In honor of Veterans Day, we invited a current military student to talk about her experience transferring to CU Boulder.
Kristyn Sample is an Aerospace Engineering major from Columbia, MO who transferred to CU Boulder from a community college in Kansas City. In addition to pursuing her engineering degree and a minor in Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Kristyn is on active duty in the Air Force Reserve in Colorado Springs. We asked Kristyn what advice she would give to prospective military transfer students, based on her own experiences at CU Boulder.
1. Don't go at it alone. Find people with similar life experiences in your degree program (or in one of the hundreds of clubs on campus), and work together toward a common goal. The Student Veteran Association is a great place to meet others who might understand where you're coming from. During the third week of class, my academic advisor emailed me to say that another student veteran in our program had reached out to her wanting to find other veterans and older students on campus, in hopes of forming a study group for the rigorous classwork we were all taking. Before long, there were eight of us in the study rooms working on assignments, projects, and studying for exams together. It originally was just for the school work, but has grown into some of my closest friendships. Ask for help and find others to work with, the Veteran and Military Affairs office have some knowledgeable and helpful staff to start.
2. Get involved. I have a part time job on campus as the Transfer Student Liaison in the Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations office. I am also involved in many student organizations: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Non-Traditional Student Organization (NTSO), Student Veteran Association (SVA), and am the student advisor for the CU chapter of Tau Sigma National Honor Society. From student organizations to research and industry associations, there are so many opportunities!
3. See Ralphie run. School spirit is an important and fun part of campus life. Attend a CU football game and join in!
4. Explore. One of my favorite things about Boulder is the city’s easy access to lots of gorgeous hiking trails! But don’t limit yourself to exploring the natural world-- I’m also talking about exploring opportunities for learning. You never know, you just might find something new that you like.
5. Leverage your military experience. The biggest advantage the military has given me is the leadership and confidence. I quickly picked up leadership roles in group projects and student organizations. Many projects and opportunities on campus are looking for leaders, so don’t be afraid to step up!
Kristyn will be taking over our Office of Admissions Instagram (@FutureBuffs) on November 12.
If you are a Veteran or military member interested in transferring to CU Boulder, we would love to talk to you. Contact us at transfer@colorado.edu or call the Office of Admissions at 303-492-6301.