Baylor Welcomes Transfer Students with Unique Orientation Events

WACO, Texas — Baylor University welcomed 91 transfer students during its annual New Student Welcome Weekend, which began Jan. 17, 2025. The event, designed to help new students acclimate to campus life, included activities such as a trip to Cameron Park Zoo, a basketball game against TCU, and a visit to Baylor’s original campus in Independence.

According to Welcome Experiences, the group organizing the event, 54 of the new students are from Texas, 26 are from out of state, and 11 are international students. Jesse Ross, lead coordinator for Welcome Experiences, emphasized the unique perspective transfer students bring to Baylor. “They intentionally sought out Baylor after their previous university failed to live up to their expectations,” Ross said. “They cherish Baylor in a different way.”

Ross noted that many transfer students worry about finding connections, especially when enrolling in the spring semester. “They feel like they are missing out on core Baylor traditions that occur in the fall, like football games,” he said. Welcome Weekend aims to address these concerns by fostering a sense of belonging through shared experiences.

One highlight of the weekend was the trip to Independence, where students explored Baylor’s historic roots. “The Independence trip helps students feel like they are joining the Baylor family,” Ross explained. “They walk through the historic columns and get their Line, a rite of passage they can wear next fall when they run the line.”

Houston junior Maysie Krause, who attended Welcome Weekend in 2023, recalled the impact of the Independence trip. “We wrote on a rock about our hopes for Baylor while prayer and worship music played in the background,” Krause said. “I knew then that Baylor was the perfect place for me.” Krause, now entering her final semester, remains close with friends she made during Welcome Weekend.

Baylor’s efforts to integrate transfer students reflect its commitment to creating a supportive community for all students, regardless of their entry point into university life.