Holiday season is approaching quickly as Thanksgiving break has already passed. That means the semester is drawing close to an end and professors annual flooding of work is in full affect for most students. At this point, daily routines are in place with a little bit of the expected college stress served up on the side. It can be even tougher for those that transferred into a new school.
Every year, Cabrini opens its doors to students who transfer in from schools where it just did not work out. Cabrini transfer admissions counselor, Al Metz, believes that in general, the number of students thinking about leaving their school is picking.
“I would definitely say we have seen an increase in interest,” Metz said. “An increase of students [who] even if it is not transferring to us, just want to go elsewhere.”
As far as Cabrini goes, there are a myriad of schools where transfers come from. Metz has noticed that there are some places that the school steadily receives transfers from though.
“I would definitely say Delaware County, Montgomery County, the Community College of Philadelphia, they usually are big areas,” Metz said. “Bucks County, they are coming on stronger than they have in the past. It is exciting, we are definitely growing.”
Junior tennis player and marketing major, Sean Jaeger, transferred over from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.
“I think I outgrew the school. It was really small and I just wanted something new,” Jaeger said.
Jaegar is enjoying his experience so far here at Cabrini as the semester’s end gets closer.
“I like it because the campus is bigger than my last,” Jaegar said. “I think the profes- sors here compared to my last school are generally more involved, more engaged and willing to help. The mission of this school is good.”
Something that Jaeger thinks Cabrini can improve on is diversifying its student body more.
“The biggest thing I miss about my last school is the international presence,” Jaegar said. “We had a lot of exchange students. Everyone is American here. Not that it’s a bad thing, it’s just that I’ve learned a lot in two years at my last school by meeting kids from all over the world. Cabrini should definitely have some type of foreign exchange program to bring kids to this school from other parts of the world and vice versa. I know that we have Study Abroad which is nice.”
Junior criminology major, Wesley Davis, transferred to Cabrini from Valley Forge Military Academy to get closer to achieving his U.S. Army goals.
“I need to finish off my last two years so I can finish my commission, my commission is that I’m a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and to obtain my bachelors degree,” Davis said.
He also had high praise for his new school.
“It’s pretty good, it’s cool,” Davis said. “I like how it’s becoming a university soon, the dorms are great and I like how clean they are. “
Although many students complain about the food on campus, Davis disagrees.
“I like the food here,” Davis said.
Davis also feels that the faculty members are willing to help and knowledgable abou their particular areas of expertise.
“I’ve met a lot of professors here and they’re very intelligent,” Davis said.
Even though he is enjoying it thus far, there is one thing that Davis thinks Cabrini can improve on.
“Cabrini is really cliquey,” Davis said. “Everyone starts from freshman year and it’s a lot harder for people who transfer in, like myself, to make new relationships and meet people. Everyone sticks to their own groups and are suspicious of each other. That’s one big thing that I’ve noticed, other than that, it’s cool.”
Gabrielle LeGender, a sophomore sociology major, transferred in from Wilmington University in Delaware.
“I didn’t like the college itself,” LeGender said. “It was a commuter school so you didn’t get to know anybody, there really wasn’t [any] school community. Everybody went to class and left.”
LeGender’s experience at Cabrini is much different.
“I really like Cabrini, everyone I met is very friendly and the vibe of the school is much better than it was at Wilmington,” LeGender said.
Just like Jaeger and Davis, LeGender believes Cabrini has some tweaks to make too.
“More options at the cafe, easier access to computers, and the wifi here is so spotty,” LeGender said.
Something that helped both Jaeger and LeGender to get acclimated to Cabrini is sports.
Jaeger has taken up tennis while LeGender played for the CSAC champion soccer team. Jaegar believes that he had an advantage through his realtionships he made in athletics.
“I guess being an athlete and having teammates,” Jaegar said. “Right off the bat you meet someone and make friends through their friends.” Jaegar said. “I play soccer so the girls on the team were great and took me in. They helped me figure everything out. Also Megan Kelly, my roommate, was very friendly and introduced me to other people. She made me feel welcomed.”
Wesley Davis usually does not have a problem getting acclimated to new places and Cabrini was no different.
“I have friends here already,” Davis said. “Other than that, I’m pretty used to settling into new places. I adapted pretty easily.”
