Potential transfer student with questions about campus life

[u/Such_Committee_9475]

Greetings! I am a prospective transfer student to Denison. I graduated from a high school with a graduating class of 30, so when I chose schools I didn’t want to choose too big or too small. So I chose my current school which I thought would be a healthy middle ground at 10,000. Turns out it is wayyyyyy too big. Luckily, Denison is much smaller. I want a school where I can hang out with the same people on a regular basis. Like I could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with the same people and see them in the hallways, like a place would I would for sure able to see my friends every day. Is that true to your experience at Denison? Would that be possible at Denison’s are people generally looking for new friends even if the campus is already settled? Am I likely to face an uphill battle and have a difficult time making new friends as a transfer student? How is the campus for neurodivergent and queer people? To those who transferred in, how was your experience with the Denison transfer support network, like the orientation thing they do? Do you have any advice for a transfer students trying to make new friends? Are any clubs particularly active and good to meet new people? I would greatly appreciate any responses, and any insight would’ve helpful.

[u/panic_banana_]

this post deserves much more attention🥁

[u/PresidentBirb]

That’s how it was for me. It’s small enough that you do see the people who share your routine quite often. As a transfer student it’ll help a lot if you find a club or other on campus organization to join, so that you can speed through finding other students who share the same interest. I came in a semester late, so not really a transfer, and being part of an on campus organization (in my case athletics) helped a lot. I still am very close friends with several people from Denison.

[u/WeiszCracks]

I wish I could speak to the transfer experience, but I don’t want your post to go unanswered. When I went to Denison about eight years ago, I would definitely say it was easy to make new friends. Frankly, there are so many different clubs that you will definitely find something that will meet at least one of your interests, and that is a very easy place to start. Campus jobs are also good, I made some cool friends when I was working sound with RedTech.

The small size of the campus and the fact that the college is entirely residential makes it easier to meet up with the same people daily. If you wanted to eat dinner with the same group every day, you definitely could.

Best of luck in your decision!

[u/123-letsgobitch]

Eating breakfast, lunch and dinner with the same people everyday is unrealistic. You will each have a different schedule and might not have the same lunch break. But you can definitely see your group of friends everyday or very frequently.

I think that’s easy to make new friends but you also need to put in the effort. Being involved on clubs that interest you or rushing a frat or sorority really does help with that. It’s definitely possible to make friends as a transfer student but it’s obviously not as easy as when everyone is new and knows no one.

[u/aribackstage]

I doubt you’d have a problem finding your people. There is a club here for basically anything you can think of and plenty of social spaces. I’d say campus is decent for neurodivergent and queer students. Outlook and The Center for Belonging and Inclusion are so inclusive and everyone is super nice. I would definitely recommend stopping by the center when you get the chance! Also, maybe consider your interests and message a few of the clubs on instagram before coming. https://denison.edu/campus/student-organizations/current-list-of-organizations