Flashback to senior year of high school. The question “Where are you going to college?” probably followed most of us around like a lost puppy. The choice at hand was a big one, and many of us were worried about making the right decision.

I was one of those students who really had no idea where I wanted to go to college. There were a few schools I was interested in, but when the time came to decide on a school, I chose Lansing Community College. It wasn’t until this semester that I was able to make the switch to MSU. But I don’t regret going to LCC first.

I have quite a few reasons for choosing community college. First, I wasn’t sure which school would be the best one for me. Second, I’ll be honest and say I just didn’t feel mature enough to move out and live in a dorm.

I also knew if I went to LCC, I really wouldn’t have to worry about loans because the tuition is so much cheaper than MSU’s.

People have looked down on me for choosing community college, but I know it helped me grow up. I was there for two and a half years, and it helped me to develop better study habits and manage my time better.

Community college is more like high school. The classes are smaller, you play name games on the first day and I saw a lot of people I graduated with.

I look back and realize though that I needed those things because I was not ready to come to a big university.

After about a year and a half at LCC, I knew MSU was the place I wanted to be. I applied the end of my second year and was denied. I was crushed. I wanted to come here so badly and be with my friends and make my parents proud.

I spent the Fall 2013 semester working to improve my grades and applied again on a whim. I honestly didn’t think I had a chance because I’ve heard the amount of freshman accepted is usually too high and therefore transfer students have a harder time being admitted.

In November, I received a letter and found out I was accepted. My level of excitement was through the roof. Being able to say I would be an official Spartan in 2014 was the greatest thing to happen to me.

Yes, I was very excited to come to MSU. I’m excited to be here now. But arriving at campus and going through the process of learning about campus as a transfer student was difficult.

For starters, I’m a 21-year-old finishing my sophomore year here. I accumulated 52 credits at LCC and expected to be a junior here after I transferred. After checking StuInfo, I found out only 43 of those credits would transfer.

In terms of scheduling and classes, transfer students often get the short end of the stick. AOP for Spring semester transfers was scheduled three days before the semester started and we were not able to sign up for classes until then.

If it wasn’t for help from my dad, who is a professor at the School of Hospitality Business, I would not have learned how to schedule classes before AOP.

I was able to enroll most of my classes as soon as the website allowed, but many other transfer students probably weren’t as lucky.

But even enrolling as soon as I could, I still wasn’t able to get all of the classes I wanted. Three of the classes I’m taking this semester pertain to my major, which is great. They would be even better if they weren’t all scheduled before 10 a.m. I’m the type of person who is best friends with their bed and wishes sleeping was an Olympic sport.

I honestly wish I wasn’t taking my fourth class. It does not relate to my major and was the only class that fit my schedule. The class is a psychology elective with a lot of memorization, and it’s hard to stay motivated when I would rather be in a class more directly related to journalism. The professor is helpful and I can see why some people in that major might find the class interesting, but I just don’t.

I also wish someone would have told me about iClickers. I showed up to my second class on my first day here and a professor said to pull them out to answer questions. I had never even heard of an iClicker. I could have checked the syllabus, but no one told me where they were posted online.

I don’t want to complain and say I’m ungrateful about coming to MSU. I’ve had amazing opportunities since coming here. I never expected someone to hold my hand during this process.

However, I feel as though transfer students could be offered more advice on what to expect coming in. MSU could provide more information when transfer students start, especially students who transfer in the middle of the year.

Meagan Beck is a State News reporter. Reach her at mbeck@statenews.com.