UWL’s Grace Johns reflects on her journey for National Transfer Student Week

UWL's Grace Johns reflects on her journey for National Transfer Student Week

National Transfer Student Week is Oct. 20-24 - a chance to celebrate the 1,000-plus transfer students who found their home at UW-La Crosse.

Transfer students bring unique perspectives, skillsets and experiences. But they also face a unique set of challenges.

From making friends, to learning about services and resources, to finding their way around campus and the community, transfer students often face an uphill climb. That's why UWL offers a range of services, programs and engagement opportunities designed to support students and strengthen their sense of belonging.

As we celebrate transfer students and the staff and faculty who support them, we're highlighting the stories of two transfer students for whom UWL proved to be the perfect fit.

Today we feature Grace Johns, a junior communication studies major from Onalaska.

Grace Johns

Q: Why did you transfer to UWL?

A: I chose to transfer to UWL because it was close to home, and I can commute to campus every day. I am very familiar with the campus, as my father is an alumnus and worked in the Admissions Office for a number of years. Whenever I was on campus visiting him, I loved the beauty of the campus, and to little me, everyone seemed to belong here.

Q: What advice do you have for transfer students?

A: My advice to transfer students would be to plan ahead. Don't wait until the last minute to figure out transfer credits. Meet with your advisors often and ask questions, because the process can be confusing at times. I would tell transfer students to make connections when you can. I found it difficult the first few days to find people to connect with, but once I became more confident, I made those connections with classmates, and I still chat with many of them to this day. Getting involved in clubs is a great way to make these connections if you have the opportunity to attend club meetings.

Q: What about UWL has surprised you?

A: What has surprised me about my experience at UWL is how friendly everyone is here. The professors genuinely care and want you to do well. Every single one of my professors has been supportive, and they take the time to explain things to me in different ways so I can understand harder concepts. I was also genuinely surprised by how many students are actually on campus every day. I transferred from a college in Indiana that had a total of 1,147 students on campus. So coming to UWL has been refreshing in the sense that there are so many more students in my classes.

Q: Who has helped or supported you in your transition to UWL?

A: During my transition to UWL, my parents were my biggest supports. Throughout the process, they were always nearby to answer questions I had and helped me reach out to the right people on campus so I wouldn't come in on orientation day completely lost. Now that I'm a full year into college, they continue to support me and help me be accountable in terms of making sure I can graduate on time.

Q: What do you plan to do after you graduate?

A: After I graduate, I plan to go for my master's degree at another institution, and eventually, I would love to find a job where I can work with people face to face. I can see myself working in customer service-type jobs, sales jobs or even event planning. The classes that I am taking here at UWL have given me many tools that I may need to become more confident in my skills so I can succeed after graduation, but I'm not done learning yet!