Hitting refresh: 7 reasons why transfer students thrive at URochester

A flexible curriculum, expert professors, and a global environment illustrate why the University of Rochester is worth considering.

When Renae Spangler ’26 decided to transfer after her first year at a community college, she sought a school that offered a diverse student body, strong academics, and a welcoming atmosphere.

She found all three—and more—at the University of Rochester.

“It was weird coming to a new school as a sophomore,” Spangler says. “But during Welcome Week, we went through the same orientation process as first-year students. I met so many people who knew what I was going through and were accepting of a transfer student. It didn’t take long to feel like I fit in.”

Spangler has thrived in her three years at URochester. The American Sign Language major from Jamestown, New York, is an orientation leader, president of the Transfer Student Organization, and a member of the sorority Gamma Phi Beta. She also works as an usher at Kodak Hall on the Eastman School of Music campus and as a dishwasher at the Interfaith Chapel on the River Campus.

She’s one of hundreds of transfer students enjoying a second act at URochester. The University enrolls between 60 and 90 transfers each fall, plus more in the spring. About 65 percent receive an average of $14,000 in merit scholarships, which renew annually if the student maintains satisfactory academic performance and full-time status.

“It’s never too late to start your University of Rochester journey,” says Rob Alexander, vice provost and University dean for enrollment. “New transfer students are valued additions to the URochester community. They bring valuable and varied experiences and perspectives into our classrooms and campus spaces.”

There are countless reasons why URochester is a perfect fit for transfer students. Here are seven of them.

1. A flexible curriculum allows students freedom to choose.

The distinctive Rochester Curriculum allows students to tailor their academic experience to their interests and goals, without being bogged down with traditional core requirements. Students must fulfill only three requirements before graduating: complete a major, finish two clusters outside of their major’s domain, and take the introductory Writing 105 course.

Timothy Loftus ’25, ’26 (T5) is a computer science major who transferred from Boston University after one year. He has taken advantage of URochester’s flexible curriculum to explore several interests outside his major. “I’ve taken courses in math, anthropology, linguistics, political science, and psychology,” he says. “My favorite class was one called ‘Incarceration Nation,’ which has nothing to do with my major but was fascinating.”

This year, Loftus is taking part in the University’s unique Take Five Scholars Program, which offers undergraduate students a chance to pursue an additional year of tuition-free study in an academic field that interests them.

Spangler says the freedom to choose was “a game changer” in deciding to enroll at URochester. “I knew I wanted to pursue other passions like music and astronomy,” she says. “The curriculum allowed me to take courses in those subjects while still pursuing my degree.”

Newt Perlman ’26, an electrical and computer engineering major, says the flexible curriculum was the “deciding factor” when he transferred from NYU Shanghai after one year. “It makes Rochester one of the best colleges possible to transfer to,” he says. “With any other college, I likely would have had to overload and take an extra semester or year, and I wouldn’t have had time to take any classes outside of my degree.”

2. There’s a program for virtually every interest and career goal.

According to the Office of the University Registrar, there are nearly 130 academic programs offered to undergraduates at the School of Arts & Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences.

Perlman studied computer science at NYU Shanghai but quickly realized he was more excited about designing and building the hardware. “I wanted to switch my major to electrical and computer engineering, and my school didn’t offer it, but Rochester did,” he says. “And everyone here made it an easy transition, especially coming from a foreign school to an American university.”

Spangler heard about URochester’s American Sign Language program from a professor at Jamestown. “It had everything I wanted,” she says. “And there is a huge deaf population in Rochester. Once I got here, I fell in love with the Rochester campus.”

3. Research opportunities abound across the University.

URochester is widely regarded as a world-leading research institution, with more than 500 labs across its Medical Center and River Campus. Student involvement in research can start in the first semester of college. According to the Office of Undergraduate Research, more than 1,200 students have been in paid research positions since 2020, and nearly 1,400 courses have been administered for research credit.

Dabne Herrera Guerra ’27 and fellow transfer student Maria Ahmed ’26 were chosen last spring as Beckman Scholars, which provides selected URochester biological and chemical sciences majors the chance to conduct independent laboratory research under the mentorship of University faculty.

Ahmed’s first URochester experience came the summer before she enrolled as a transfer student, after transferring from nearby Rochester Institute of Technology. She was part of a 10-week REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) sponsored by the David T. Kearns Center. The Rochester native worked in the lab of biology professor Sina Ghaemmaghami—a role she continues this year as a Beckman Scholar.

“It’s nice knowing that as an undergraduate here you can work on your own independent research project,” says Ahmed, who was also selected as a Goldwater Scholar for science research last spring. “There are labs all over campus and the Medical Center. It’s a world I didn’t know about and now love.”

Herrera Guerra says URochester checked the most important boxes when she transferred from a community college in Northern California.

“I chose Rochester because it combines three things I value,” says the Peru native, who is performing independent research in the lab of biology professor Michael Welte. “Its world-class biochemistry and chemistry programs, its deep commitment to cutting-edge research, and the freedom the University offers students to explore and discover anything they desire. I knew this was the place to bring my fervent passion for research and science.”

While at Rochester, Herrera Guerra was awarded an NIH Undergraduate Scholarship, given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research.

Research doesn’t end when the school year concludes: URochester offers students 30 paid summer research opportunities in fields ranging from social sciences and humanities to engineering, mathematics, and life sciences.

4. The campus community has a welcoming feel.

Perlman believes Rochester is “genuinely one of the top colleges” that transfers should consider. “Being here has only made my life better,” he says. “Even switching majors as a sophomore, I’ll graduate on time. I’ve learned to speak Chinese at a conversational level, studied abroad, become a teaching assistant and workshop leader, and created my own honor society. It was all made possible by the flexible curriculum, the incredibly helpful faculty and staff, and fellow students who want to see you succeed.”

Loftus noticed a “community atmosphere” from the moment he set foot on the River Campus. “I was surprised at how friendly people are here,” he says. “They walk together, talk together, and sit together. And not only is everyone part of one community, they also want me to be part of that community.”

Spangler says she met many of her closest friends during Welcome Week activities, and she even became an orientation leader herself. “Transfer students are included in everything, even the class photo.”

Herrera Guerra, a biochemistry and chemistry double major, says that the welcoming vibe was an immediate attraction. “The sense of community here is palpable, in which all students share passion, vision, and intellectual curiosity,” she says. “It’s one of the many reasons I chose this institution to complete my undergraduate studies.”

Loftus says URochester should be on the radar for students hoping to fit right in after changing schools. “Anyone looking for a college that provides a community of friends and a support network should come to Rochester,” he says. “It’s been wonderful for me.”

5. Expert faculty are accessible and knowledgeable.

When it came down to making a final college choice, Perlman says URochester’s esteemed faculty was the deciding factor. “What pushed me over the edge were the conversations I had with professors and faculty,” he says. “Not only were they incredibly understanding of my situation, but throughout our conversations, I found them to be incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about their work. It made me excited to learn from them.”

It gave Perlman comfort knowing he would be in this environment for four years. “I wanted to be with people who were not only understanding, flexible, and caring, but also genuinely excited about and dedicated to what they teach,” he says. “I have found that here.”

Similarly, Loftus says he was “super impressed” by the knowledge and warmth of the professors when he arrived from Boston. “They are incredibly accomplished, but also very friendly and down to earth,” he says. “Many will let you call them by their first name or stop by their office whenever you want to chat. It’s so valuable to have these professionals who will let you bounce ideas off them.”

6. Diverse student body turns campus into a global village.

With students from more than 90 nations, URochester is a veritable United Nations of learners. From Ukraine to India, China to Canada, and Vietnam to South Korea, undergraduates venture from every continent except Antarctica to study at Rochester.

“It feels like you’re part of a global university,” Ahmed says. “You learn the perspectives of students from around the world, the challenges they’ve faced, and how they’ve grown from that.”

Spangler says the campus diversity was a huge reason she chose URochester. “I didn’t have that growing up in Jamestown,” she says. “When I came here, I noticed the diversity of students and the inclusivity of campus life. I fell in love with it. I love meeting new people and learning about their programs and ideologies.”

7. Student clubs offer something for every interest.

There are more than 270 student organizations on campus—and 92 percent of URochester undergraduates join at least one social group, cultural and religious organizations, or those focused on sports, recreation, community service, and more.

“We have roughly 50 student organizations dedicated to supporting various cultures and providing affinity spaces,” says Nicholas Morales, assistant director of Student Activity Programs. “Whether they are focused on awareness, identity, performance, or academic organizations, there’s something for everyone.”

Loftus says joining student clubs helped him find his closest friends. “I’m a pretty reserved person, and I’m not one to jump in and find a group quickly,” he says. “But I joined ultimate frisbee and the club hockey team for a bit, and that helped me find my community.”

Spangler urges transfer students to “branch out” and try new things and believes URochester is the perfect blend of academics, acceptance, and accomplishment. “There’s a huge world out there to explore,” she says, “and it’s right at your fingertips at the University of Rochester.”