19 / 68
19
Students are encouraged to consult with the Student Accessibility staff as early as possible,
preferably prior to the first day of classes. Current documentation of a specific disability from
a licensed professional is needed. Further details on policies and procedures can be found at
clemson.edu/studentaccess .THE TRANSFER STUDENT EXPERIENCE
As the parent of a new transfer student, you may have concerns about how your student will make
the transition from their previous school to Clemson. Many parents are as excited as their student
about the opportunity to enroll as a new transfer student and what that means for their son or
daughter as they continue their undergraduate education at Clemson. Parents should also know
there are unique situations many new transfer students face as they begin their first semester.
Transfer students may find they are learning a new campus again: where the academic buildings
are; where the closest dining hall is located; where they should park and what the parking rules
are on campus. We find that our
transfer students tend to apply
navigational skills they learned from
their previous institution to their
new institution. This can sometimes
bring added stress, as the new campus
has an entirely different culture and
process. Additionally, transfer students
are learning to navigate their new
environment through communication
and information received. Clemson may have some systems in place similar to other institutions,
but some things are very Clemson-specific. New transfer students often tell us they feel a little
disoriented until they learn the routines for such services as the CAT Bus system and how to find
the campus recreation schedule for fitness classes or intramurals. The feeling is usually short-lived,
as new transfer students will find the campus to be a welcoming place where people are friendly
and willing to meet other students.
Transfer students will also make new friends and expand their social connections at Clemson.
Most new transfer students report they meet new friends in their classes by introducing themselves,
joining a study group for a class or working together on a group project assignment.
Naturally, students will also find they can join as many clubs and groups as they would like by
searching the TigerQuest system for organizations on campus. Clemson has more than 400
recognized student organizations, and current students can simply use the search feature on
TigerQuest to find clubs and groups they are interested in joining or learning more about. New
transfer students may also experience a change in academic expectations and rigor when they
enroll at Clemson. As a top-25 public tier one research institution, Clemson is both academically
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
We encourage you to keep the lines
of communication open and discuss
things with your student frequently.
Parents can assist their students by
helping them understand transition as
a temporary state; once the student has
been in classes and has begun to meet
other students, they will soon feel they
are part of the Clemson Family.