The Opinions of the Hullabaloo – Lonely Transfers

Though we complain about Tulane a lot, approximately 125 students liked it enough to transfer here from their old universities.

They transfer here for the city, the vibe, the education and the social scene. But students know going into the process that transferring, like applying to many other schools, can be hellish.

Students already know when they decide to enroll which courses will transfer. They already know that their freshman English credit won’t transfer because it was a three-hour course, instead of Tulane’s required four-hour course. They realize their business classes won’t transfer because the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business didn’t accredit their old school. They know that their nutrition classes won’t transfer because Tulane doesn’t offer nutrition classes, and those nights studying Vitamin C have gone to waste. Plus, these newcomers sometimes come to Tulane because of social problems they experienced at their previous school. No matter how Tulane tries to ease the process, it’s inevitable that transferring will be frustrating. Transfer students arrive at Tulane so bewildered and stressed out that finding friends becomes doubly challenging.

So, maybe we should make the process a little less stressful for these new students, right?

But instead, we throw them into the city of New Orleans. All sophomores are required to live on campus, but transfer students — including sophomores — are not guaranteed on-campus housing. This year, transfer students ended up scattered around the area.

New students, many of whom transferred to Tulane because of social issues they experienced at their previous schools, are put in the awkward situation of making friends without living in the same quarters as their peers. Unlike in dorms, your neighbor is not guaranteed to be a fellow 17- to 23-year old college student. You can end up living next to a 44-year old creeper, a cranky cat lady or a family of five — not the best people to hang out with on a Friday night.

Plus, they’re left finding housing in and navigating a new city, which just happens to be one of the most dangerous metro areas in the world. There’s no McAlister Market safely across the street or PJ’s open right down the block, comforts that every other sophomore on campus enjoys.

It’s understandable that Tulane can’t accept some courses. And it’s great that transfer students can participate in events like cooking classes in the French Quarter and pizza parties at the beginning of the year to meet other transfer students. It completely blows, however, that sophomore transfer students aren’t guaranteed on-campus housing. Being the new kid when everyone already knows one another is already scary and frustrating. Unleashing them into New Orleans doesn’t make the move any easier.