Photo courtesy of George Pappas
Being a transfer student is a difficult task, considering you’re struggling to find the perfect college that works for you. It is a large commitment to make, but also one that you want to make wisely.
Allison Siegel faced this daunting task in 2019 when she realized that Bucknell University, the college she was attending, wasn’t the perfect fit. She started looking at other schools and finally landed on Hofstra.
Siegel is a junior math education major and is hoping to teach high school mathematics when she graduates. A native of the local town of East Rockaway, Siegel commutes to her classes.
She also works two jobs and is involved in several campus organizations. Her incredible motivation makes it easy to understand how she was able to transfer with little to no help.
Siegel explained her experience with the transfer process.
“In general, it’s been confusing because people don’t really talk about transferring,” she said. “It’s pretty difficult; you have to do a lot on your own. Unlike high school, there’s no one to guide you through the process. It’s also really hard to figure out for each school what the different requirements are.”
Since there is no guidance counselor to lead students through the process and some schools’ credits transfer differently, many may become overwhelmed and quickly abandon the thought of transferring. Siegel, however, knew it was the right choice for her.
Siegel’s wit and positive attitude are undoubtedly driving factors behind why she was able to handle the transfer process. When asked where she sees herself in five years, Siegel responded, “Well, that’s a really rough question because I don’t even know what I’m gonna do tomorrow … but I hope that I’m happy, content with life, happy with my decisions and nothing major, [like] teaching at a school.”
Siegel’s motivation to become an educator are a reminder of why teachers are so vital to our community, as she explains.
“I had really great teachers, and I also had really bad teachers,” she said. “The great teachers that I’ve had inspired me to be that person for somebody else. And it made me realize what impact a teacher can have on a student.”
“Hofstra seemed like a really good community of people,” Siegel said when looking back on her decision to enroll at Hofstra. “I wanted to go into a community that had different cultures and backgrounds, and I thought it would be an environment that I could immerse myself in easily.”
Siegel loves to meet people and learn about their life story, so she was eager to get involved. Her open-mindedness allows her to talk to anyone and make a stranger’s day.
She agrees that Hofstra’s portrayal of being culturally rich was accurate but thinks that the school could use this aspect to strengthen its community. “There’s so much that this school has to offer, as well as different people from different walks of life,” Siegel said. “With that foundation, there’s a lot that can go on on campus. That would be rewarding.”
Siegel’s favorite thing about Hofstra is the professors she’s encountered; she confidently stated that “a good foundation with a professor means everything to me as a student.”
As a math major, Siegel appreciates the ability to be in a classroom rather than doing online classes. She took a gap year during the earlier stages of COVID-19 because of the difficulty of taking math classes specifically via Zoom.
“If you’re doing something wrong on your paper, nobody can see the error except for you,” Siegel said.
Not only is Siegel glad to have the opportunity to be in a classroom and get the feedback that she needs, but she is also grateful to have great professors like Jillian Elstoough and Eduardo Duarte who make learning an even more rewarding experience for her.
Siegel demonstrates a level of perseverance and positivity that many can learn from. While not everyone has to endure the transfer experience, she is a representation of doing what makes you happy, even when it may be difficult. Her enthusiasm lies in being happy and making others feel the same – a great outlook that everyone should have in their lives.
