You're listening to the Spartan Transfer Hub brought to you by MSU Transfer Student Success Center
Siddhi:and Impact eighty nine FM. Here's what we've got for you today. Welcome to season two of the Spartan Transfer Hub podcast. Brought to you by Impact eighty nine FM and the MSU Transfer Student Success Center. We are back for another season all about the transfer student experience here at Michigan State.
Siddhi:If you're new, this podcast is where we share stories, answer your questions, and talk about all things related to MSU transfer students. I'm your new host, Siddi Chaveh, and I identify with she, her pronouns. I'm a senior majoring in journalism and communication with minors in broadcast journalism, public relations, and business. I am so excited to kick off this new season with you. And today, I'm not alone.
Siddhi:I've got some amazing guests here from the Transfer Student Success Center with me. Would you all like to introduce yourselves?
Ashley:Hello, Transfer Nation. This is Ashley Hewlett Lemke. I use the she series of pronouns, and I'm the program coordinator for the Transfer Student Success Center.
Mariam:Hi, everyone. My name is Mariam Turkie. I use she, her pronouns. I'm currently pursuing a master's in public health at Michigan State University. I also serve as the program coordinator for Temple.
Charles:Hello, everyone. My name is Doctor. Charles Jackson. I use he and his pronouns, and I am the director of the Transfer Student Success Center and former transfer student to MSU.
Siddhi:Okay. Awesome. And are you guys having a great day today?
Charles:Yes. It's going. Okay. Enjoying. Yeah.
Siddhi:So thank you all for sharing. Today, we're talking about some of the most common questions that transfer students have asked. And since you've been and are transfer students yourselves, I thought this would be a really great conversation to have. And just to kick things off, I'm gonna go ahead and ask a question that I'm personally really curious about, and that is what would you say surprised you the most after transferring to MSU?
Charles:I would say how big the institution was, even back in the '90s when I transferred here. Didn't anticipate so many students being in one class, and just how huge the campus was, and trying to navigate to one class to another, going from one end to campus to another. Just didn't realize how big the university was.
Ashley:I'll second that. I actually transferred from Washtenaw Community College, I was a January transfer. So I started in January in Michigan, as you all know. But my first day on campus, like the so, yeah, the size, but also just the number of students that first day of class, it happened to be a really nice day in January. But there were just so many like thousands upon thousands of students walking around going to class.
Ashley:That was super eye opening for me.
Mariam:I would have to agree with you both. I transferred during COVID, so it was a bit of a different experience for me. There weren't that many students around. However, just using like my Google Maps and trying to get from point A to B would be so crazy. Sometimes I would try to walk somewhere and find out it was like an hour and a half walk.
Mariam:And I'm like, wait, like, is this still on campus? So, yeah, that was a huge shock to me, just how big campus is overall.
Siddhi:I agree too. Campuses, Diogen, I think the class size only increases every year. And just speaking of that, I think one of the biggest questions that we get is about finding your people here. And so a big popular question that we have is how do you think transfer students can build community and make friends in this big campus, especially when it feels like other students already have their groups?
Charles:Well, I think first and foremost, you should start by getting connected to the Transfer Student Success Center, and then we can connect you to other transfer students as well. But yes, building community and making friends, it can be difficult for for transfer students, especially since students already have their groups of of friends. But I would say first, you know, connect with the Transfer Student Success Center and just learn a little bit about us and how we connect transfer students to resources and services as well as other transfer students. But then, you know, just be willing to, you know, connect with other students even in the classroom or if you're walking across campus as well.
Mariam:Mhmm. Yeah. I would have to agree. I think during my transfer experience, a big thing that I kinda had to remind myself is to be brave and put myself out there. It was it's literally never happened to me in an instance where I kind of put myself out there and start the conversation with someone, maybe exchange social media.
Mariam:They're like, no, like I have enough friends. Like you can never have enough friends. And so I would just connect with people in my classes, different people in clubs, and then my circle just got bigger and bigger and bigger.
Ashley:I love that. Just don't be shy. Yeah. Big takeaway there. I also wanna suck at what Doctor.
Ashley:Jackson said. I think that finding community within MSU with other transfer students with having those shared experiences is super important. So I'm almost thinking of like, there's kind of different realms of friendships that you can build. So we have the resources and the weekly gathering spaces, the events that Transfer Student Success Center offers. That's kind of a, I think a good starting point to meet other transfer students who have a lot of those same shared experiences as our new transfer students and incoming transfer students.
Ashley:I do also wanna add, I think it's important to also explore things of interest, and I think that's where registered student organizations, student clubs, intramural sports, there's over a thousand active, like meeting, they're on the books, they are holding meetings, they're having events, like all the things. Like there are so many different registered student organizations and student clubs really about any sort of topic under the sun. So you're looking for certain sports that you like to do or games, literally like board games, there's groups related to getting together and playing board games and doing stuff like that. So it's really, think about what you like to do, and then MSU more likely than not has an opportunity for you to engage with other people with that same interest. And the other fun fact is that if you find that there is not a club or if it's not active, you can actually start one.
Ashley:I think that's maybe a, not really a secret, but something that not a lot of students realize is that, like, you can actually start a club. There's a process that you have to go through, but you can start start your own club about really anything.
Siddhi:Yeah. And speaking of finding community, let's talk about temple meetings. We had our community dinner not too long ago. What are the meetings and what are they all about?
Mariam:I would say it's about just building a sense of community. You're surrounded by people who share at least one thing in common with you, and that's being a transfer student. You're able to interact with mentors. You're able to interact with mentees. You're just able to interact with a lot of different people that have a lot of different experiences.
Mariam:You can meet someone that just started at MSU. This is their, what, sixth week they're going into. You can also meet someone that may be graduating in the spring. And I think that's the beauty of tempo. You can kind of meet people from all different backgrounds and connect with them and see what insights they can offer you.
Charles:And just to expand on that as well, you also get a chance to meet other campus leaders, campus partners, and learn about the resources and services that they have within their area. So not only are you able to build community amongst transfer students who you may share similar identities or maybe there are some differences, but then you also get an opportunity to meet with campus leaders and just learn about how they support all of our MSU students and the resources that they have as well.
Siddhi:That's awesome. And I think it's such a big opportunity that transfer students might miss out on. So thank you both for explaining that. And I think that leads perfectly into another common question that we hear. What events or clubs do you think are best for transfer students who want to get involved?
Charles:Let's say one event would be National Transfer Student Week, which happens every year in October, the third week in October. This year, it's from October 20 through the twenty fourth. We have the Transfer Student Success Center has a ton of events and activities, slated for that week for all transfer students to get engaged, meet other transfer students, again, learn about resources and services on campus, and just really build that sense of community. And it allows us to really recognize the importance of transfer students. So I would say, National Transfer Student Week, every year, the month of October, and this year, starting October 20.
Ashley:I think the Transfer Student Advisory Board is another excellent way to get involved. So this is an opportunity to get involved and share your experience as a transfer student, both on campus and off campus. We have opportunities to table at various events. Lansing Community College, for example, during National Transfer Student Week, as a matter of fact, to share your experiences for students who are thinking about coming to Michigan State. We also have opportunities for transfer student advisory board members to build community within the group.
Ashley:So we've done bowling, we've done game nights, we've done a variety of different activities just to kind of hang out. So, know, transfer student advisory board, the goal is to get student input on the transfer experience at MSU, but it's also in and of itself a community of transfer students.
Siddhi:I know that a lot of people are introverted or like might not just come up right away and just start talking. What advice would you have for someone that's introverted or too shy to speak in the start, especially being in a new environment?
Ashley:Probably just recognizing that the way that you feel is the same way other students feel. Like, we've been in this space before where we're all new to new to something. We may not know a whole lot of people or anyone for that matter. We have a we have a lot of transfer students who come from out of state. They may or may not have any kind of prior connections or family members or friends in the area.
Ashley:And I think it's, you know, take a chance on yourself and just maybe trust the process. I think. There was an expression that kinda came up over the summer in season one of the podcast, the Swallow the Frog. But so it's this idea. So go back to I can't remember what episode it was in season one, but it was actually the tempo episode now that now that we're talking about it.
Ashley:But the the idea of swallow the frog is well, first of all, we don't mean it literally. Don't please please don't go out to the Red Soapy River and find a amphibian friend to consume. That's not what we're saying. It's more of an expression of sometimes you just have to kind of get over that initial difficult part, and then it gets easier. So I think that that's a key piece, kind of coming back to some other things we talked about, about just, you know, don't be shy.
Ashley:It's much easier to just stay home and, you know, scroll on social media or whatever, but time and time again, I think the best advice that I'm kind of summarizing that I've gotten from other transfer students, both advisory board members, tempo mentors, and the like, is just go, like go to the things when you get that invitation, go. Like, even if, you know, if you're, if you're sick, that's one thing. Stay home and rest. So like that is very important. But if it's, like, you know, I would otherwise not be doing anything productive right now.
Ashley:Like, just go. Like generally there's snacks and food there too. So you can at least get a little something to eat. Maybe whatever that expression is, comfort the food and stay for the conversation, I guess.
Mariam:I have to agree, Ashley. I think one question I like to ask myself is like, what's the worst that can happen? There's so many students on campus and I feel like everyone is literally in their own bubble. So if you strike a conversation with someone, like, it might become a bigger conversation and you might be talking for like an hour or it might be like a quick, like, you know, one, two conversation and then you keep pushing and they keep pushing and then you just find someone else to strike a conversation with. On a lighter note,
Siddhi:I know that a lot of students are curious about this. What is one hidden gem on campus? So whether that be a study spot or some place to hang out or a resource that you think transfer students should know about.
Charles:Man, we just have so many hidden gems, though. And I don't know if they're necessarily hidden gems. The Multicultural Center, is an excellent space. It's one of the the new spaces, here on campus. They have a lot of study rooms, also other areas that kinda help students, like, build community and and feel connected.
Charles:I would also say the MSU Union. I know the MSU Union, it's an older building, but it still gives that feel of community and still has different study spaces, as well as campus partner offices too, if you need, like, resources and services. So, those are two that come to mind, the Multicultural Center, which is our new building here on campus, and also the MSU Union as well.
Siddhi:Those are great. I love going there too.
Mariam:I almost don't wanna give mine up.
Ashley:I was waiting for that.
Mariam:Because now if I'm not gonna find any seats, will I but I'll I'll do
Siddhi:it just for you guys.
Mariam:Brody cafeteria. And I'm not talking about, like, going upstairs and sitting in the caf. I'm talking about the study rooms that are downstairs. I will go in there, and I kid you not, I've been there until, like, 2AM. Just, like, doing homework, doing different things.
Mariam:They have, I think, two quiet spaces as well, but I don't know what it is. As soon as I walk into that room, like, I'm locked in on whatever it is that I'm working on. And it's convenient. The cafeteria's upstairs if you wanna go get food. There's a Spardi's, like make sure to get all your snacks before they close.
Mariam:But that's definitely one of my favorites. It's a huge place. There's like different couches and study areas that you can sit in. I think there's a fireplace too. I don't ever remember seeing it lit, but there is a fireplace.
Mariam:It's in the grotto. Yeah.
Ashley:So the grotto is a space on the First Floor of Brody, but yeah, it's kinda like this. You kinda like walk or roll down into it, and it's like this big lounge area, but yeah, there's definitely, I think that the fireplace at one point was under repairs, but yes, I believe there is one there.
Mariam:Yeah. It's perfect. And it's so cozy, especially when it gets colder. But yeah, that is my favorite spot. Please don't everyone go there at lunch.
Ashley:Just did That's fair. I was thinking about this answer. Like maybe this is also seasonal. Like, you know, if you're here at the beginning of fall semester and spring semester, there's so many beautiful, this campus is huge. I think we've said that, but if we haven't said it once, we'll say it again.
Ashley:This campus is huge. There's lots of places outdoors that you can, you know, sit down and have a picnic, do your homework, things like that. You might have a squirrel come visit you who wants to eat your food. So I think, you know, weather dependent outdoors, there's lots of space outdoors. In the last few years, they've actually live on, I believe, put in, they're like these wooden poles that you can put, like if you have a hammock, you can connect your hammock.
Ashley:So you see people out there like snoozing in the sunshine. Like it's super cool. I think indoors, yeah, it's like how much, secret intel do I give about like, like, you know, indoor spaces, but really the point I wanna make with that is that even if there are buildings on campus you don't have classes in, go in, I'm like, go check them out. You know, like they're, you know, past the hours of 6PM, like you do need to have your MSU ID to enter any building, any, I should say like classroom or like public shared building on campus. But like other than that, like go check it out.
Ashley:Like there are just so many buildings on campus. And I think there are hidden gems within each building that you just wouldn't really discover without just, you know, go inside and poke around, you know, be a little nosy. Like I don't think anybody's gonna, you know, I think the professional staff in the buildings, they're like, Hey, you know, can I help you? And just say like, you know, I've never been in this building and I'd like to just kind of see what's in here. I'm a new student, you know?
Ashley:And I think that that's another kind of coming back to Miriam's point. I think, I think that's another connecting point. Like you might make discoveries that you wouldn't have stumbled across otherwise. Another way I want to answer that is, you know, your friends over here in the Transfer Student Success Center. We have the ability to, with student input, I think this, again, like our work is to gain insights from students, and we're actually sitting in a shared conference space in our office, building, and we have the ability to reserve it if students would like to utilize it for short periods of time, things like that.
Ashley:The other ability we have is if we find a lot of students are interested in having a booked space, so that's something that we are we can help facilitate those types of reservations as well. So we've done that for study nights in the library during the middle of the semester when students have exams and projects. We also do it at the end of the semester as well. So that's an opportunity that, you know, we book the space ahead of time. Again, we usually have snacks, we have highlighters and kind of study supplies, things like that.
Ashley:But it's an opportunity to, again, quietly engage with other transfer students in a space that's already been reserved ahead of time for your use. We don't leave anybody out, the intention is that it's for transfer students. Also recognizing a lot of our transfer students live off campus and they, you know, just having kind of a central location to go to. So, check your email information coming out about that during the middle and end of the semester.
Charles:I would lastly say to the MSU library. I mean, the library was a place where, man, I was posted up all the time, especially when I was completing my dissertation. I know that there's some new renovations in the library, and they also have a Starbucks as well. So, I would encourage all of our transfer students to check out the MSU library as well as a place go study, hang out and gain resources.
Siddhi:And the library is open, I think all like 20?
Ashley:Yes, there are certainly timeframes during the semesters when it is open 20.
Siddhi:And that's really convenient for, especially for transfer students or students that live off campus. Because another question that we got was how do students that live off campus kind of build that sense of community? And I think there are spaces that they're just not aware about. So I think this is yeah. The library is obviously such a great place to start.
Siddhi:And to switch gears a little bit, what advice would you give transfer students about handling credits, research opportunities, or internships at MSU?
Charles:I would suggest keeping in contact with your academic advisor or an advisor here at MSU. They would be in the best position to answer any questions about credits that have transferred to MSU. They'd also be able to direct you, to research opportunities, also internships. And I will also encourage students when it comes to internships to check out our career services network folks in that that office. They have a ton of information that they can share regarding, internships and and career paths.
Charles:So, yes, your academic advisers, on just handling of credits, research opportunities. And again, shameless plug, the Transfer Student Success Center as well because we actually collaborate with campus partners, who manage and oversee research opportunities and also folks within our career services network as well. We partner with them.
Mariam:I would say Handshake. That's something that I kinda found out late about, but Handshake is a great resource. You can go on there and apply to different internships, different part time jobs on campus. And there is there are so so many. And I think it people keep it pretty updated.
Mariam:Like, if you kinda sort it from, the newest jobs, sometimes I'm on there and it says like something was uploaded like sixty minutes ago. So it's pretty updated. I think outside of that is just reach out to people. Send emails and emails and emails. Ask them questions.
Mariam:If you're interested in interning with like a specific department or a specific college, ask them how you can get involved. If you reach out to someone that can't help you, ask them to direct you to someone that can help you. I think people are pretty good at either being able to answer your question or, well, I've copied so and so on this email. They can provide more insights. So I think those two are my main points.
Ashley:And I think in the vein of information gathering, shameless plug, the Spartan Transfer Hub. We had a series in season one related to what are called high impact experiences or high impact practices, but within kind of the realm of types of high impact practices are things like internships or research opportunities. I would go check out that series. Study Abroad and Study Away is also a part of that. I think that that's at least a good starting point to get some information.
Ashley:Those were conversations. It's anywhere from maybe like a twenty to a forty minute recording that shares important information from our colleagues in those respective areas. And then I look at that as maybe a springboard to generate what are the types of questions now, like now that I know a little bit more about it, what kinds of questions do I still have? What are online resources related to those that I could check out, like everything that has been mentioned? And then again, I think making the connections, you know, go into the office like, Hi, I'm so and so.
Ashley:I'm interested in X, Y, Z, and just talking to people. Everybody here on campus, we're here to help you. So don't ever forget that.
Siddhi:Yeah. And I think it's wonderful you say that because speaking of that network, you can start it right here at the Transfer Student Success Center and it can start maybe even at the weekly meetings with Tempo. So I think it's always great to just come up and, like, tell us what you're interested in because we can definitely help you get connected to people that can help you further. And to close things out, if you could give one piece of advice to a new transfer student just starting out, what would it be?
Charles:I would say just stick with it. Don't give up. I know that this is a new institution for for all of you. I know some students have attended multiple institutions before coming to MSU. I know that that was my lived experience before transferring to MSU.
Charles:And just because you've come from either one institution or multiple institutions, and when you get here, don't feel as if you can't succeed academically. Don't feel as if you can't build community here because there's a ton of individuals here, support staff, full time staff, faculty, other students who are here to help you, because some of them have been in similar situations as you. So I would just say stick with it. Don't give up. Don't feel overwhelmed because of the size of the institution, or you feel like you can't build community because of the size of the institution, because there are people here who are equally invested in your success as well.
Mariam:I would say connect with us, connect with TSSC. Email us, come to the weekly gatherings during STEM, 06:30 to 08:30. Come to our community dinners and just connect with us. Reach out. Give us feedback.
Mariam:Let us know how we can best support you. That's what we're here to do. Let us know what you'd like to see at the weekly gatherings. Is there a specific community partner, a campus partner that you would like to attend, a resource that you'd like to be connected to? Yeah, connect with us.
Mariam:We're here to help.
Ashley:Yeah, I'll just second everything that's been said. Go to the things, talk to people, let us know. We're here to help you.
Charles:I want to say one other advice to students as well. I know you're going to get asked to participate in surveys and focus groups. Please take those surveys and participate in focus groups because we really need insights from you on ways to best improve the transfer student experience here at MSU. And in order for us to provide you the essentials that you need to thrive here at MSU, we need that feedback from all of our transfer students.
Ashley:And fun fact, we do read those surveys.
Charles:Yes, we do.
Siddhi:We do. A lot of these questions are from one of those surveys. Exactly. Thanks. Does anyone have anything else
Mariam:that they'd like to add?
Siddhi:So that wraps up episode one of season two of the Spartan Transfer Hub. Huge thanks to the TSSE team for sharing their experiences and advice, and thanks to you for tuning in. Remember, being a transfer student is about finding your people, exploring campus, and making MSU your home. I hope season two helps you feel more connected and supported as a transfer student here at State. Until next time.
Siddhi:Keep showing up, getting involved, and finding your place. Make sure to tune in on the Impact eighty nine website, Spotify, or Apple podcasts, and we'll see you soon. Go green.
Charles:Go white.
Siddhi:Bye. 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.