Meet your fellow Transfer Buffs! Need advice about transitioning to a new university? Looking for tips or recommendations specific to CU or Boulder? Reach out to one of our transfer spotlight students! To connect with a Transfer Buff, email transferbuffs@colorado.edu.

Daimean Solis

Daimean Solis

  • Prior institution: Front Range Community College
  • Hometown: Thornton, CO
  • Major: Biomedical Engineering
  • Favorite places on campus: My favorite spots on campus to study and get work done are the study rooms in the ITLL or the north side of the Engineering Center. Although they can get pretty busy, I enjoy having lots of sunlight when I study.
  • What do you love about CU? What I love about CU is how pretty the campus is. I also enjoy the resources available to the engineering students at the ITLL and The Idea Forge, such as 3D printing, laser cutting, manufacturing equipment and material testing equipment. I also love how there are many opportunities for students without research experience to get involved and connect with laboratories. I also appreciated how quickly I was able to find my community.
  • Advice for incoming transfer student? My experience transferring to a university as a first-generation student was that I often struggled with imposter syndrome. I think it's important for people who are incoming first-generation transfer students to know that they are deserving of their education and that they belong in this space. Also, the university is a place to learn and the faculty and professors are expecting students to reach out to them for help, so don't be imitated by using resources provided to support you, like office hours. I also think it is really important to get involved in extracurriculars to explore your interests and to find your community.
Violet Shirley

Violet Shirley

  • Prior institution: Oregon State University - Cascades
  • Hometown: Bend, OR
  • Major: Astronomy/ Astrophysics
  • Favorite places on campus: Gamow Tower 11th floor
  • What do you love about CU? I love how easy it is to ask my professors for advice, as well as how localized every event is no matter how diverse my interests may be. There’s always something I want to do or participate in within a 10 minute bus ride! 
  • Advice for incoming transfer student? Make sure you meet with your advisor consistently to make sure you know how your credits are transferring and to better understand how the system works as a whole. Also, get involved with things you’re passionate about! Getting out of the classroom and into the field of whatever sparks your interest will make the move easier and will allow you to branch out and seek things that give you joy. 
Kimberly Lopez

Kimberly Lopez

  • Prior institution: Richard Bland College of William & Mary
  • Hometown: Eagle, CO
  • Major: Economics
  • Minor: Business
  • Favorite places on campus: The Recreation Center is one of my favorite places on campus. My dance club meets up here to practice, and I never get tired of working out in an excellent space.
  • What do you love about CU? I love my professors here at CU! My economics professors have been incredibly kind and helpful. From academic help to lighthearted conversations, I enjoy having them as mentors.
  • Advice for incoming transfer student? Be kind to yourself. It can be challenging to adapt to a new school, so make sure to take care of yourself when you struggle.
Catherine Burke

Catherine Burke

  • Prior institution: Red Rocks Community College
  • Hometown: Denver, CO
  • Major: Sociology
  • Favorite places on campus: The commuter student lounge
  • What do you love about CU? I love the respected education students receive, the beautiful campus, the friendliness of professors, the research opportunities, the various events and the way the campus squirrels leave little footprints in the snow. 
  • Advice for incoming transfer student? Don't give up and don't be afraid to change your major! I was determined to get a biochemistry degree after getting an Associate of Science degree (with a biology concentration), but I went through some hard times my first few months at CU Boulder (both on and off-campus). I did not give up, but realized I did not want to continue down the biochem path. I changed my major to sociology and have felt so much more enthusiastic about the future ever since.
Angelina Alban

Angelina Alban

  • Prior institution: University of San Francisco
  • Hometown: Chicago, IL
  • Major: Psychology
  • Minors: Business and Data Science
  • Favorite places on campus: Norlin Library, Folsom Field
  • What do you love about CU? I love the view of the Flatirons all throughout campus and the wide variety of opportunities that CU holds for its students. 
  • Advice for incoming transfer student? Don't be afraid to put yourself out there! Starting at a new school is definitely scary, but if you make an effort to check out your new school's networking opportunities, clubs and other resources so that you can not only better acclimate yourself with your campus environment, but also establish new connections with peers.  
Moe Sharpe

Moe Sharpe

  • Prior institution: Front Range Community College and Santa Barbara Community College
  • Hometown: Ashland, OR and Corvallis, MT
  • Major: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies
  • Favorite places on campus: Norlin Library and the top floor of the SEEC building
  • What do you love about CU? I love the campus, the views and the people. 
  • Advice for incoming transfer student? Be nice and friendly to everyone and don't be afraid to build friendships in class. It will help.
Hunter Pratt

Hunter Pratt

  • Prior institution: Salt Lake Community College and Front Range Community College
  • Hometown: Colorado
  • Major: ´¡²õ³Ù°ù´Ç²Ô´Ç³¾²â/´¡²õ³Ù°ù´Ç±è³ó²â²õ¾±³¦²õÌý
  • Minor: Space
  • Favorite places on campus: Fiske Planetarium, Sommers-Bausch Observatory, Varsity Lake 
  • What do you love about CU? All of my astronomy professors are the nicest and most considerate people I've ever met in my life. I also love how beautiful the mountains in Boulder are.
  • Advice for incoming transfer student? Talking to my professors often has been possibly the most useful tool. I ask them questions about my career goals, life goals and college. I let them know what my goals are and they often help me to achieve them.  
Grace Thorburn

Grace Thorburn

  • Prior institution: American University and The Community College of Vermont
  • Hometown: Hinesburg, VT
  • Major: Journalism
  • Minor: Communication
  • Favorite places on campus: The Koi Fish Pond
  • What do you love about CU? The mountains and sunshine nearly everyday.
  • Advice for incoming transfer student? To try something new, even if you don't want to - it pays off!