“Once I visited the campus and met faculty, Drew felt like the right fit for me”
April 2025 – After earning an associate degree from UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey, Katherine Mejia Reyes C’26 was searching for a university that featured small class sizes.
A visit to Drew and support from Drew University’s transfer team helped solidify her decision and ease the stress of the transfer transition.
Now a sociology major with a minor in international relations at Drew, Reyes reflects on her transfer experience and offers some insights for prospective transfer students. Read on to learn more.
How was the transfer process?
Drew’s Director of Transfer and Continuing Education Sunita Bhargava made the process as easy as it could have been. She was very quick and resourceful to answer any concerns I had—even during the summer. I am so thankful to have her, Transfer Student Service Coordinator Katie Murray, and the entire transfer team during this process and during my current time at Drew. It is very relieving to know that there is a supportive team for transfers that I can reach out to whenever I need it.
Why Drew?
At UCNJ, I was part of the Honors program, which offered small class sizes—something I really wanted to maintain when transferring to a four-year institution. Drew was extremely appealing in that regard. Once I visited the campus and met faculty, Drew felt like the right fit for me. I appreciated the welcoming and open nature of the faculty and how professors are interested in wanting to know more about the students and truly engage with their ideas, thoughts, and career interests.
How has your experience at Drew been?
I’ve had a very pleasant experience at Drew so far. At UCNJ, I was a very active and involved student, which was something I wanted to carry into Drew. However, coming in as a transfer student, I was worried that I would not be able to find something for me or that I would be too late to get involved with the overall community.
These worries have since faded as I was able to quickly get involved with the Sociology Club and become part of the board, as well as joining with other transfer students on campus and assisting with the founding and launch of Drew’s Transfer Student Organization (TSO). These have been extremely rewarding experiences as we strive to engage with the existing campus community and create safe spaces for new members to feel welcomed and integrated.
Any advice for those thinking to transfer to Drew?
I would definitely tell them to visit campus, I did not have the chance to until later in the transfer process and I wish I had done it sooner. It is good to get a sense of the physical environment that you will be in and make sure that you see yourself here. I would also advise them to get involved in the campus communities. A big benefit of a small campus is that you can really connect with other students and with faculty at a deeper level.
The alumni events are a great way to make connections and ask professionals in your field of interest about their experiences and career paths, which can give you a lot of insight about the field you want to pursue.
What’s next after Drew?
I plan to pursue a Master of Social Work with a specialization in immigration. My international relations minor, along with advocacy experiences to elected officials at the Capitol, have helped me to identify a passion for immigration law and advocacy. As I continue to explore career goals after Drew, the idea of pursuing law school has become a new possible path.
