The Transfer Option: A Smart, Economic Alternative (Fall 07)

Transfer or Not?
Students in high school are faced with the decision of either entering straight to
a four-year university, or attending community college for one to two years and
transferring. Read first-hand accounts of the impact of each option.

by Rafayel Mgdesyan

All undergraduates at UCLA have gone through the rigorous college application and admission process in order to attend this institute of higher education. It is safe to say that this college application process is neither easy nor enjoyable.

But look at the bright side: you survived, and for that I commend you, my fellow Bruin.

Now, the question remains—did you apply as a transfer? If so, then you already know some of the perks associated with being a transfer student to a four-year university from a community/junior college.

There are indeed several factors and benefits which generally fall into the realm of the transfer world. One commonly overlooked qualitative benefit is that transfer students, after having spent a few years at the community college level, tend to develop that ever so crucial personal growth and maturity which allows for a relatively smooth transition in to the four-year university system.

The fact of the matter is, students transferring from the community colleges, where they are almost in a sort of microcosm of a four-year university, are coming out of a setting in which they generally have established a solid academic and personal foundation.

Considering that a substantial amount of students begin to move out of their parent’s house upon their graduation from high school (unless, of course, you happen to be Armenian), starting off at a junior college can be a very economically savvy way to save up for the multitude of expenses certain to come your way once you say “adios” to good ol’ mom and pop.

Why not save yourself thousands of dollars in tuition by embarking on the very affordable junior college experience? These days it costs about $20 per unit, and still offers the opportunity to earn a bachelors degree from your dream four-year university (hint: UCLA).

If anyone buys into the various myths about transfer students not being able to compete or keeping up on the same level with the so-called “regularly” admitted classes of students directly from high school, they are simply misinformed.

At UCLA, transfer students have proven to have as much potential to excel academically, if not more, than freshman admitted students. So for someone to make the argument that transfer students cannot compete academically on the university level is a completely ludicrous notion.

As a transfer student to UCLA from one of the best junior colleges in California, Santa Monica College, I knew that I had received the preparation needed to succeed as a member within the thriving and competitive confines of UCLA. With my senior year still ahead of me, I have as a transfer student excelled academically due to persistence and hard-work and there is virtually no realistic reason why any other student, given that he/she is hard working and persistent, cannot achieve likewise. The point here, is that taking the transfer route to your dream four year university is perfectly legitimate—if not a smart alternative. Trust me, I know