My Transfer Experience
By Rafael Tejada
I am going to make an attempt at explaining and illustrating a moment in my life that just 5 years ago I could not have imagined feasible. This intricate but illuminating moment was the transfer application process.
It may sound to you like a bit of an over exaggeration, but before we reach any judgment, let’s consider where I’m coming from, where I’ve been and where I’m going. Two years ago I enrolled at LaGuardia with only a simple goal in mind: get some kind of degree--any one would suffice--then obtain some sort of job. I preferred a job working with at-risk youth, but lacked any knowledge as to how to attain one. My return to college afforded me far more than my expectations. I was fortunate enough to meet dedicated professors and advisors that held me to higher standards than I did myself. Additionally, I was introduced to the LaGuardia Honors Program, which facilitated an environment of motivation and perseverance. All this brings me back to my original point: the moment that I began my transfer process.
It was a process I could have never imagined being a part of. At times, it seemed almost cruel and designed for well-groomed traditional students, the students who graduate from prestigious highs schools. However, here was I--a recipient of a NYS GED and a community college student--applying to an array of private and public universities. The idea still seems abstract, but believe me when I tell you that it was real and worth every stressful minute of it. My intention is not to freak you out before even beginning your own transfer application process, but to paint a clear picture of how real and attainable it actually is. Even with my prior lack of knowledge on the subject, I was able to successfully complete the process and so will you!
So, you’re probably asking yourself who, what, when, where, why and how. That’s a start. Asking questions is definitely one of the first and most important steps of the transfer application process. Ask everyone every question, confirm and reconfirm. Every bit of information will come in handy. When should you begin the transfer process? ASAP! A minute past is a minute lost. I have learned that students who attend community colleges do not possess the luxury of time. Our very short stay at LaGuardia only allows time for focus on a few college activities and we must maximize its use. Begin your application process with research of the majors or field that interest you the most.