Never too Much of a Good Thing (Fall 07)

by Lilit Azarian

College is all about the four year experience.

Only one year has gone by and I already find myself trying to plan out all the things I want to do in the course of the next three years. From social gatherings, to programs, activities, clubs, student groups, study groups, sporting events, concerts, movie screenings, premiers, and of course study abroad programs, it is a challenge trying to fit everything into an already hectic academic schedule.

It takes quite some time to adjust to the UCLA lifestyle, and by the time a transfer student becomes accustomed to everything, it is nearly time to leave.

Having all four years at UCLA has its perks. It allows the opportunity to network and meet new people and establish solid relationships with students and professors alike, forming life long friendships and providing research opportunities and recommendation letters. Incoming freshmen also have a variety of opportunities to explore which major truly interests them, and possibly even double major.

Furthermore, most transfer students opt out of moving close to campus, especially into the dorms. It is difficult enough to adjust to a campus with this large, and made even more difficult for commuters who are deprived of many opportunities to ease these tensions.

As a second year resident, I have had the possibly once in a lifetime opportunity of living with non-Armenians: one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Moreover, a student living on campus has all the things conducive to a positive learning environment. Each floor serves as friendly community and offers the support of a Residential Assistant, study lounges, workshops, programs, and a built-in opportunity to make new friends.

Is it expensive to come in as a freshman? Not when you consider that it is equivalent to transferring to a private school. Financial problems should never hinder a student from coming here as there are a number of resources available to ease the financial burden.

If all else fails, loans are always an option. Yes, I am a 19-year-old in debt, and I’m proud of it because UCLA is one of the best schools in the nation, and there really can’t be too much of a good thing.

In life, the greatest lessons are learned outside the classroom. If we’re going to talk about maturity and independence, nothing compares to the experience of living on your own. Yes, there will always be those individuals who are truly unprepared for the transition, but for the rest of the world, moving out and on with your life is the best way to grow up and best of all, learn about yourself.

Indeed, community colleges serve as little more than a stepping stone from high school to college. Although not all community college classes are easy, having taken courses at GCC, I can easily say that many of the classes I took in high school were more challenging.

Thus, it is ludicrous to suggest that freshmen applicants are unprepared for UCLA. In fact, we have all been selected based on our abilities to not only survive, but thrive in this environment. If you have what it takes to be admitted, you have what it takes to succeed, either as a freshman or a transfer.

The issue is not whether an individual will choose the freshmen or transfer route, as that decision is made during freshman year of high school, but rather, the question is, will you get in? We all know that the admissions process is tough, particularly for the freshman applicant.

Our very presence here at UCLA is indicative of our determination, persistence, and work ethic - the difference lies in when we chose to apply these traits to our academic careers.

While the transfer route is indeed a viable, if not smart, option for those who may, for whatever reason, have taken their high school careers more lightly, those of us who have entered as freshmen have what it takes to be successful at UCLA.

So if you have the grade point average, the SAT scores, and the plethora of extra curricular activities to make you a viable candidate for freshman admission, why not apply? If you get in, congratulations, and if not, we’ll see you in a couple of years.