Each college and university is different and some transfer students may experience what’s known as ‘transfer shock’ while adjusting to their new school environment. Some transfer students may not perform as well academically as they did at their previous institution during their first year at MU, but don't let this discourage you. There are many ways to deal with this problem and many resources already in place at Mizzou to help transfer students ease the transition. During this period of adjustment, most students gain valuable information about services and how to meet the demanding expectations of the new institution. As a result, many transfer students eventually perform as well, if not better, than they did before transferring.

Mizzou will be different than your previous institution
In fact, all universities and colleges are different. If you’re coming from a community college, you may notice significant differences such as larger class sizes in some courses and less individual attention from your professor. Attendance usually isn’t taken and you may need to find different ways to motivate yourself to attend class. Most university courses have fewer assignments that are worth more and you may find that you need to adjust your study habits and spend more time devoted to studying each subject.

So what do you need to do? First, go to class! And leave yourself lots of time to prepare for tests and assignments. The responsibility is on you to attend class and complete your work on time and as assigned. Professors expect students to be self-motivated and independent so effective time management is critical. You should also seek out your professors and get to know them. Our instructors are interested in your progress, but they will expect you to take the initiative and seek them out.

Arrange a visit to campus
Don’t wait until your first day of classes to figure out where everything is. Mizzou offers transfer students lots of opportunities to get to know the campus. Transfer Day is a program through the Admissions office that provides you an opportunity to see the campus, meet academic advisors and connect with other transfer students. You can also arrange to take a tour at other times. You can check out our online campus map, as well.

After you’ve been accepted to Mizzou, you’ll also be invited to attend the University’s orientation, advisement, and registration program (called Summer Welcome if you begin at MU in the fall semester; called Winter Welcome if you begin MU in the winter semester). Summer Welcome and Winter Welcome provide all new students, including transfer students, with detailed orientation, a meeting with an academic advisor to arrange your class schedule, and information about resources across campus, including Financial Aid, the Cashier's Office, University housing, and other important details regarding your transition to MU.

Ask for advice from the beginning
Academic advisors are here for a good reason and are a great resource for transfer students. They can help you understand what credits you need, help you select courses and balance your course load. Students are assigned an academic advisor once they are admitted to the University, and also have the opportunity to meet with an advisor during Summer or Winter Welcome.

Get involved
Mizzou has over 400 student organizations and this is a great way to get to know other students. It’s a good idea to get involved in at least one extracurricular activity. Most degree programs have a student association, which would allow you to get to know other students in your program.

You may also want to consider getting involved with a TRIG (Transfer Interest Groups) proseminar, which is composed of transfer students with similar interests.

Students who decide to live on campus also have the option of getting involved in a Sponsored Learning Community, which gives students the opportunity to learn more about a specific academic area or other common interests by housing a group of students with similar goals and interests together.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Mizzou has lots of resources for students to draw on if they need assistance. Our Student Success Center can help you achieve your academic, personal, and professional goals by helping you develop learning strategies, make informed choices about academic programs and help with academic transitions. The center offers tutoring, review sessions, career counseling and many other services.