Transferring to Your First City

Much has already been said about what a school like Drexel can provide you with, from academic and professional resources that can set you up for long-term success to clubs and organizations that will connect you to people who share your unique interests. Just as important, however, is the factor of where these experiences are taking place. It is almost impossible to overstate the role that your geographic location plays in the trajectory of your time as a student.

With a significant pool of transfer students coming in each year, you may surprise yourself in who you meet and how similar their background or perspective is to your own.

While I did not attend Drexel myself, I maintain that choosing to attend a city school for my undergraduate studies was one of the best decisions I could have possibly made. Coming from a quieter suburb that ultimately treated me well but left me wanting more in ways I did not yet have the words for, relocating to a new city dramatically expanded my worldview and left me with a new perspective on what I look for in a place to live. Elements of my surroundings, such as spacious urban parks, a do-it-yourself approach to music and art, individual neighborhoods with distinct personality traits, and a widespread feeling of vibrancy could not have been experienced anywhere other than a city. And it was this understanding that informed my recent move to Philadelphia.

Having character and community beyond imagination is one thing, but Philly's thorough walkability and ease of access to the SEPTA network of trains, buses, and trolleys is a near guarantee that anyone who wants to contribute to the culture can do so, no matter where they are coming from and how long they have lived here. With this being said, jumping into a brand new city is never easy or straightforward for anyone, and it is incredibly normal to begin the process feeling overwhelmed, inferior, or even isolated despite all that's going on around you. Transferring to Drexel, you have the advantage of beginning your experience alongside a host of students feeling the exact same things as you, all eager to make sense of this bustling new backdrop and driven to build a community from it. With a significant pool of transfer students coming in each year, you may surprise yourself about the people you meet and how similar their background or perspective is to your own.

If I could only provide one piece of advice to transfer students who have yet to live in a big city, it would be to allow yourself plenty of time to adjust. It can be easy to fall into the trap of calculating how long it has been since your move and comparing your current situation to where you thought you would be at a certain arbitrary time point. If you stay present and focus on getting settled at your own pace and meeting people organically, the city will reward you for it sooner than you realize.