How Two Transfer Students Found a Home in the College of Liberal Arts
For many transfer students, the hardest part of college isn't navigating transfer credits or graduating on time; it's figuring out how they fit in. Allie Beene and Madison Succaw, two transfer students at Purdue, say the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) was their key to finding a sense of belonging.
Beene and Succaw are Indiana natives who started their college careers in different states. Beene sought a small, tight-knit community at her university, but the environment made it difficult to connect with peers who shared her values.
“I was looking for more diversity of thought,” she says.
Succaw initially ventured out of state in hopes of finding an engaging campus life, but her environment lacked the specific opportunities she craved.
“I felt like I had messed up by going somewhere I didn’t like,” Succaw says. "I had to reason with myself that transferring was okay because I knew I would make it work.”
Finding the Right Fit
The search for an institution that offered academic rigor and genuine community led both Succaw and Beene to the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue.
Beene connected with a CLA advisor to ask what the English department felt like within such a STEM-focused institution. She learned that CLA offered a supportive environment where professors knew students by name.
“I saw little hints of liberal arts thriving here at Purdue, and it felt like the best of both worlds,” Beene says. “I could have that community I always knew I wanted, but it’s within this huge university where there are so many clubs and all these people from different places and backgrounds.”
Beene is now a senior majoring in literature, professional writing and creative writing through the English department. She also has minors in art history and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
Originally a psychology major hoping to make an impact on mental health policy, Succaw attended Purdue's Transfer Tracks and connected with professors and advisors in the political science department.
“It was really welcoming,” she says. “There were a lot more opportunities than I thought there would be, especially in research. And I knew the community here would make the difference.”
Now, Succaw is a junior majoring in political science with concentrations in American politics and law and political thought. On top of her two concentrations, she has minors in psychology and human rights studies.
Forging Connections on Campus
Beene became a commuter when she arrived at Purdue, which initially made her feel isolated. Her turning point came when she started to make friends in her small CLA classes.
“I took English 390, which is the class that you take to get trained to work at the Purdue OWL,” she says. “I started working there in the spring, and I have so many friends through that workplace now. The resources I found in CLA really were what helped me get connected with people.”
When Succaw arrived at Purdue, she joined a campus dance group and the Political Science Honors Society. Living on campus allowed her to make friendships across disciplines. She further expanded her horizons by studying abroad in Scotland, making her a part of the first group of students from her department to do so.
“I would have never had that opportunity if CLA hadn't decided to try this one-time kind of thing,” she says. “The college of liberal arts — and the political science department in particular — does a great job emphasizing the idea that if you’re not finding what you’re looking for, you can find it over here.”
Both Succaw and Beene stepped into leadership roles as Liberal Arts Dean’s Ambassadors, helping to strengthen connections among the student body, the dean’s office, alumni and prospective students.
"We’re trying to advocate more for transfer students,” Succaw says. “Being a Dean’s Ambassador means I can use my background to make an impact.”
The Value of the Journey
Looking back, neither student regrets her decision to start elsewhere before coming to Purdue; they say embracing the process has given them the skills and perspective needed to fully appreciate Purdue’s community.
“While attending my previous college, I learned about this whole new culture and had to practice being independent in new ways,” Beene says. “I'm very grateful that I had that experience there but also that I came and transferred here. I love the whole journey of it.”
Beene and Succaw want to share what they have learned with incoming transfer students and anyone else who feels out of place.
“Don't be afraid to get it wrong,” Succaw says. “It's okay to be wrong sometimes and it’s okay to not feel at home. If people really talked about how they were feeling at college, whether they transferred or not, they would find people who feel the same way.”
“I encourage students to take advantage of the great advisors in CLA,” Beene says. “Mine is the reason I’ve been able to do so much — she helps me get my credits together and provides such a warm and conforming environment.”
Supported by dedicated advisors and campus wellness resources, such as Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), both students found that transferring to Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts was a defining choice pushing them in all the right directions.