Stepping onto a new campus is one thing, but finding your place in it is another. For transfer students, getting involved can make all the difference. Meet Ashley and Bella, two transfer Poets who are embracing campus life and making Whittier their own.
Ashley Seger, a fourth-year English major, transferred from Colorado after spending time at both Colorado State University and Front Range Community College. For her, Whittier provided something she hadn’t yet experienced — the chance to live on campus and immerse herself in a strong community.
“At community college, I wasn’t involved in anything. I just went to class and went home,” Ashley said. “I liked the ability of having a community on campus, which is why I joined my society, because I'm so far from home. I have like my own little sisterhood on campus now, which is so fun.”
At Whittier, societies are unique student-run organizations like fraternities and sororities, but rooted in Whittier College’s own traditions. Each society has its own values, history, and tight-knit membership. Unlike larger Greek life systems, Whittier’s societies focus on fostering lifelong friendships, academic support, service, and leadership in an intimate community setting.
“The culture feels much more close-knit because we’re a smaller group,” Ashley said of her Palmers society. “I really love every single Palmer, which is just beautiful.” The Palmers, one of Whittier’s historic societies, are known for their strong sense of sisterhood and support, offering members a community that blends friendship, academic encouragement, and personal growth.
Isabella “Bella” Leon, a third-year sociology major with a minor in public health, shared a similar story of finding her place at Whittier. She began her college journey at the University of California, Irvine before transferring to Rio Hondo and eventually Whittier. What stood out most to her was the immediate warmth she felt from staff, faculty, and students.
“Coming from a UC, it was such a different experience,” Bella said. “Here, I really felt guided through the whole transfer process.”
Her decision to apply was influenced by a summer tour of campus, which helped her see that Whittier could be the right fit. She completed her application, including a Zoom interview, and was impressed by how supportive and thorough the admissions team was.
“If anyone’s considering transferring, it’s definitely possible,” Bella shared. “Just give yourself the time to figure out if this is the right school for you and what you want in your career. Whittier is a really good option if you're looking for a community-based school and somewhere where the staff and the professors really care.”
For Isabella, joining a society was a natural fit. She pledged the Athenians, whose values of friendship, service, and sisterhood resonated with her own background in community service as a Girl Scout.
“I looked for the values that they stand for, which are friendship, service, and sisterhood,” Isabella explained. “Those things really mattered to me.”
Beyond societies, Isabella has been active on the cheer and dance team and will serve on this year’s Transfer Student Association’s executive board.
“I’m glad to give back this year and help new transfer students feel welcome,” she said. “Being involved on campus really gives that sense of community and family that we have here. I just think it is amazing.”
Both Ashley and Isabella’s stories show how societies are more than social groups —they are traditions that bring Whittier students together across majors, years, and backgrounds. For transfer students especially, societies and other campus organizations offer a place to grow, belong, and thrive.
