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This episode is part two of a two-part series celebrating National Transfer Student Week at Michigan State University. In this continuation of our conversation with the Transfer Student Advisory Board (TSAB), members discuss how their experiences as transfer students have shaped their academic and personal growth at MSU. They share insights on building connections, getting involved on campus, and supporting future transfer students through mentorship and advocacy.
Creators and Guests
Host
Siddhi Choubey
Siddhi Choubey is the current Host, Producer, Editor, Composer, and Designer of Spartan Transfer Hub.
What is Spartan Transfer Hub ?
Spartan Transfer Hub is a podcast for transfer students at Michigan State University, and beyond, brought to you by the Transfer Student Success Center (TSSC).
Each episode features conversations with MSU staff, faculty, and fellow students, highlighting key resources, programs, tips and individual stories to help you navigate your transfer journey. From academic support to campus involvement, Spartan Transfer Hub connects you to the tools and people that make a difference.
Find us on Impact89fm.org, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/msutransfersuccess
Website: https://spartantransferhub.transistor.fm
You're listening to the Spartan Transfer Hub brought to you by MSU Transfer Student Success Center and Impact eighty nine FM. Here's what we've got for you today. How do you think TESAP helps create a sense of community for transfer students? So other than these events, like, how do you act as not just, like, people on on the advisory board, but also, like, as friends to new transfer students, would you say?
Kevin:How do we act as friends to them? I would say just offering a helping hand and being willing to, you know, show them around even on your personal time. Like I said, that one buddy I made because of the resource fair, like, even, you know, calling him up and be like, hey. You wanna get some something to eat on campus? Or, you know, I can show you the best dining halls on campus.
Kevin:Something like that helps, you know, kinda build a community and and a friendship, and, hopefully, he'd be willing to do that for the next transfer student he meets.
Alissa:I think Tsaab has really just shown that people can be kind. And then you go out in the real world on campus, and you see people that are also kind of going through what you're going through. And if you're kind to them or if they're kind to you, you know, that leaves a lasting impact on someone. And also, I've experienced it myself. And that's a good way to make friendships, I would say.
Kevin:Mhmm. Alrighty.
Connor:Yeah. Just a lot of relatability. I've like, in some of those first few meetings, I finally made, like, a friend, I guess, like, you know, with similar interests, struggles, that kind of stuff. We're actually gonna hang out later, but, yeah, it was a great way of just understanding someone, like, of going through something similar.
Siddhi:What advice would you give to students who just transferred this semester?
Kevin:This semester, specifically, like, go out, go out and meet people, go out and go see the campus. You know, it's still relatively warm out. It's fall, so definitely go to all the T SOB events, of course. But go out and just make the best of everything. You know?
Kevin:I
Alissa:would just urge students to get involved. You know? If you're scared that you don't know anyone at this new event or this meeting, you know, I think you should just go out there and put yourself out there anyways because you never know. You could meet new people. You know?
Kevin:Don't stay in your dorm all day.
Connor:Yeah. Don't hide. Yeah. I would say just throw yourself into the weeds, honestly. I the first month of being here, I had just so much other stuff going on.
Connor:It was just a chaotic mess. And now I'm finally organized, so I'm participating in free organizations, hanging out with people. So now I'm just kind of blossoming now, but it's been a good experience so far.
Siddhi:Mhmm. This is something that I'm curious about. What was the most surprising part of being a transfer student that you didn't expect? Because earlier I asked this question to Doctor. Charles and Ashley and they said the size of the campus was something that they weren't expecting or, like, something that they didn't realize.
Siddhi:So what was something like that for you guys?
Kevin:Something like that for me was actually, like, the amount of resources that this campus had. Like, I thought that was pretty insane coming from, like, a transfer student's perspective. Like, they have so many different resources, you know, Russell Palmer, CAPS, all these services that are, like, free to students. I thought that was just, like, amazing. Mhmm.
Alissa:This might make me seem like I live in my own bubble, but just the amount of transfer students that make up Michigan State. I was honestly shocked to learn that so many people were transfer students through my classes and through group projects and stuff. That was really surprising.
Connor:I guess I'd like, at first, I had a culture shock, like, the first night I spent here because I've always known about the culture here, but I've never been so deep within it just experiencing it. Like, I finally made it to this point. Cause, you know, when you're transferring it, so you're kind of how I did it was you're grinding basically to get to the next place. You're not really thinking about, like, the other parts of it. It's just get here and then figure the rest out.
Siddhi:Mhmm. Awesome. So have you all experienced the midnight scream?
Kevin:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Siddhi:Do you
Alissa:know what that is? And you
Siddhi:guys have videos
Alissa:on TikTok because I don't live near
Connor:Oh, wait. Yeah. At the end of finals. Yeah. I saw videos of that last year.
Connor:And
Siddhi:have you have you participated in it?
Kevin:I mean, I guess you're not supposed to anymore, but I was impressed with coming in. Yeah. I did. Yeah. To be honest.
Kevin:It terrified me at first because I'm like, why is
Siddhi:it Everyone just started screaming?
Connor:I'm too far away from campus to do that. I'll get the cops called.
Siddhi:I think it's a really fun tradition. I thoroughly enjoyed it too. How has being a part of TSAP shaped your experience as a transfer student?
Kevin:It shaped my experience as a as a transfer student because it made me realize like how welcoming you know, transfer students can be on campus and then the entire board in general and it you know, have a little sister who she's going to be hopefully not transferring this direct but it just I feel like it's really beneficial for the the transfer students who are coming in just to know that hey there's there's resources here for you. There's people who are willing to help you out get past those you know fears you might have as a transfer student and I don't know. That was just a really good experience for me personally. So I honestly forgot what the question was.
Siddhi:How did it shape your experience?
Kevin:How did it shape my experience? It maybe come in with a more of a optimistic attitude. I'll say that. Yeah. You know, coming in, like I said, it can be very intimidating.
Kevin:It can be easy to be like, oh, you know, I don't really wanna go out or, you know, I don't wanna do this. But, you know, being welcomed by CSOP really opened my eyes to see, wow. There's a whole community around me who cares about their students, and it made me wanna go out and get more of off like I am now.
Alissa:TSOP has made my time at Michigan State truly unforgettable, and I will say this because at my previous institution, I did not do anything. I was not involved in anything. I was kind of scared. And there also just wasn't a lot of opportunity to get involved. But since I started with TSOB, I've kind of branched out into other organizations as well on campus, and I think that's played a big part in it.
Connor:Yeah. For me, it just made adjusting, getting used to everything way quicker than just trying to figure it out on my own with all the resources and getting told where to look for all the other organizations and stuff to do.
Siddhi:Mhmm. So is there something so looking back, is there something that you would do different during your transfer journey?
Kevin:I would say something that I would do different would would be, like, get involved earlier. Mhmm. So that way my impact can be, you know, stronger. I can help more people. I felt like it did, you know, take me some time to step more out of my show more than I would have liked.
Kevin:Eventually, you know, I did come out and, you know, participate in a of CSAT meetings and stuff, but, originally, like, I wasn't always like this. So I would just say getting out there earlier is the best.
Alissa:Okay. I would say probably touring the campus and, you know, getting comfortable and familiar with campus because that was something I didn't do. But I know it's not as common now. A lot of people have been here, visit friends, you know, that type of stuff.
Connor:Yeah. I would say kind of just, like, on the same lines of it. It was a very interesting experience at first just figuring it out. But after I got through, like, just the mess of other stuff I had going on, I wish I could've gotten involved in a lot more organizations and activities, like, way earlier on.
Siddhi:Yeah. Because so kind of going off of those answers, one of the questions that we got after the resource fair was like, is there a specific like organization that's just for transfer students? But what I kind of realized is like there's no requirement to join an organization or a club. So what advice do you have for someone that's kind of shy to do that or like doesn't know how to kind of approach someone as participation or something?
Kevin:I would say definitely well, are you just talking about, like, any org
Connor:Any clubs.
Kevin:Yeah. Club. Definitely, the clubs that I'm a part of, like, I got more knowledgeable and more comfortable with them when I talked to the e board members on a personal level. You know? Remember that these people on these executive board positions for these clubs are also students, so they relate and go to the some of the same stuff things that you would go through.
Kevin:So I would just say be personable, be able to talk to them, be able to get to know them on a personal level, and, of course, always attend the meetings, and you can definitely get more involved with these.
Alissa:I would just tell them to ask questions. You know? If there's something burning in the back of your mind, just ask them. They'll be able to answer it right then and there, and, you know, then you'll be able to have that clarity of whether or not you might wanna participate.
Connor:Mhmm. Definitely either go on Anthology or Google MSU Campus Labs. Search either some organization related to what you're studying or personal interests, it probably exists. That's what I got told, and that's how I found what I'm in right now. Mhmm.
Kevin:Yeah. There's a club for everything. Yeah.
Siddhi:There is. And and you can also make your own club if there isn't. So that's really cool. Yeah. If you could describe your transfer journey in three words, what would they be?
Connor:Storm then calm
Siddhi:Okay.
Connor:In the opposite. Like, it was just a mess, but then I got it organized.
Kevin:I would say insightful, exciting, and eye opening.
Alissa:Chaotic, calm, and encouraging.
Siddhi:Those were some awesome words, you guys. Another thing that I'm curious about is what's in the future. So what is in the future for TSAB, but also what is in the future of your transfer journey?
Connor:I'm not gonna let anyone go through the mess I went through, so I definitely wanna, like, meet incoming people and help them with their start.
Kevin:Same. Most definitely anticipate you backing off of what you said, kinda seeing those new transfer students and just giving them a bit of a nudge to set them on the right path, you know, or however, you know, way I can help.
Alissa:Well, I've been a part of TSOP for three years, and it's just insane to see how much they've grown and how many new students want to get involved or show up to events. You know, participation for the resource fair was incredible this year, especially in comparison to last year. The growth for just that one year is insane. So I'm excited to see what's in the future for them.
Siddhi:Okay. Also, are you all aware about the ice cream flavor for National Transfer Student Week? Do you know what it is?
Kevin:I've heard of the ice cream flavor. I don't know what it tastes like.
Siddhi:Okay. It's it's called the transfer berry truffle, and it's going to be black raspberry ice cream with a black raspberry swirl and raspberry filled chocolate truffles. How how are y'all feeling about that? That sounds like fire.
Connor:I would tear that up.
Kevin:Sounds good to me.
Siddhi:And then lastly, can you wish everyone listening a happy National Transfer Student Week?
Connor:Happy National Transfer Student Week.
Siddhi:That wraps up episode two of the Spartan Transfer Hub. A huge thank you to the members of TSAP here with me for sharing their stories and advice. And to all of our Spartans listening, remember that you belong here, your journey is powerful, and you're paving the way for so many others. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to tune in on the Impact eighty nine FM website, Spotify, or Apple Podcast. Until next time, keep showing up, keep growing, and keep making MCU your home.
Siddhi:Go green.
Connor:Go white.
Siddhi:Thanks for tuning in to the Spartan Transfer Hub brought to you by Impact eighty nine FM and the Transfer Student Success Center. See you next time.