10-20-2026
For many college students, transferring to a new university means more than adjusting to a different campus. It means leaving familiar faces behind, navigating new academic expectations and finding a place in a community where others have already established their roots.
Yet, transfer students bring with them more than academic credits. They arrive with unique experiences, fresh perspectives and clear ambitions that enrich the Purdue University community.
Included in the total undergraduate enrollment in West Lafayette and Indianapolis for fall 2026 are 2,345 transfer students, of which 42% are Indiana residents, producing the highest number of Indiana-resident transfer students in five years.
In celebration of National Transfer Student Week, October 19-23, three Mitch Daniels School of Business students share their journeys and the challenges and experiences that have helped them find their place at Purdue.
For Lim, the path to Purdue was anything but conventional.
Originally studying microbiology on a pre-med track at the University of Miami, Lim realized her interests lay elsewhere. She stepped away from school to gain professional experience in retail and early childcare administration before returning to study business management at Miami Dade College.
Seeking a more specialized, technical education to complement her people-focused work experience, Lim discovered the Daniels School's Business Analytics and Information Management (BAIM) program.
Moving from Florida to Indiana meant more than adjusting to the new weather. From navigating unfamiliar social circles to experiencing Midwestern winters, Lim learned to embrace changes as they came rather than fear them.
Her willingness to step outside her comfort zone helped her find community through the BAIM Association. As the association’s former vice president of operations, Lim helped organize its annual town hall, a particularly meaningful accomplishment that came to fruition after months of planning.
Beyond organizing events, she has supported peers through internship searches, mock interviews and leadership transitions, drawing on her own journey to encourage others.
For Lim, the experiences along the way can be just as valuable as the destination. She encourages incoming transfer students to seek guidance from academic advisors, explore student organizations and take advantage of Purdue’s career resources.
When Kevin Wong transferred from Indiana University, he wasn’t simply changing schools. He was picking a path that would redefine his future.
After realizing computer science wasn’t the right fit, Wong turned toward his interest in business and finance. Purdue offered an opportunity to pursue those interests, but arriving as a transfer student meant building friendships from the ground up and adjusting to an unfamiliar community.
Rather than waiting for connections to happen, Wong took the initiative. He began connecting with students in dining halls, making friends through spontaneous conversations.
That same initiative extends to his professional development. Through career fairs and networking events, Wong secured two internships during his first semester at Purdue. More recently, he accepted an internship offer from Deloitte, a company he had long aspired to be a part of.
Wong also contributes to the Purdue community as treasurer of the Purdue Financial Planning Association, where he helps students develop financial literacy through budgeting and investing education. His involvement also spans across business fraternity and cultural organizations.
Wong's journey has taught him that transferring and switching academic paths doesn’t mean falling behind. Instead, these experiences can become a source of strength, opening doors to more opportunities and personal growth.
For Mardanzai, transferring from Ball State University was an opportunity to bridge two academic interests: business and mathematics.
Growing up in Indianapolis, Mardanzai had always hoped to remain close to home. Purdue offered him the option to pursue both disciplines and explore his interest in quantitative fields.
That transition did not come with ease.
After spending hours preparing for his first business law exam, Mardanzai realized that adapting to Purdue’s academic rigor would require extra effort.
Outside the classroom, Mardanzai found his community through a wide variety of extracurriculars. Tailgating with friends, joining intramural soccer and being involved in Purdue Promise, a program designed to help first-generation and low-income students be successful, helped him foster a sense of community his first semester.
He also participated in the Transfer Boiler Gold Rush (BGR), an experience he encourages other transfer students to take advantage of.
For Mardanzai, belonging isn’t about joining every organization on campus. It’s about finding activities that genuinely interest you and building friendships along the way.
