<p>As a transfer student who just finished up his first year at Vanderbilt, I was definitley concerned with this issue. I had heard the rumors, seen that other CC post, etc. and I was nervous I was only going to be friends with transfers and not branch outside. Yes, there are a few self-concious jerks that will think of you differently because you are a transfer student and you got in the ‘back way’. But my experience is that those jerks represent maybe 5% of the student population. The other 95% of students don’t even care if you’re a transfer. I will be the first to admit that there are certainly some transfer students I have met who would have NEVER in a million years gotten into vanderbilt as a freshman due to high school grades/scores, but again that is such a small amount of individuals who are accepted as transfers. Most transfers students are very intellegent, went to great schools, and never even considered vanderbilt when they were applying to colleges the first time around. I know from personal experience that I would have had a great chance at Vanderbilt if I applied as a freshman with my grades/scores, but I had zero interest in Vanderbilt at all and thought I would be better off at a different school. I realized quickly that a school like vanderbilt was in fact perfect for me and that’s why I transfered. </p>
<p>I think a great analogy is comparing transfer/regular admitted students to freshman who apply ED vs Regular decision. (Or even comparing a transfer to a waitlist student). If we are looking at acceptances rates alone it is easier to get in as a freshman if you apply ED nearly anywhere. After about a month of being here, no one will care if you applied early, were waitlisted, came in as a transfer, etc. At the end of the day you are getting your diploma from Vanderbilt. Yes, I have occasinally gotten jokes from friends about being a transfer student, but they are friends and they could really care less. A lot of my transfer friends do just as well and often better than regular admitted students. In fact many of my transfer friends had no problem making dean’s list. </p>
<p>I think that the only issue that comes with being a transfer student is not being ‘discriminated’ against, but moving on from the transfer bubble. Many transfer friends of mine went greek, joined clubs, played an intermural sport, etc. to get themselves integrated in the vandy community. Living in Kissam (which ya’ll won’t have to do) made it super easy for transfers to band together with each other and only hang out with themselves. There is nothing wrong with having only transfer friends, but I know from personally experience that when I made a solid group of friends who were not transfer students half way through my first semester I finally felt like I was finally a Vanderbilt student, and not a Vanderbilt transfer student. From personal experience, I think going greek was the easiest and best way to meet a large group of friends fast. But there are plenty of other ways to move outside the transfer bubble fast as well. Even meeting people in class is super easy. </p>
<p>Sorry this is a long rant, but I understand where your fears are coming from, but just know not to worry. Yes, it is inevitable that your first few weeks might be spent only hanging out with transfers, and perhaps feeling like people look down on you because you are a transfer. That phase will end very quickly. My friends constantly forget I’m a transfer and do not give two ****s that I am. I guess the best piece of advice I can offer that will help you completley get rid of this fear is to just do your best to integrate yourself in the vanderbilt community, and not only the transfer community. Transfers are awesome and some of my best friends at vanderbilt I met during transfer orientation. But it was always great to meet hundreds and hundreds of other students outside of the transfer bubble.</p>
<p>Best of luck and see you at orientation!</p>