Transfer Counselors (TroCos)

Transfer Counselors, or “TroCos,” are experienced Yale College students who serve as peer mentors for incoming transfer students. They help ease the academic and social transition into Yale by offering guidance, sharing practical insights, and connecting students with the many resources that support undergraduate life.

Every incoming transfer student is paired with a TroCo who reaches out before arrival and remains available throughout the fall semester. Head TroCos provide support for the TroCo team and the Transfer Student Program throughout the year. TroCos work closely with offices across Yale College, including Academic Affairs, the residential colleges, and student resource centers, to ensure that new transfers feel welcomed, informed, and connected.

Orientation & Arrival

TroCos play a particularly active role throughout Opening Days and Camp Yale. They welcome new transfers on move-in day, help students read their orientation schedules, and guide them toward key events, such as the Opening Assembly, Academic Fair, and Extracurricular Bazaar. Some Yale traditions are reserved for first-year students, and TroCos help clarify which events transfers will attend so expectations remain clear during the opening weeks.

How TroCos Support New Transfers

Academic Orientation: TroCos help students navigate Yale’s academic systems, including course registration, discussion sections, distributional requirements, and advising structures. They share strategies for approaching coursework, communicating with faculty, and finding academic support.

Campus & Residential College Life: They introduce students to their residential colleges, point them toward important campus offices and communities, and help them understand the rhythms and norms of life at Yale.

Wellness & Support: TroCos are familiar with the resources available through Yale Health, Yale College Community Care (YC3), Student Accessibility Services, and the cultural centers. They encourage new students to reach out early and often when questions or challenges arise.

In general, TroCos help foster a strong, welcoming transfer community by organizing gatherings, sharing information, and offering informal mentorship.

Working with the Yale College Dean’s Office

TroCos complement the advising and support students receive from the Transfer Student Program and their residential college dean, Head of College, transfer adviser, and faculty mentors. New transfer students are encouraged to contact both their TroCos and their residential college dean whenever questions arise; there are no barriers to reaching out, and the advising team works collaboratively to support each student’s transition.