Major: Psychology

Hometown: Danbury, Connecticut 

Where did you transfer from? Southwestern Michigan College 

Why did you choose to transfer to the University of Michigan? There are a lot of reasons I chose to transfer to the University of Michigan -- it is daunting to choose just one reason! However, if I had to pick just one moment I know it would be my first on-campus tour before I had even applied. We were looking at the Athlete and the Scholar statues above the Union, and the tour guide explained that the ideal student for Michigan was one who had passion for their studies as well as their extracurricular activities. At the time I had a huge concern that I would lose a piece of who I was to pursue my academic goals, and seeing the statues above me just seemed like the biggest “sign”. They would support me in my pursuit of learning how to conduct research, while also respecting my individual identity and hobbies. In the end, the only school I applied for before graduation was the University of Michigan!

Based on your personal experience, what is the one thing you want to tell new transfer students? Do not be afraid to go for it. In fact, be afraid and go for it anyways! You don’t have to know it all, you just have to be willing to show you’ll be dedicated and consistent. If we were supposed to know it all, we wouldn’t be students ourselves! Do not deprive yourself of all of the opportunities, environments, and memories this wonderful campus will provide you. If you’re willing to trust your gut, you will not regret a single second of it once you’re here. 

How did you make friends and meet other students on campus? Events and on-campus jobs! I joke all the time with friends that it would be harder to find a day that “nothing” is going on around here. In fact, if there has been one, I have yet to find it! I am always running into something happening, even when I’m simply switching classes. These same events have a variety of people, and if you’re a bit nervous about meeting others with random interests, just check out the resources for the thousands of clubs we have! Shared interests make for fast friendships, and I have seen big clubs all the way to a smaller club having a “light saber battle” outside of The League one night! If you want friends, you will find them with only a little bit of effort!

What is your favorite part about being an LSA transfer student? I love our museums the most. I grew up going to museums as a kid, and I absolutely love nothing more than to go to University of Michigan Museum of Art, University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, and Kelsey Museum of Archeology! I have seen ancient Egyptian artifacts, a Monet painting, and the Paleontologist working in the window of UMMNH is a lot of fun to interact with when the microphone is on. I won’t spoil all of it for you -- come take a tour and then stop in later on; it is free to the public. 

What do you know now that you wish you had known before transferring to the University of Michigan? I wish I allowed myself to fully realize this place was made for someone just like me. It can feel weird to not have the same traditional path as others sometimes, and being here I realize now that the University of Michigan creates such a collaborative space for any kind of student to thrive. Just like our Transfer Student Center, made just for you!

Why did you choose your specific major(s)? I really wanted to get into developmental research, and I am so happy to say I have been fully immersed in what I love in my time here! I’ve spent a lot of time in my wonderful lab, and I was even part of an amazing NSF REU program during the past summer. I am super interested in how different communication from different informants can shape the way children trust others and their environments. Simplified, I want to know everything I possibly can about why kids think and act the way they do, and how these early thoughts/beliefs shape us as we head into adulthood. If you have any questions about getting involved in research, please feel free to reach out -- I want everyone to have as much fun as I have had here!