Olivet The Magazine | Transfer Centric

Each year more than 100 students transfer to Olivet Nazarene University to complete their college education. The Office of Admissions has a dedicated team of professionals who work exclusively with prospective transfer students to provide a smooth transition from one college experience to the next. Olivet offers competitive transfer scholarships, and students find that most of their credits transfer to the University.

Olivia Guban

Hometown: Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Major: Psychology

“Before Olivet, I attended [Harper College] in Palatine, Illinois, where I completed an [associate degree] in applied health science. I heard about Olivet through my pastors, who are ONU alumni, and through their shared experience, I decided to pray and ask the Lord if Olivet was where I was supposed to be. I considered transferring because I knew I wanted a private Christian school that was close to home and valued education from a Christian perspective. What drew me in was getting to talk to all of the professors on my tour and seeing how welcoming and passionate they were about what they do.

“Transferring to Olivet was easier than I thought it would be. The transfer counselors were always there to help me, which further confirmed the peace I felt about coming. I knew Olivet was the right fit for me after talking with some of my friends about their transfer experiences and how they felt ONU was a top-tier education with a Christian purpose. The newstudent programming was also a pivotal part of my transfer experience. It eased me into the chaos that comes along with being at a new school.

“I’ve connected at Olivet by joining the ONU dance team, which has been a family I never knew that I needed. Every Sunday I look forward to worshiping the Lord through dance and connecting with my Kingdom family. Another highlight from my ONU experience is the relationships I’ve built with professors. They have given me Godly wisdom through challenging moments in my life as a young 21-year-old.

“I would tell someone who is considering transferring colleges to soak in every moment, don’t take yourself too seriously, and rely on God for wisdom and guidance. You’ll never have these moments back, and college is a pivotal time for your personal growth and development.”

Josiah Johnson

Hometown: North Palm Beach, Florida
Major: Economics/Finance-Applied Economics and Marketing-Management

“My college journey has been a little unique, to say the least. I previously attended Trinity International University (TIU) for two years. In February 2023, TIU announced they would be closing their undergraduate in-person program. I had two years left and knew that I wanted my years to be in person for the full college experience. I knew that I also wanted to find a school where I could add finance as a major. My soccer coach at Trinity recommended I look into Olivet.

“Olivet made the transfer process so easy. They made sure transfer students knew the important things from both an academic and social perspective through newstudent Orientation. When I got to Olivet, the first thing I noticed is that whenever you are walking around, people always say ‘hi.’ All of this support from faculty, staff and students helped me feel right at home from day one.

“One of my favorite memories at Olivet has been joining the football team. I joined at the end of my first semester, and it has been incredible. I had never played football, but the coaches saw that I had the potential to be a kicker.

“My advice for students who are considering transferring is to visit schools you’re interested in. Make sure to ask the professors in your area about the program and the potential outcomes after you graduate. If you are a student-athlete, make sure you interact with the team and coaching staff. These are the people you will be spending a lot of time with. As a student-athlete, you also need to make sure that you can see yourself at the school even if you never play your sport again. Injuries happen, so it is crucial to find a place [where] you can thrive academically and socially.”

Karen Villasenor

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Major: Multimedia Communication-Journalism

“I had a hard time figuring out what major felt right for me when I attended my local community college. I changed my major six times. When it was time for me to transfer to a four-year university, I was lost. I did not want to attend the local university and longed for a Christian environment that would help me grow. I was looking for universities when I remembered my pastor’s family always raved about ONU.

“The transfer experience was great! It was terrifying to come all the way to Illinois from Las Vegas, but my transfer counselor, Spencer, was wonderful. When I came for a visit, meeting with professors and walking around campus helped me know that the small community was a perfect fit for me.

“Connecting with the community at Olivet has been so easy. I am naturally a little shy, but everyone was so welcoming. I’ve been able to dive into the college experience because I felt truly accepted, which made me want to contribute back to the great community. I have never experienced so much Christ love from others before.

“My professors have shown me so much love, patience and genuine care for my education — particularly the entire communication department! When I was looking through the course descriptions of the classes and opportunities, the multimedia major felt like exactly what I should be doing. I have always loved to write, create and tell stories, but I didn’t know how to package it all together into a career. My major really excites me about my future profession. On campus I have my own radio show for Spark 89.7, our student-run radio station, and I work with Access ONU. All of those opportunities have really affirmed for me that I am in the career, the major and the place I should be.”

From Olivet The Magazine, The Parent Issue – Autumn 2024. Read the full issue here.