Every year students who transfer to Miami University from other institutions and countries have a whole different first-year experience.

Assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts and Science Sara Speh helps several students on a day-to-day basis with scheduling, degree information and other academic concerns.

“Transfer students have an orientation separate from the first-year student’s orientation,” Speh said. “It’s around the same time, but they do not associate together.”

Transfer students make an appointment with a transfer advisor in August to schedule for classes the following semester, according to Speh. They also discuss concerns the student may have in regards to their transfer credit and what they will study.

“After the student has had the time to settle in here at Miami, we keep in contact with them to check how their experience has been so far and to tie loose ends on anything they are concerned with,” Speh said.

Sophomore Kim Hill said her experience at Miami has been much better than the one she had at Ohio University this past year.

“I transferred here because I believe Miami has better academics and a great atmosphere for me,” Hill said. “It’s also closer to home and I thought transferring here was a better decision overall.”

International students at Miami also have a unique experience.

Jennifer Ward, international program coordinator and advisor at the International Education Office, explained how international students’ experience differs from a typical first-year or transfer student’s orientation.

“After we bring them to Miami from the airport, the students are required to provide their legal documents and go to the health center for tuberculosis screening,” Ward said.

International students are also able to socialize with other international students and are greeted by Miami’s “best” faculty speakers, according to Ward.

Chinese first-year Fanyi Wang said his arrival to campus was very welcoming.

“The environment is beautiful and the people are nice,” Wang said. “The staff was very helpful.”

Academically, international students are given advisors to talk to about their studies.

Before students begin their studies they must meet English requirements.

“[International students] are required to take a standardized test for their English ability,” Ward said. “If students do not meet the minimum score, they are required to take English classes on campus.”

Although the typical first-year, transfer and international students are all new to Miami, they all are welcomed to the university in different ways, according to Ward.

International students for example, arrive to campus a few weeks before the transfer and first-year students arrive to campus. At this time, international students live together in one residence hall before they move into their assigned residence hall for the rest of the school year.

Transfer students schedule their classes later than first-year students, sometimes as late as August.

All Miami students are provided counseling by the Student Health Center, but there is at least one Chinese-speaking counselor for international students, according to Ward.

Tuition prices between transfer and first-year students are similar according to Miami University’s website. However international students pay $42,339 in tuition, more than in-state and out-of-state students.