Transfer students honored for role within NYU community

Steinhardt junior Megan Taylor said she felt lost last August. Taylor had just transferred from Wheaton College in Massachusetts to NYU because she was looking for a bigger school where she could explore more with her studies and extracurricular activities.

“People underestimate how hard it is to transfer to a new school, NYU in particular,” Taylor said. “It is easy to get lost in the shuffle of everything.”

Taylor was among the 300 transfer students who gathered in Kimmel Center for University Life to celebrate the Transfer Recognition Day last Thursday. Together, they recognized the contribution of new and returning transfer students to the NYU community. The Transfer & Transitioning Student Association, a new student group administered by the Student Resource Center, also gave out the Top Transfer Awards.

CAS senior Emily Souka, who transferred from Hamilton College, was one of the award winners.

“Most NYU students, once they’re out of their freshman year, don’t realize there are still many new students coming into the school,” Souka said. “About 700 students transfer here every fall, along with 200 more every spring. All too often, they are overlooked.”

Supreet Dhillon, a Silver junior who transferred from NYU Dental Hygiene, was also given an award for starting a student volunteer group, #SandyRelief, that helped residents of Staten Island who were hit by the storm.

“I feel like a lot of schools don’t have programs like this, and I’ve met a lot of my friends through it,” Dhillon said.

Bart Grachan, the Director of the Community College Transfer Opportunity Program at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, said transfer students are an important and under-served population on the national level.

“It’s critical that four-year institutions play a role in creating transfer access, supporting students and recognizing their abilities and contributions,” Grachan said.

Renee Levy, a Steinhardt junior who transferred from Boston University, also attended the event last week. Levy said that she has enjoyed studying at NYU so far.

“At first I was very intimidated by NYU and its reputation,” Levy said. “But now I’m taking classes where I’m studying what I want to study, and I feel like I fit in.”

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Dec. 3 print edition. Pia Brar is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.