best of next semester, manage your time well, get out there and get involved, and don’t be scared to take a risk! This is your time to learn, it’s okay to mess up…that is what college is for. I wish you all the best on your exams and look forward to writing more next semester!

– Written by Alex Wiseman

All about balance

Prior to transferring to the University of North Carolina many students think the hardest part of their transition will be the academic rigor, but they are wrong.  The biggest adjustment is learning balance.

For incoming transfer students, feeling anxious about the upcoming workload is a natural reaction. It is counterintuitive to think that making friends and connecting to the campus on a social level is important, but it is.

Junior Brandon Rogers said having a social life on campus is just as important as academics because it allows for break time to rest ones mind.

Being connected to campus socially is a healthy thing.  It is good to have a support group on campus that can hear the good, bad and confusing things about transferring.

Tar Heel Transfers, a student-led organization for transfers, is an excellent resource because it provides the opportunity to make friends with students who share the same concerns.

Even before moving on campus students should seek out Facebook groups specifically targeting incoming transfer students for that semester. UNC Chapel Hill Transfer Students 2014-2015 is an excellent example of a Facebook group where students can find events, friends and even roommates.

THT and Facebook groups are not the only important resources at UNC for transfers though.

There are many resources that students may not be familiar with because they are not offered at Community colleges.

UNC transfers have a new Twitter account that helps transfers find out about resources, events and opportunities around campus.

The Writing Center, a writing based tutoring service, is open most nights until 8 p.m. and provides students advice on any written assignments that are due.

It is critical for transfers to realize that not only are teachers and staff on campus willing and able to help students toward success, but that asking for help is not a weakness; it is a strength.

Junior Carlynn Ferguson said that she is typically a “lone studier,” but that at UNC students must reach out to their resources and peers for help.

Carolina is a community. That is what student ambassadors say constantly and that is true of the learning process at UNC, too.

Transfer student resources help students to take advantage of their time at Carolina.

Tracking down time and making sure that it is being used to its fullest potential is critical to students. Moreover, for transfer students this can be even more difficult because the scenery surrounding the students is constantly changing.

– Written by Sarah Kaylan Butler