Transfer Woes
For some students can be a headache, but going to orientation can alleviate the pain
By: Elyse Marozick
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Opinion
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This past May, thousands of Cal State Fullerton seniors, after years of classes, finally received their degrees. I want to know how they made it happen.
As a transfer student, I entered my junior year thinking I was definitely on the right path to be out in two years, as did many other transfer students. I mean, I had so many credits how could I not be just a few semesters away from earning my bachelor's degree? At the last minute I decided to attend the transfer student orientation on a Saturday in June. Thank God I did.
That first day at orientation, some of the general education academic advisers came out to speak with students. I thought it would be a good idea to meet with one considering how overwhelmed I felt at the end of that eight-hour day. I had bad experiences with the counselors at the community college I was transferring from so I was hoping a four-year university would be a bit better.
I had to have collaterals.
What exactly were collaterals?
I had to have a certain amount of upper division units, but I could combine them with collaterals.
Wait, what?
Oh, and don't forget the cultural diversity requirement, but that can count as an upper division class too.
Wow, I was only hoping everyone else in the room was as lost as I was. To add to my bewilderment, when I met with the academic adviser, I discovered that some of my classes did not actually transfer over from my community college. Now that didn't make any sense to me. The counselors over there told me they would. By this point I was so upset and frustrated that I left feeling like I knew less than before I got there. Throughout my next two semesters, I met with the academic advisers and the adviser within my major. What I don't understand is how there are only a handful of general education academic advisers for over 30,000 students?
How are we all supposed to get in our mere five minute discussions before deadlines arrive?
As a transfer student, I entered my junior year thinking I was definitely on the right path to be out in two years, as did many other transfer students. I mean, I had so many credits how could I not be just a few semesters away from earning my bachelor's degree? At the last minute I decided to attend the transfer student orientation on a Saturday in June. Thank God I did.
That first day at orientation, some of the general education academic advisers came out to speak with students. I thought it would be a good idea to meet with one considering how overwhelmed I felt at the end of that eight-hour day. I had bad experiences with the counselors at the community college I was transferring from so I was hoping a four-year university would be a bit better.
I had to have collaterals.
What exactly were collaterals?
I had to have a certain amount of upper division units, but I could combine them with collaterals.
Wait, what?
Oh, and don't forget the cultural diversity requirement, but that can count as an upper division class too.
Wow, I was only hoping everyone else in the room was as lost as I was. To add to my bewilderment, when I met with the academic adviser, I discovered that some of my classes did not actually transfer over from my community college. Now that didn't make any sense to me. The counselors over there told me they would. By this point I was so upset and frustrated that I left feeling like I knew less than before I got there. Throughout my next two semesters, I met with the academic advisers and the adviser within my major. What I don't understand is how there are only a handful of general education academic advisers for over 30,000 students?
How are we all supposed to get in our mere five minute discussions before deadlines arrive?
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