William Paterson University has students that transfer from many different schools throughout the state of New Jersey and some that come from out of state. Transferring for many students can be a total change academically and socially. Most of the students that transfer to WPU come from schools such as Bergen County College, The County College of Morris, Passaic County Community College, and Sussex Community College.
According to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, WPU accepted 1, 707 transfer students in fall 2008 and out of those that applied 863 enrolled. This is 35.6 percent of the entering undergraduate students of fall 2008.
Melanie Hooper is one of the many transfer students that come to WPU after graduating from The County College of Morris, which is one of the schools that bring in about 16 percent of full time transfer students to this university. Hooper describes her experience of transferring to WPU as "diverse".
"There is a lot more students at William Paterson and I see a lot of diversity in the student clubs for specific ethnicities and religions. These are some of the things that weren’t available to me at my old school," Hooper said.
At The County College of Morris Hooper was the managing editor of the school’s newspaper The Young Town Edition and at WPU she has yet to join any sort of organizations. When asked if she will ever be more involved? Melanie goes on to say "I do want to be more involved but it conflicts with my schedule outside of classes."
Kathryn Schaub who transferred from Radford University in Virginia has had a similar but different experience than Hooper. At Radford University Kathryn lived on campus and as a commuter student at WPU, which is a huge difference in itself. According to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment William Paterson University had a 24.8 percent of full time transfer students who are from out of state schools.
Schaub describes her transition as being totally different with the little parking available on campus which on her major dislikes here at WPU.
"I like the fact that William Paterson is a more intimate environment, especially with my advisor and academics," said Schaub.
These two students show how the transfer experience can be a huge transition when coming from a county college or another university. WPU offers a special orientation for transfer students that help with the transition of being a transfer student in a new environment. It is a program that allows students to meet faculty, staff, and fellow students that will answer any questions and help to the best of their ability. This orientation has been helpful to many transfer students. To find out more information you can email wpu-orientation@wpunj.edu or call 973-710-6206 which is the Orientation Hotline.
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