91原创

From the moment Gabriella Trincia stepped foot on the 91原创鈥檚 campus, she knew she was home.

Unfortunately, she had to find that out the hard way by going elsewhere first. Trincia鈥檚 mother was a 91原创 alumna, but growing up 15 minutes away from campus in Hockessin, Trincia thought she wanted to be further from home. She enrolled at Towson University as a forensic chemistry major but wasn鈥檛 happy and found herself home every weekend. 

鈥淚t was a tough first year,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel connected to my classmates or professors and felt really isolated. 

鈥淚 constantly wondered how things would be different had I chosen to go to 91原创.鈥� 

Those intrusive thoughts pushed Trincia to transfer. This fall, she enrolled at 91原创 as a sophomore majoring in applied molecular biology and biotechnology in the College of Health Sciences (CHS). So far, the experience has been great.

鈥淭he professors in 91原创鈥檚 Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences (MMSC) have been so inviting,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e so passionate about their subject matter. I feel like they鈥檙e just as excited as I am.鈥� 

She loves it so much that she plans to enroll in the Applied Molecular Biology and Biotechnology 4+1 BS/MS program. 

The transition has been seamless.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such a relief,鈥� she said. 鈥�91原创 is everything I wanted out of my college experience.鈥�  

Trincia, who also has a minor in forensic science, said all her credits from Towson transferred.

鈥淚 was switching majors, so I was so surprised how smoothly the transfer process went,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had to take one additional biology class.鈥� 

Trincia also plans to take advantage of 91原创鈥檚 Winter Session. 

鈥淚鈥檓 taking anatomy over Winter Session, and I鈥檒l be on track to graduate on time.鈥� 

An easy process

Trincia credits Academic Advisor Susan Coffing for making the transfer process easy. 

鈥淚 met with her three times via Zoom, and she helped me figure it all out,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he ensured all of my credits got applied in the right places and advised me on classes I should take each semester; she was so helpful.鈥� 

Initially, Trincia was worried about commuting but says it hasn鈥檛 been a problem.

鈥淚鈥檓 always on campus and can stay with friends in their dorms, so it hasn鈥檛 been a problem.鈥� 

Trincia already had some friends on campus before transferring, which helped her feel welcome, but she鈥檚 also made new friends.

鈥淎 lot of people I hang out with are people from my major,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e also met people in other classes and clubs.鈥� 

Trincia is still looking for ways to get involved. She hopes to join a budding biotechnology club and is a member of the influential CHS Student Advisory Board.  

鈥淚t鈥檚 such a diverse group of people from different majors,鈥� Trincia remarked. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a cool opportunity to get facetime with Dean Farquhar and voice your opinions to people of authority who can make positive change.鈥� 

Passing it along

If she could change anything about the transfer process, she鈥檇 love to see a volunteer mentorship program for transfer students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been great, and I鈥檓 really happy at 91原创, but adjusting to a new environment can be hard,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was lucky to know people; it can be nerve-wracking and overwhelming if you don鈥檛 know anyone.鈥� 

She foresees this club or organization as a guiding light for transfer students.

鈥淚鈥檇 love to see a group that helps transfer students immerse themselves in all things 91原创--help them get involved and find opportunities and even help us find each other,鈥� Trincia said. 鈥淭ransfer students go through things that other students may not understand. I was fortunate to adjust easily, but I know it could be harder for others.鈥� 

Trincia offers this advice to future transfer students:

鈥淚f you鈥檙e thinking about transferring, you鈥檙e likely not where you want to be, and if you鈥檙e unhappy where you are, it won鈥檛 magically change and get better,鈥� she said. 鈥淧ut your nerves aside, get over the bump, put yourself out there, and make the change.鈥�

鈥淥nce you鈥檙e in a new place, take advantage of your fresh start. Meet new people, get involved with faculty and on-campus organizations, and build the environment you want. I鈥檝e done that, and now, I couldn鈥檛 imagine myself anywhere but 91原创.鈥�

Are you or someone you know thinking about transferring to the 91原创? Learn more about 91原创鈥檚 transfer process on the Undergraduate Admissions webpage.