Declining transfer numbers at OU pose problems for future classes
Each year since 2010, The University of Oklahoma is experiencing a drop in transfer numbers.
NORMAN, OK
Transfers students are finding it harder to fit in and find acceptance at The University of Oklahoma as shown by a decreasing trend in transfer admissions.
An OU Undergraduate transfer report shows that the number of transfer students has been steadily decreasing every year since 2010. In the Fall of 2010, the number of transfer students was 1574 and as of Fall 2021 it was only 1068.
A study ranging from late 2018 to early 2023 found that 39% of students who attended a four-year university transferred schools in their first couple of years. Stress, anxiety, age, moving to an entirely new place and a lack of acquaintances play a big role in why many transfer students have a hard time.
OU Universal College of Learning (UCOL) Professor Julia Daine seems to think that stress isn’t the only reason for why transfer students are struggling however— “transfer students are often coming in at a different place in their lives as opposed to incoming freshman. With incoming freshman, there are always activities and events to welcome those who are more traditional students who are probably 18 or 19 years old and straight out of high school. This type of welcome is very different to how we welcome transfer students. The type of resources available to transfers pale in comparison to the traditional college student.”
Out of the 500 campus-wide organizations at OU, transfer students only have one, The Oklahoma Association of Transfer Students (O.A.T.S.). Around 22 percent of the student body at OU is made up of transfer students.
O.A.T.S. student program coordinator Lizzie Penton says that one factor of transfer students not having an easy time when they arrive is missing Camp Crimson, which is the initial orientation program before the school year— “One challenge that transfer students have faced commonly is that they miss out on the connection points to campus such as Camp Crimson and new student orientation.”
OU Aviation transfer student Harrison Dean agrees— “One of the main problems with being a transfer student is not really knowing anybody. When you get into your classes, everybody kind of splits off and goes their separate ways. OU could really use somewhere where transfers can meet up and start getting to know each other.”
OU will have an online orientation course on the Canvas website for transfer students who can’t make it to Camp Crimson this upcoming Fall.