Oct. 21, 2024
Contact: Brian Consiglio, consigliob@missouri.edu
Transitioning to a new university can come with challenges — making friends, adapting to a new environment and ensuring smooth credit transfers from previous institutions. At the University of Missouri, we embrace transfer students from across the globe and welcome them to the Tiger family with open arms.
Transfer Tigers make up about 17% of our vibrant student body. And, this fall, Mizzou proudly welcomed more than 1,200 transfer students — a 6% increase from last year.
There are numerous resources available to help transfer students succeed including a Transfer Center, located in the Student Success Center on Lowry Mall. This center is a one-stop shop for connecting transfer students with a variety of resources on campus, including:
- Dedicated academic advisors and admissions representatives
- Scholarships and financial aid guidance
- Guides for various majors and custom credit evaluations
- Transfer student orientation
- Tau Sigma Transfer Honor Society
- Career services tailored to transfer students
In addition, a student organization called Transfer Experience and Advising Mentors (TEAM) is dedicated to fostering an inclusive community through social events and peer support — ultimately helping transfer students find their home at Mizzou.
In celebration of National Transfer Student Week Oct. 21-25, meet three members of the TEAM executive board and learn about their journeys to Mizzou.
Gage Smith
Gage Smith dreamt of becoming a Tiger since middle school. After two years at community college, Smith’s dream came true when he transferred to Mizzou. The Wentzville, Missouri, native didn’t initially know many people on campus, but he said he started to find his niche after signing up for the TEAM peer mentorship program.
“My mentor and the entire TEAM program created a very welcoming community that inspired me to want to pay it forward and join the group’s executive board,” Smith said. “I’ve always wanted to help people, and TEAM enables me to do that throughout campus.”
As director of strategic initiatives for TEAM, Smith — who majors in information technology — does a lot of behind-the-scenes work checking in transfer students at TEAM social events, keeping the organization’s MU Engage webpage updated and identifying trends or patterns related to which TEAM events transfer students attend the most. His efforts have paid off, as 90 transfer students attended TEAM’s welcome Bingo event this fall. As TEAM’s unofficial “IT guy,” Smith said he’s proud to use what he learns in class to help TEAM grow.
What makes Mizzou so welcoming to transfer students, he said, is its support system.
“Mizzou is a large campus — but it’s filled with endless opportunities,” Smith said. “You’re never alone: there are always people and a network to make you feel safe and comfortable and to answer any questions you may have. There are also so many resources, including the Transfer Center, that can help ease the transition.”
Kaylee Faddis
Columbia, Missouri, native Kaylee Faddis was no stranger to Mizzou: her dad has worked for the university for more than 20 years. After transferring from community college, she said she quickly fell in love with the campus, the welcoming environment and the way that Mizzou cares for its students.
“I try to incorporate those same ideals into my life, so Mizzou felt like the right fit,” Faddis said. “By joining the executive board of TEAM as director of communications, I have the opportunity to give my fellow transfer students a chance to meet new friends and embrace the Mizzou experience.”
A junior majoring in journalism, Faddis’ advice to incoming transfer students is to find their community by joining student organizations and clubs — related to their majors and just for fun.
“The Student Success Center is another great resource to take advantage of,” Faddis said. “They have tutors who can help you with your papers and help you stay on track of your assignments so you don’t fall behind.”
Matt Waffle
Growing up in Fenton, Missouri, Matt Waffle — an avid Missouri Tigers fan — always had a soft spot in his heart for Mizzou. After getting his associate’s degree at a community college, Waffle transferred to Mizzou, eager to get connected on campus.
“I learned about TEAM early on, and it felt great to meet other transfer students who could relate to me because they were in the same boat,” Waffle said. “Joining TEAM is how I met my core friend group, including three of my current roommates.”
As TEAM’s current director of engagement, Waffle, a communications major, creates presentations and raises awareness about social events and campus resources transfer students can take advantage of.
“I want to help incoming transfer students get the same welcoming experience that I had when I transferred to Mizzou,” Waffle said. “I can share my experiences as a transfer student and help them meet new people and have a successful experience at Mizzou.”
