I didn’t realize how different college would feel as a transfer student until my Dog Days orientation. It was 8 a.m., I was surrounded by hundreds of other transfer students in the Resnick Student Union, and all I could think was: it’s back to square one.
I understand the new requirements, as I received endless handouts telling me that I was already behind. So, if you’re in the same place I was last semester, let me tell you all of the tips I wish I had known before transferring to Fresno State.
- The first few months will feel lonely, and that’s okay!
During the first few days, you’ll feel the loner ghost creep around in the corner when you’re eating lunch alone on some random bench while seeing other students chatting up a storm. Well, it’s going to feel like that for a few weeks, maybe months. Fresno State is a commuter school, which means everyone is busy with school and their own life. Finding a bestie in the first few weeks is highly unlikely, but don’t let it ruin your journey toward a degree. 
You’re here to develop your professional career; friendships are just a plus that come along the way. What helped me adjust to campus was noticing what makes it unique — like squirrels squaring up for your lunch or the guy dancing by the fountain with earbuds in.
Eventually, that classmate will ask you to go grab matchas after class. Give it time, and you’ll have a friend.
- Want connections? You have to make yourself known.
For many at Fresno State, we’re not only the first in our family to pursue higher education — we’re hungry for a life beyond the fields or the factory floor. In this white-collar world, making yourself known to professors is essential if you want their help for that upcoming interview.
Look for the professors who are easy to talk to — the ones who don’t make you feel like an idiot. Arrive early, start with small talk about the latest assignment, then ask what inspired them to teach your major. Keep showing up and making the effort, and they’ll open up.
You have to lay down your own foundation; no one else will do it for you. The professor you keep showing up for will write that letter of recommendation.
- You’ll feel behind, but don’t let that get in the way of your success.
After taking a six-month break, I was afraid I wouldn’t measure up. I’d barely been working in journalism for a year, and I still had general education requirements to finish. My brain kept spiraling, convinced I was falling behind classmates already landing their third internship.
But, here’s the thing: everyone compares themselves. It’s human. You might see someone chasing their dream and wonder why you still feel stuck. This mindset traps you into chasing instead of building. Wanting more is fine, but at some point, you’ve got to get your hands dirty.
Use that fear. Let it drive you! Join a club that aligns with your passions, knock out your lower-division requirements. And if someone’s out here stacking internships like trophies, ask them how. Seriously — people are more generous than you think.
Ask for help. Build the dream that brought you to Fresno State.
- Lastly, have fun!
I can’t stress this enough: don’t drown yourself in late-night study sessions. Turning in assignments on time matters, but you can’t let fun run away from you. This is one of the rare times in life when work and fun can actually co-exist. You don’t need to bar-hop through Tower District or join Greek life just to be social. Go to a home football game, even if you have no clue what’s going on. Eat a hot dog. Grab a matcha at Collect Coffee Bar in Campus Pointe and pretend your deadlines don’t exist.
College might not be “the best years of your life,” but it’s one of the few chapters where you’re still young and your biggest obstacle might just be dodging the electric scooters that try to run you over.
