Why Students Transfer to UC Berkeley from Community College

Hear from students and faculty on what Berkeley has to offer transfer students and about the strong transfer community on campus.

What makes UC Berkeley the university of choice for transfer students? We asked current students, faculty, and staff to share their experiences with the proud transfer community at Berkeley. Here’s what they have to say about why students choose to transfer to Berkeley from community college.

Academic opportunities and support

“Berkeley offers endless opportunities to transfer students, that you may not get at other four-year institutions. At UC Berkeley, transfer students learn from renowned faculty members, get opportunities to join thousands of student organizations, and gain access to incredible student enrichment programs on campus.” Steven Nguyen, Academic Counselor for Transfer Student Center

As a first-generation college graduate himself, Steven is passionate about educational access and equity for first-generation, low-income and underserved/marginalized students. As the Academic Counselor for the Transfer Student Center, he provides academic, financial, and holistic support to students so that they excel in college and beyond.

“Berkeley offers a lot of resources that help you integrate into campus life. The Transfer Center offers classes like Education 198, which helped me discover programs like UCDC [University of California Washington Program], Cal in Sacramento, financial resources, and counseling.” Erick P., Transfer student, Class of 2019, Political Science major

As a spring transfer, Erick has made the most of his time at Berkeley. In fact, he is going to graduate a semester early on top of consistently lobbying on behalf of students in Washington, DC, and Sacramento, and he plans to intern at the California State Capitol over the summer. Transfers can get a headstart through transition courses like Edu 198.

Rich environment for personal growth

“My experience here at Cal has challenged me. I have grown to be more independent and learned how to advocate for myself.” Valeria M., Transfer student, Class of 2019, Political Science major

After transferring from Imperial Valley College, Valeria became a Cal Alumni Scholar, continued her passion for public service and activism at Berkeley, and plans to pursue a degree in law with the intent of making policy that reflects the interests of marginalized communities. The Public Service Center offers countless opportunities for passionate students to leave an impact on many communities.

“As a transfer from Southern California, it was a positive experience to move away from home for two years. I was able to become fully involved in campus during my time here at Cal.” Florencia G., Transfer student, Class of 2019, Rhetoric major, Education minor

Outside of her studies, Florencia dedicates her time as a Peer Advocate at the Transfer Student Center where she helps transfer students learn about on-campus resources via workshops. She also helps organize many events at the Transfer Student Center to bring the transfer community together.

Vibrant transfer community

“There are so many people on this campus who truly care about transfer student success. For me, the seed of becoming a positive mentor and a positive figure for other people really started at Berkeley.” Esperanza Bernal, UC Berkeley Transfer Reading Manager for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Esperanza is a former transfer Golden Bear herself. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in History and then went on to earn her Master’s in Education. She is passionate to continue using her success to help and guide the next generation of Berkeley transfers.

“The Transfer Student Center has definitely empowered me in what I do, the work I do, and to succeed in my education. I love the people here. You always get greeted with a smile, and everyone here understands we have the same goal of trying to get an education.” Erick M., Transfer student, Re-entry student, Class of 2019, Media Studies major

Erick is a proud leader of the transfer community. Among many of his work and accomplishments, he is a Peer Advocate and he leads the Events Team at the Transfer Student Center. Erick works with students from community colleges as a Starting Point Mentor and he serves on the Vice Chancellor’s Student Advisory Committee. The Starting Point Mentorship Program is a program for incoming transfer students to learn the ropes from current UC Berkeley transfer students like Erick.

Start exploring UC Berkeley’s educational opportunities at guide.berkeley.edu.

To learn more about the transfer community at Berkeley, visit UC Berkeley Admissions and the Transfer Student Center.

Article by Oscar Ramirez, Transfer Student from Calexico, California, Class of 2019, Political Science major