It is possible to make your college dreams reality? More than half of GCC transfer students who applied to UCLA last fall were admitted. Kevin Meza, the new Transfer Center Coordinator, is happy to help students this year improve that percentage.

During the 2005-2006 school year there were 181 GCC transfer students who applied to UC Berkeley, and 83 were admitted. Out of 366 GCC transfer students who applied for UCLA, 191 were admitted, a total of 46 percent of applicants admitted to UC Berkeley and 52 percent of applicants admitted to UCLA.

“I received lots of help when I was in college and now I feel like I have the experience and the knowledge to give back to those students who need the help and information,” said Meza, “I feel that it is vital to help students with any information we can provide to them, because anything students do not know limits their opportunities.” Meza wants future transfer students to be aware of the options and help that is available to them.

At the transfer center students who are planning to transfer to a four-year university beginning fall 2008 can receive help with applications and information on important dates.

Applications for Cal State’s and UC’s are due at the end of November. Students who are interested in USC as a transfer school have time to turn in the application by Feb. 1, 2008. Space is still available for a UCLA campus tour on Tuesday. Students may sign up at the transfer center.

A variety of workshops are available for all transfer students. There are general transfer workshops where students learn the basic plans of transfer information on CSUs and UCs, such as the IGETC. For transcript evaluation and more in-depth information about transferring, private workshops are available by appointment. Meza is also available for school club presentations.

Catalogs for other colleges, universities, and private schools are all available at the transfer center, and are also helpful when looking for a specific major. Students who have not chosen a major are also welcomed to talk to Meza or any available counselor for help and academic advice.

Various college representatives are usually found in a booth in the Vaquero Plaza weekly. Students need to check with the transfer center when specific school representatives will be at GCC.

Anet Aleksandryan, a student worker at the transfer center, said “If any students have a quick question, I can always help and we have lots of brochures and handouts about four-year schools and their transfer programs.”

“We are sort of like mini-counselors, we help with the basic information students need to know,” said Garineh Demirijian who is also a student worker for the transfer center. “We love working here and we enjoy helping other students,” said Aleksandryan.

Transferring from a community college to a four-year university is less stressful for some than going directly from high school. Most UC’s require a 4.5 GPA for freshman applicants from high school. Transfer students need a minimum 3.5 or 3.6 GPA to be admitted. Different majors may require a lower or higher GPA.

Dinal Patel, a current transfer student, is majoring in business economics and said, “I have been to the transfer center many times this semester, especially this month, since I am getting assistance to transfer to UCI for fall 2008.” For other students who are planning to transfer next fall like Patel, it is not too late to go to the transfer center for transfer information.

Meza wants students to know that even for the competitive schools, it is realistic for them to actually attend. On average, every year about 741 community college students transfer to a Cal State, and 229 students transfer to a UC (the last year recorded being 2004-2005.)

“Students who are willing to transfer to a four-year school should treat the transfer center as a class. If they follow through with the transfer center as they would in a classroom, chances are that they will succeed with their transfer 100 percent,” Meza said.

The transfer center is located in SR 214 and is open Monday through Thursday from 8am _” 7pm. And open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays. Kevin Meza may be contacted at (818) 240-1000, ext. 5820.