Annual event to inform, help students

Transferring from a community college can be an overwhelming process for students.

With this in mind, Contra Costa College will host Transfer Day to help students obtain valuable information on transfer requirements, majors, financial aid and campus life on Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the quad.

Middle College High School sophomore Juana Becerra plans to become a pediatrician and hopes to one day attend Harvard. She said although she is young she wants to attend Transfer Day to be informed because education is very important.

“(Transfer Day) gives you information,“ Becerra said. “Because it is about securing your future. Instead of having a (minimum-wage) job, it gives you a stable job to earn enough money to provide for (your) family.”

Counselor Andrea Phillips said, “It’s a college awareness (day) and it allows students to think a lot bigger than just attending CCC.”

Students will be able to talk with admissions representatives from institutions like UC Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Merced and San Diego.

In addition to state universities like Cal State-East Bay, Monterey Bay, Sacramento and San Francisco State, there will also be private school representatives including Dominican,  Samuel Merritt and Saint Mary’s universities.

Phillips said this is a perfect opportunity for students to talk with representatives and begin to think about their academic goals.

She said, “Once they have the information the students can set up an appointment to meet with a counselor to discuss educational goals, develop educational plans, attend on-going workshops (on campus) and make connections with someone who truly wants to see them accomplish their goals.”

With CCC no longer having a Transfer/Career Center, Transfer Day is a perfect opportunity for students to have their questions answered.

“Not having a Transfer Center means students need to be more savvy to find information-via internet. Attending Transfer Day, puts them in a position to search for counselor service,” Phillips said.

“As a counseling department we are analyzing how to better serve all students and meet students half-way,” she said.

Transfer Day is not the only event offered to students who plan to go to four-year institutions. The counseling department offers transfer workshops in the Assessment Center in the Student Service Center Building.

Nursing major Mayra Alvardo will be the first in her family to graduate and wants to make sure she receives the information she needs on Transfer Day.

“I am thinking of finishing the nursing program here at CCC and then transferring to San Francisco State,” Alvardo said. “My parents are getting older and I want to provide for them so they don’t struggle as much.”

On Oct. 16, there will be a workshop that aids students with writing their personal statement when applying to a university from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the assessment center.

Students can contact the counseling office for a full listing of dates and times of future workshops geared toward helping students transfer.