Survival Guide for Commuter and Transfer Students

Being a transfer or a commuter student can come with several perks. As a transfer student, you arrive at a new university with a fresh slate. As a commuter student, you get more financial flexibility, more independence outside of dorm living, and the convenience of being able to get in your car and go home if you want. Even with these nice perks, commuting and transferring can be a bit daunting. With these tips and some additional advice from a student who has firsthand experience with both, you will be able to enjoy Millikin University, whether you are a commuter or a transfer student!

Get Acquainted with Campus

Millikin has a beautiful campus that spans over 75 acres. There are many places available for students to access. It can quickly become overwhelming if you arrive on campus without knowing where your classes are, where to park, or where to eat. Millikin senior James Fitzpatrick, a commuter and transfer student, says, “Coming here, you have several buildings that you can go to, so learning the buildings and how long it will take me to get from Shilling to Scovill helps.” It’s normal to feel a bit lost as a commuter or transfer student, but it won’t always stay that way for long. The earlier you become acquainted with Millikin's campus, the easier it will be for you to walk around knowing exactly where to go.

Take Advantage of Campus Resources 

One of the biggest challenges for commuter and transfer students is knowing all the resources widely available to them. Resources like the Writing Center, Peer Tutoring, Career Services, and the Student Success Office are just a few that could benefit someone freshly arriving at Millikin. One of the biggest resources available is other students. Meeting your peers can be very beneficial for you while at Millikin. For many of them, they have been in your shoes before and can make you feel more comfortable. James says, “I’m comfortable here. The people, they help me, they support me.”

Get Involved

Finding a sense of community as a transfer or commuter student can be difficult. Outside of your classes, there are multiple ways to get involved at Millikin. There are many different clubs, organizations, fraternities, sororities, sports, and events that can introduce you to other students to befriend. James says, “You have a lot of different people here, so to find your place you just have to be confident in who you are and just be able to try to blend in with everybody, regardless of who they are, and be accepting.”

Attending at least one event that appeals to you can make you comfortable with other students. He says, “I just try to incorporate myself in different things that fraternities are doing or anything they have going on at Millikin; I just show up and try to be a part of it just to show my face and my presence and support whatever they have going on.”

Build Connections 

Meeting people at Millikin as a transfer or commuter student can feel extremely intimidating at first. For students living on campus, they already have a sense of community with the people they meet in dorms. Without having that advantage, it can be easy to feel isolated from campus. James says, “When you first get here it can be overwhelming with the social groups they have because most of the students that go here live on campus, so they already have a type of relationship or friendship amongst each other.” Even with that, it's still possible to find and build connections with other people. Simply talking to students next to you in class, going to campus events, and staying present on campus can allow you to meet people to befriend.

Make Use of Your Downtime 

As a commuter student, there will inevitably be gaps in between classes on your schedule. Some of these gaps may be short, but some can be hours long. If you don’t know what to do with your downtime, it will drag by. When asked what he does between classes, James says, “Studying. I take that opportunity to print off chapters and just work ahead so that I can be prepared for whatever's coming next because you never know.” It's important to make the most out of your downtime, so you can feel satisfied with all the productive work you have done.

Schedule Wisely

Time management is a challenge for all students in college. For commuter and transfer students, this is especially true. If you are balancing multiple things like driving, working, studying, and focusing on your personal life, it can feel like there is not enough time in a day to do everything. Taking courses that work with your schedule is imperative. James says, “Look at everything, investigate before you take a class, and know what you can handle. Sometimes we take on things we think we can do, and then when it gets going, we’re dropping classes and falling behind.” 

There are challenges and benefits that come with being a transfer or commuter student. Getting involved on campus and building solid connections can make your time at Millikin easier. Being a commuter or transfer student is difficult at times, but being prepared can make the difference between struggling and enjoying university.