Three seniors reflect on their experiences as transfer students

 

May 10, 2019—Transferring to a new school can be nerve-wracking. For seniors Jenny Atieh, Rebecca Castellani, and Caroline Wolf, however, the transition was an easy one. Atieh is an accounting major, Castellani is a fashion merchandising major, and Wolf is a communication major with concentrations in public relations and journalism—but one thing they have in common is an appreciation for how transferring to Marist helped them achieve their goals. 

“The transition for me was pretty flawless; everybody was so willing to help me with my new life as a Red Fox,” said Castellani. 

Atieh echoed this sentiment. “Coming from a community college to a private liberal arts college like Marist was pretty different; however, with the resources that I had on campus, I was able to adapt quickly, and now I can't imagine myself anywhere else,” she said. 

“I knew Marist from high school because a lot of my classmates applied there, but I never knew it would be such a great fit for me,” said Wolf. “I’m so glad I was able to find that out.” 


Caroline Wolf

The Advising Advantage

Though Atieh, Castellani, and Wolf all came from different schools, they all noted the opportunities that they would not have gotten if they had not come to Marist. The seniors have been able to gain internship connections, industry experience, and more as a result of their classes at Marist. 

“Advising at Marist is a big advantage over other colleges,” Wolf noted. “The advisors take time to meet with each and every student and help you with any individual problems you may have.” 

“Marist is a transfer-friendly school,” said Director of Transfer Admission Jaclyn Fitzgerald. “We understand the challenges transfer students are facing and have a structure in place to get them the advising they need to be successful and to build upon the coursework they’ve already completed.”

Rebecca Castellani with her River + Stone fashion capstone project

Graduating with Jobs

And with outcomes being the ultimate indicator of success, all three students are happy to report that they have secured jobs after graduation. Wolf will be working at Prosek Partners, a financial public relations firm. She observed, “Being in the Communication Honor Society was really a big opportunity for me. The communication clubs that are offered on campus also provided a real advantage—they were great for building my resume.” 

Castellani, who will be working as an Assistant Buyer for Macy’s, had strong experiences with Marist Mporium and Career Services. “Being the River and Stone [Marist’s clothing brand] coordinator for our student-run boutique was a huge milestone for me,” said Castellani. “And my upcoming position at Macy’s stemmed from the job fair that Career Services holds each semester. I was able to make a connection with a Macy’s representative and secure an internship for my senior year that eventually led to my job offer.” 

For her part, Atieh will be working at accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers when she graduates. “The classes that I took at Marist helped me to focus in on certain aspects of my major and really prepared me for the workplace.” 

Castellani also notes the importance of extracurricular activities. “I am a part of Marist’s cheerleading team, and this year was the first time we ever made it to the championships. It was such an amazing experience, and I’m glad I could be a part of making history for the team.”


Jenny Atieh

“The Best Decision I Ever Made”

Atieh, Castellani, and Wolf are all student assistants in the Admissions Office, and they often have the opportunity to share their transfer stories with prospective freshmen and transfers. “Working in the Admissions Office is so rewarding because you get to be a part of everybody’s process of falling in love with Marist,” said Atieh. 

“Talking about my transfer experience is my favorite thing when giving tours. It always makes me happy to reflect on the best decision I ever made,” said Castellani. 

All three have valuable advice for anyone considering transferring to Marist. “Get involved on campus as soon as you get here,” said Wolf. “That will help you find friends and meet like-minded people.” 

Added Castellani, “Don’t be afraid to transfer; Marist places transfers together in housing so you will be able to find some new friends right away; I still live with my transfer roommates.” 

“Ask questions and get advice,” said Atieh. “Everybody at Marist wants to help each other out.”