Transfer Talk Tuesdays are a series of personal blogs where current USC transfer students dive deeper into their real-life stories, perspectives, and experiences in transferring to USC. Note that each transfer application is unique and there are no guaranteed paths to transfer. For guidance on how to put together a competitive transfer application, please review our Transferring to USC brochure.
My name is Nyah Gaitan and I am a junior transfer student from Glendale Community College majoring in Business Administration. As a transfer, finding my place at USC was one of my greatest worries.
Spending my first two years at a community college made me concerned about how I would be able to catch up on the two years I would have missed as a freshman and sophomore at USC. Those two years are typically crucial for forming relationships with other students and the school itself. I had already established a group of friends, relationships with professors, and comfort in my community college. Thinking about doing it again as a transfer student only heightened my anxiety. I knew that it would take work and getting out of my comfort zone.
Something really special about USC is that the school and the people that attend USC value the Trojan Family. From the very first moment I stepped onto campus, there was a lot going on. There were so many opportunities to meet new people, along with events made specifically for transfer students. After attending a transfer event myself, I began to realize that I am not alone in this process. There are thousands of other transfer students who are in my exact position, and all were Trojan Family members themselves. It’s hard. Meeting new people and finding my place in this new world was not easy, but there were an infinite amount of opportunities the community provided me.
I am now a part of the Transfer Ambassador Program, the Special Events Committee, Marshall Business Student Government, and am a Marketing intern with USC Athletics. All of the activities I am a part of are related to my personal and professional interests. There is quite literally something for everybody at USC, whether it’s student-led clubs, established organizations, or career opportunities, there are opportunities for growth everywhere. All of which can be found here: https://campusactivities.usc.edu/organizations/
I got involved not only to meet new people, but to also develop my passions in my major. For every academic school/college within USC, there are events being held for professional development; such as resume reviews and networking events with experienced industry professionals. It is extremely motivating and rewarding to be around other passionate students when given the opportunity. Apart from the vast variety of educational resources, USC has fun events going on every day. To take a look at some of the many events that go on around campus, take a look at the USC calendar: https://calendar.usc.edu/. From gamedays at the Coliseum and Galen Center to concerts in McCarthy Quad, there is never a dull moment at USC.
I will not lie, the first few weeks at USC were challenging. It was difficult imagining that I would find a place in a school that was four times larger than my local community college. Your years at a university are a time for growth and development socially, professionally, and personally. Challenges are inevitable, but taking on the opportunities USC provides makes that struggle worth it.
Written by Nyah Gaitan, (she/her/hers), 3rd year at USC studying Business Administration.
