07/06/2026
Our Summer Student Ambassador and College of Engineering transfer student, Ariyan Fatemi, shared some great advice for incoming transfer students interested in getting into research:
"As a transfer student, it is easy to feel like you are starting with a disadvantage or running out of time, but try not to let the feeling of being 'behind' hold you back. Instead of worrying about catching up, focus on exploring your genuine interests and making connections with faculty and peers. It helps to view your research journey as a long-term outcome rather than a quick result. During my research journey, I always tried to make a distinction here: A result is an immediate endpoint like a resume update, a published paper, or a conference presentation. An outcome, however, is the broader impact of that work: the network you build, the deep curiosity you develop, and the future direction you discover for yourself. If you focus on building those broader outcomes, the tangible results will naturally follow."
Set up a meeting with a research ambassador or join one of our weekly How to Get Started in Research Zoom Workshops (during the academic year), by visiting go.ncsu.edu/our!