It’s National Transfer Student Week! To celebrate, we asked O’Neill student Dionna Kloc about her decision to transfer to IU Bloomington from Ivy Tech.
Why did you choose to transfer to IU Bloomington?
“I decided to transfer to IU for a few reasons. At Ivy Tech, I had a great professor who guided me toward IU—he had studied the same field here and strongly recommended it based on my career interests. He helped me with everything from signing up for tours to understanding what IU and O’Neill could offer. My grandparents also went here, and they encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and explore more educational opportunities at IU.”
What has your transfer experience been like?
“Ivy Tech was much smaller than IU, so getting used to the size of the campus has been an adjustment, but I love what I’m studying here. I didn’t have that many people to help me with the process at home, and reaching out to advisors was a big help. Brett Reardon, one of the academic advisors, really stepped up and went above and beyond to make sure I had what I needed. When I came up here to tour, he sat my mom and me down and talked us through everything. He was awesome in helping push the process, and that day he offered me direct admission.”
What brought you to the O’Neill School specifically?
“I saw that it was the number one school, and everyone I spoke with said that based on what I wanted to do, O’Neill would be the best fit. The school’s reputation and focus aligned with my goals, so it felt like the perfect place to continue my studies.”
What has your experience been like at O’Neill so far? Do you have any tips for other transfer students?
“My experience has been really good. It was challenging at first, adjusting to a larger environment, but I’ve made some great friends and found people to study with. For other transfer students, my advice is to start conversations, even if it feels intimidating. You never know where those connections might lead. O’Neill is a place where networking is key, and you never know when you’re going to need somebody in the future.”
What’s your favorite class so far?
“That’s a tough one because I really enjoy all of my classes–but right now, I’d say Community Development is my favorite. My professor is very charismatic and makes the material interesting. He has a way of making the content relatable and memorable, which makes the class more engaging and fun.”
What are you looking forward to?
“I’m really excited about the possibility of studying abroad and exploring internships, especially the Washington Leadership Program. I’ve always been interested in politics and government, and I’ve loved learning about current events. Being here makes everything feel even more real and exciting. I’m reading cases I’d never come across otherwise, learning about policies in France, Singapore, and all kinds of interesting places. It’s exciting because I’m learning a lot, and I’m genuinely interested in it. It keeps me engaged, and I don’t find myself dreading class because I actually enjoy the material.”
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