The Transfer Waltz of New Paltz

One of the biggest and more complicated steps in someone’s life is graduating from community college and moving on to a four-year campus. The last thing they want to do is be dancing around the process without every knowing what step to take next.

The main conflict I found with transferring is housing. You are told that you could get housing and they will contact you in the summer to let you know. That “could” should be better explained. Housing is guaranteed to all first year students, understandably, but there really is not enough to go around. Transfers are the last of the many to even get considered for housing. Sure, you could get housing, but you would probably have better luck winning money at a blackjack table in Vegas.

Money is another issue with this housing situation. They take your $100 housing deposit to be placed on the “university housing Wait List”. One thing, if you don’t get housing you can say good-bye to a wasted $100. When money is a big concern with college students you wonder why their policy is in such a way. Sure, it is convenient for the college. All I know is I never saw my $100 again and I received absolutely no benefit from that investment. Possibly, the most wasted $100 I ever spent, but I am sure that could be debated.

Luckily, my parents and I were upfront with one of the people associated with SUNY New Paltz that had knowledge about housing. My mother asked, “Honestly, does he have any chance at getting housing on campus.” Thankfully, the woman responded honestly by saying there was slim chance I would ever see dorm life. I am confident that every transfer did not know this little fact.

My hopes are that they just tell transfer students, “No, you most likely will not get housing, so you better start looking off-campus A.S.A.P.” With the advice I had received, I began the hunt for off-campus housing earlier than most. In the end I am happy, because I found a great house with great housemates. My concern is, what about all those transfers that had to scramble at the last minute?

Housing was only one of the hurdles, because scheduling classes was a bomb waiting to explode.
In front of me was a massive list of course tittles and abbreviations that looked like a foreign language. From the overbearing list of choices I was to pick what classes I would take. All I knew about the classes was the title. No description and no elaboration on what the class entails.

I was used to Hudson Valley Community College where you met with your advisor and discussed exactly what courses would be right for you, but this was not the case at SUNY New Paltz for transfers. You would think there would be more guidance and direction for students entering a new college. Sure, there were Faculty members to help you, but they could only do so much. At the time there were no professors of Journalism even present during my session.

After I organized my class schedule the best to my ability I turned it in. Then I found out some courses were closed out. This was just another downer to a long and strenuous day. Later I did get help from a professor, so I think them for that.

Why do transfers get treated like they are less than the average student? I paid my bill, so treat me how you would treat any other student.

I realize there has to be some seniority treatments for non-transfers, such as getting to choose classes and housing. Still, why do transfers get treated like they almost don't exist? The whole orientation process for transfers really wasn't that complete. You have some student walk me around the campus once and I am good, right, no. I wish I know how hard it was to find some of my classes beforehand, or knew how snake your way around buildings to find classes. Even if the meal plans and options were better explained, because you don’t want to see me try to cook.

Still, I am happy to be attending SUNY New Paltz, but I just wish the process were better for transfers. The last thing you need when you are transferring is more stress and that is what many transfers received.