By Chloe Dyer
On a typical Monday night, the common room on third floor of Kennebec Hall at the University of Maine is busy with students comparing homework answers, lounging out on couches, playing music and chatting. Third floor, along with fourth floor, comprise the transfer student living community at the university. This provides opportunities for students to bond those who are in a similar situation.
David Vitali, a fourth-year student who transferred, is in his second year as a Resident Assistant (RA) for the fourth floor.
“Being a transfer student is kind of like being an upperclassman but also being a freshman,” Vitali said. “Being on a floor with other students going through the same gives a shared experience and is helpful to students.”
Vitali, who is from Freeport, Maine, transferred from the University of New Hampshire. Some of the RA programs he runs for transfer students each year include the ice cream social at the start of the fall semester and the brick painting social, which allows students to decorate doorstops and encourages people to leave their doors open and allow for more social interaction.
“Personally as a transfer student I didn’t want to be made to feel different than anyone else, and I try to take that into consideration,” Vital said.
As a first-semester transfer student, he made the decision to apply for RA of Kennebec while a resident there himself.
“As a transfer student I felt that I could help other transfer students in Kennebec,” he said.
Connor Terison, a new transfer student who is a second-year business management student from Cumberland, Maine, says he transferred from Husson University because he didn’t like the feel of a small school. Terison has only good things to say about UMaine, as he noted that people are welcoming, he has had no problems meeting anyone and that he hasn’t been bored with his experience.
“I felt like for me, it was pretty easy. I knew people already coming in,” Terison said of the transfer adjustment.
Terison also joined intramural football, and has been trying to keep busy.
For some students, the adjustment may be tougher than others, depending on how late into college a transfer occurs. Sasha McLean, a fourth-year chemical engineering student, just made the transfer from UNH last semester, but says she now feels much more comfortable at the school. She said one good thing about UMaine is that classes are smaller than at UNH.
“I’m from Maine, so I knew a lot of people already,” McLean, who is from Chebeague Island, Maine said. “My engineering classes were really small so I was able to find people to study with.”
For many in-state students, the reason to transfer is finances, which was the case for both McLean and Vitali. McLean added she also switched for UMaine’s renowned engineering program.
“Everyone has been pretty friendly,“ McLean said. “At UNH everyone was really materialistic. I feel like it is a bit different at UMaine. People don’t judge you as much for what you wear.”
McLean also added that she felt the hockey team was better than at UNH. She says that coming back this semester has been much easier.
“I have been able to meet so many more people here and run into people on campus. At UNH it was harder to see a familiar face,” McLean said. “I know now that it was definitely the right decision to transfer here.”
Brianna Russo, an early childhood education student from Hampden, Maine, also just transferred from the University of Maine at Farmington for her second year of college.
“My roommate and I decided to transfer because we would be closer to our hometown. We didn’t feel at home in Farmington,” Russo said.
“I really like UMaine’s atmosphere overall. I feel the school spirit more so than UMF,” Russo said. “I like that there is a lot more going on on campus. The atmosphere is a lot busier in a good way.”