Transfer student finds her place at UAlbany
By Isabelle Loginovs | September 21, 2026
Gianna Petrillo adjusts to a new campus, a new city, and a life away from home.
For Gianna Petrillo, transferring to a four-year college was always part of the plan. But leaving Dutchess Community College and beginning her junior year at the University at Albany brought challenges she had not expected.
Petrillo, a junior social welfare major from Hopewell Junction, transferred from Dutchess Community College after deciding during her sophomore year that she was ready for a change.
“I knew they had a good program, and it was transferable,” Petrillo said. “I knew people there, so I would be more comfortable with the transition.”
UAlbany also appealed to Petrillo because of its location in New York’s capital. As a social welfare student, she saw the city as an opportunity to network, find internships and gain experience in her field.
The move to Albany also meant stepping into an environment very different from the one she grew up in. Hopewell Junction, a relatively quiet community in Dutchess County, has fewer places to gather and less diversity, Petrillo said. Albany, in comparison, feels more active and connected.
“You could literally drive a minute down the road and there will be something to do,” she said.
That difference has made the transition both exciting and challenging.
The transfer process itself was relatively smooth. Petrillo applied only to UAlbany, and almost all her credits transferred, with her internship being the exception. She said her advisor helped make the process easier and was available when she had questions.
Arriving on campus was another story.
On her first day, Petrillo said she struggled to figure out where she fit in among students who already seemed comfortable in their surroundings.
“In my head I felt like the black sheep,” Petrillo said.
The nerves reminded her of an experience from much earlier in her life.
“I had the same butterflies in my stomach I felt on my first day of kindergarten,” she said.
Petrillo arrived at class 20 minutes early, giving herself time to take in the fact that she was finally at a four-year college.
“I just sat outside, trying to bask in the feeling of being at a university,” she said. “But once class began, it felt just like any other first day of class. It was still the same four walls, a whiteboard, and a professor, just with more students. I guess I was anticipating more.”
Petrillo said her first few weeks felt “a little isolating.” Many students in her classes already knew each other, making it difficult to feel comfortable participating in discussions or forming friendships.
“It’s like imposter syndrome,” Petrillo said. “You don’t feel like you belong there just yet.”
Unlike freshmen, who often build their social circles from the beginning of college, transfer students can arrive after friendships and social circles have already been established. Petrillo said that can make it harder to find a place within the campus community.
However, for Petrillo the transition came with one familiar face. Her roommate, Lilly Santora, a junior psychology major, knew Petrillo before college. The two attended high school together, making Santora one of the familiar people Petrillo could rely on as she adjusted to UAlbany.
Santora said she was surprised when she first learned Petrillo would be transferring to UAlbany but was excited to have another familiar person around.
“I was excited,” Santora said. “It’s good to have another friend here.”
Having someone from home nearby has given Petrillo a sense of familiarity while she navigates a new campus. Still, she has also worked to create connections of her own.
UAlbany’s large number of clubs and campus events has given her ways to meet people with similar interests. She has attended a photography club meeting and said students have generally been welcoming.
At UAlbany, she has also had to adjust to living away from home. Grocery shopping, cooking, and managing everyday responsibilities have forced her to become more independent.
“You have to get used to relying on yourself,” she said.
But independence has not made being away from home any easier.
“I miss the familiarity of being home,” Petrillo said. “Just sitting in the living room and hearing the same familiar voices throughout my house gives me a sense of comfort.”
She also misses the smaller details of home, including the animals she is used to having around.
“I also miss my pets taking up all the extra space,” she said. “Extra space I’m now learning to be okay with while sitting in my dorm.”
Going from seeing her friends and family regularly to communicating from a distance has made staying connected more difficult.
Despite the challenges, Petrillo said she does not regret transferring. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in social welfare and is now considering continuing her education at UAlbany.
Although she has found familiar faces and begun exploring the campus, Petrillo said she has not yet reached a moment when UAlbany feels completely like home.
“I haven’t felt a strong sense of belonging or connection to campus yet,” she said. “I think the day I stop thinking or worrying about ways to fit in and how to insert myself into conversations with my peers will be the day I really feel like I belong.”
She also believes the university could do more to help transfer students adjust. Rather than focusing primarily on freshmen, she suggested creating seminars or events specifically for transfer students, giving them a place to meet others experiencing the same transition.
For students preparing to make the same move, Petrillo’s advice is straightforward.
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” she said.
Petrillo may not have reached the moment when UAlbany feels completely like home, but she is beginning to find her place. For now, she is learning that finding a place in a new community does not happen all at once – it happens one class, one club and one connection at a time.
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