Ashanty Ramos, a junior biology student, arrived on campus this spring overwhelmed. It wasn’t an overload of schoolwork that was stressful, but everything that came with being a transfer student.

“I applied very late to this school, as in a month or less than when school started, and I was still in my other school,” said Ramos. “So frankly, I did not give myself time to have any emotions, expectations or such about transferring.”

Ramos’ experience is a familiar one for other transfer students in her position. They often arrive academically prepared but socially and emotionally, they’re trying to catch up. According to university data, approximately 300 students transfer to UNH every year. Hundreds of students arrive on campus already familiar with expectations, but unfamiliar with the campus culture, resources and social networks. For many, navigating campus life feels like starting from scratch—even after years of experience in higher education.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, transfer students account for a growing share of undergraduate enrollment nationwide, with transfer enrollment increasing in recent years as more students are moving between institutions or returning to college after a break. As transfers become more common, students such as Ramos are no longer outliers, but part of a growing demographic.

For Ramos, the transition happened quickly. She applied later in the enrollment process and was left with little time to process moving to a different school. Still, she said her early interactions with faculty and staff gave her confidence.

“I felt generally supported,” said Ramos. “I learned from many resources and any events I was able to attend.”

Her experience at Student Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR) was mostly positive. She said the event helped her meet new people and learn about campus opportunities. Still, she described feeling behind in areas that seemed to come naturally to others.

“I just felt very behind, but not how you would think,” said Ramos. “It felt like everybody knew what was going on, and I was still learning,” said Ramos. “I still am [learning], and it gets very overwhelming trying to catch up and ‘do everything right.’”

Ramos is not the only student who has had feelings of indifference when it comes to a new transition.

Zara Sierra, a forensic psychology major, said her transition has been quieter and somewhat more isolated.

“I don’t really like talking to people; I have only made two friends on campus,” said Sierra.

Making friends as a new face on campus seems to be a challenge that transfer students face with little support. However, Sierra said that her advisors were helpful and helped her adjust her class schedule to make it more manageable for her.

Though everyone’s experience is different, some students face similar situations to those of Nubia Gonzalez, a senior majoring in art and creative technology. She transferred to UNH last spring from California College of the Arts and Sciences and now serves as one of the university’s first transfer student academic peer mentors.

She said her experience with being a spring transfer was not optimal.

“It’s not the best time to transfer is my personal opinion,” said Gonzalez. With the school year in full swing, there are fewer introductory events for new students to participate in. “With the spring semester, there is not much going on, so it is a lot harder to get involved or meet people,” she said.

Gonzalez also said that meeting people was the most difficult part. She met people from her major in breakout groups at the SOAR event but only made one friend who was a commuter.

“That whole semester I really did nothing, I just went to my dorm and to class. It kind of sucked because there was nothing going on,” said Gonzalez.

What SOAR did successfully for Gonzalez was set her up with the knowledge and resources she needed to succeed.

“It basically gave us all the necessities, which is good, not much else,” she said. “But I guess that’s really what I needed.”

For the most part, transitioning to UNH for Gonzalez was a learning process she had to figure out on her own.

Today, SOAR looks a little different, as Gonzalez serves as a mentor for transfer students. Through her time at UNH, she has expressed concerns with the Center for Academic Success and Advising (CASA) through a volunteer position she participated in. Eventually, she was offered the paid position as a mentor.

“I get a list of all the transfers from fall and spring, and then I just do outreach every week,” said Gonzalez.

She sends out a weekly email for transfer students, and students can reach out and ask questions or schedule appointments to have any issues resolved.

“I’ve been able to talk to my supervisors and make suggestions on the transfer process for students, and they took those suggestions,” Gonzalez said. “There’s a lot more ways for students to get help now that there is more of us.”

More support is inevitable as the number of transfer students continues to rise.

“I don’t like a ‘stereotypical’ transfer student would feel,” said Ramos. “I honestly don’t even know what the stereotypes are, but once people know I’m a transfer student, it doesn’t become a sticker on my back or anything. It’s just another fun fact.”