5 Things I Learned When I Transferred to JWU

Author Makena Warfield '24 is a Media & Communications Studies major and works as a student assistant at JWU, contributing to JWU News. The video was produced by Jennifer Lee '25, who is a student assistant for the JWU social media team. 

Are you thinking about transferring to Johnson & Wales and want to learn more? I felt the same way when I was in community college and looking to further my education at a four-year institution like JWU. A friend from community college told me about JWU and how she applied to transfer, so I decided to transfer, too. As I started learning more about JWU and the transfer process, I discovered some important things that set JWU apart from other schools and made me want to transfer here. Here are five things I learned throughout the transfer process that I think will help you, too. 

1. JWU offers a Transfer Scholarship. 

One of the biggest benefits of transferring to JWU was their transfer scholarship. It made a world of difference to me and my family to find a school that offered this incentive to make college more affordable. Transfer students can be eligible for a scholarship of up to $20,000, which is renewable for up to four years.  

JWU also offers personal financial planners to help you navigate the financial aid process, answer your questions and create a personalized plan that best suits you. There are so many resources available here when it comes to paying for college. 

 2. JWU is veteran-friendly.  

My father is a United States Marine veteran, and he was able to transfer his educational benefits to me. Through my research, I found out that JWU is a proud participant of the Post 9/11 Government Issued Bill® (GI Bill) program which 

offers educational benefits to veterans or their dependents. This meant I was able to use those benefits, in addition to the transfer scholarship. 

The Post 9/11 GI Bill can help provide expenses for   

• Tuition and fees.  
• Money for housing allowance (if you are in school more than half time).  
• Money for books and supplies. 
• Money to help you move from a rural area to go to school. 

But aside from access to these benefits, it’s reassuring to know that JWU takes care of veterans and their dependents. That value is important to me and my family, and it’s another big reason I chose JWU. 

JWU is also a signed institution with the Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU) and a Yellow Ribbon Program participating institution. Plus, JWU has specialized staff members who can help you through the admissions process if you are coming in as a veteran or a dependent.  

Learn more about veteran benefits at JWU 

 3. There are endless career opportunities.  

Once I arrived at JWU, I was surprised to see how many connections JWU and my professors have with different employers. In the Media & Communication program, my professors are constantly sharing exciting opportunities to work with different companies such as Warner Brothers, iHeartMedia, Hallmark and more. 

JWU’s dedicated Experiential Education & Career Services (EE&CS) office hosts many job fairs throughout the academic year, which allow students to network with employers, share their résumé and even do on-the-spot interviews. Internships are built into the JWU curriculum, so EE&CS or your professors are a great resource for finding internships and building your network for after you graduate. 

And speaking of graduating, JWU grads join a robust alumni network that spans the world. JWU alumni are very active and often return to campus for panel discussions, classroom visits, career fairs and more. 

 4. JWU offers Directed Experiential Education (DEE) courses. 

Unique to JWU, Directed Experiential Education (DEE) courses allow students to work with an industry partner on a semester-long project. For example, as a Media & Communication major, I worked with Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) and Disney Musicals in Schools to produce a video promoting Disney Musicals in local schools.  

There have also been many other exciting DEE opportunities in my program, such as working with RI Monthly Magazine or Brown University Athletics to produce videos and more. Many other majors participate in DEEs as well because these courses can count as an internship credit. These courses show how JWU provides a variety of hands-on learning experiences for students grounded in the real world. 

5. There are many ways to get involved. 

When you’re looking at colleges, the biggest questions are usually “What am I going to study?” and “Where is the campus?” But once you arrive, you’ll start to think about what there is to do around campus and how you’ll meet new friends. When I came to JWU, I realized that they have so much to offer outside the classroom. Community is one of the pillars of JWU’s Wildcat Way, and you can tell that there is a great community here the moment you step on campus. 

Getting involved in athletics or student-run clubs and organizations can completely alter your college experience and make it so much more memorable. I have loved being a part of the rowing team, the Campus Herald newspaper and DECA because I’ve made so many friends from these experiences. My biggest piece of advice is to explore all the clubs that JWU has to offer — there are 100+ clubs universitywide that span all kinds of interests and topics, or you can start your own!  

If you are thinking about transferring to a new school, I hope you will consider JWU because it ended up being the perfect place for me.