Published on Oct. 20, 2025
By Kampbell Hemeyer
Transferring schools can be intimidating, but business administration student Jaylen Allen considers it a worthwhile journey.
Allen, a junior from St. Louis, Mo. toured Mizzou as a high school student and was inspired to attend; even if it meant attending after community college. Now a junior transfer from St. Louis Community College (STLCC) with one year under his belt, Allen is a member of the Mizzou Tour Team that gave him his first positive experience of campus.
As a prospective student, Allen was drawn to the wide range of involvement opportunities, but as a transfer student getting involved didn’t seem as easy. “When I first got here, I didn’t expect there to be so many people,” Allen said. “Then I realized my college experience is what I make it. I realized I had to put myself out there.” Now, in addition to Mizzou Tour Team, Allen is also a member of the National Association of Black Accountants and recent cohort member of Trulaske’s CPG Career Pathway with Brase RISE Scholars.
Early in his transfer journey, Allen connected with the Transfer Center, a success resource for students on campus who transfer to Mizzou that supports both academics and involvement. Recommended to him by his roommates, Allen started meeting with a transfer advisor and attending the center’s social events. These events offered opportunities for Allen to meet new people and broaden his professional development through activities like pizza nights and workshops.
Today, Allen advocates for the center and other resources like Tiger Tutors, where students can receive individual help from peer tutors at no charge. These tutors can be found at the Learning Center which provides confidential academic support services. He attributes much of his academic success to attending their review sessions and drop-in tutoring hours.
Beyond academics, he explained that getting involved on campus played a large role in his personal and professional growth. He just needed a friendly nudge.
“I was really shy, but Tour Team helped me get out of my comfort zone,” Allen said. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, because you never know the friends you can make or where those opportunities may lead you.”
Explore the opportunities for yourself. Applications for Mizzou are now open so don’t wait! Apply today and start your Mizzou journey like Jaylen. For more information about student success resources, visit our website. Follow the Transfer Center on Instagram and check out the Engage page to stay updated on events.