‘Troubled,’ concerned students transfer amidst unprecedented pandemic
Rather than the sound of roaring applause, there is silence. Crowds of families and friends are not there to cheer when their loved ones’ names are called at the podium. Graduates dressed in red robes and white sashes do not sit amongst their peers, celebrating the milestones they have accomplished at PCC. There are no photo opportunities with bright, smiling faces to commemorate the momentous occasion.
Instead, there is nothing — simply an empty field with an echo of the sense of normality that once existed only a year prior.
As of January this year, PCC is the top school in California for transfers to four-year universities within the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems. Given that it is a community college, the majority of its student population has a primary goal of transferring. For those transferring after this spring, usual aspects such as housing or maintaining course requirements have been compounded with new stressors. With the uncertainty of whether some universities will be open for in-person instruction, students have been left to make decisions for an even more ambiguous future.
The global pandemic — and panic — that ensued would unknowingly upend the lives of billions.
The threat of COVID-19 resulted in the sudden closure or cancellation of schools, businesses and public events nationwide. At the beginning of the year, there were conversations about the disastrous effects of the infection in Wuhan, China and what the repercussions would mean for the rest of the world, but the global pandemic — and panic — that ensued would unknowingly upend the lives of billions.
In a crisis such as this, one recurring question is “what happens next?” Initially, it was about whether one would have access to basic supplies like food, shelter and toiletries. Now that two months have passed and allowed many to adjust to the new normal, the concern will gradually shift to looking at the bigger picture.
What will the future look like? What happens to job opportunities, travel plans and social gatherings? What about education?
According to PCC’s Transfer Center Director Tameka Alexander, many students who have been admitted to CSU’s and UC’s are nervous about passing required general education and major courses during their last semester before transferring.
“This is not a new issue,” said Alexander, “but with the change to online instruction coupled with the difficulties that the pandemic has caused, possibly more than usual are troubled about earning the required grades and GPA.”
The Transfer Center is where PCC students are able to receive accurate and comprehensive information about admission requirements, timelines, procedures, costs and more for their intended colleges and universities. The center has been holding virtual Zoom meetings and events for transfer students to become more aware of the types of opportunities that await them after they leave PCC.
Since many universities have relaxed their requirements for incoming transfers, the Transfer Center’s job is to ensure that students understand their university’s current policies and deadlines. Even within the CSU and UC systems, requirements vary between schools.
Student Vanessa Valenzuela is unsure if she still wants to transfer like she had originally planned. Valenzuela was admitted to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP) as a plant science major for Fall 2020. However, she had struggled with whether or not she wanted to accept her offer of admission.
“I was looking forward to labs, working with plants and actually doing experiments,” said Vanessa Valenzuela.
“I was looking forward to labs, working with plants and actually doing experiments,” said Valenzuela, “like testing out what ways a plant will grow best in certain environments.”
She had chosen CPP because of its reputation for being a hands-on school. Her passion revolves around anything regarding plants, from the chemistry behind how they grow to the art of helping them flourish.
“It feels like an accomplishment when you don’t kill the living plant,” said Valenzuela. “It’s just fun watching them in different phases of their lives. To me, they’re like my children.”
Valenzuela has already received an Associate’s degree at El Camino College in horticulture, which is the practice of garden cultivation and management. She did not plan on attending PCC until a friend with the same major convinced her that transferring would be a beneficial experience to explore her career interests. Valenzuela is considering combining her love for art and plants with a career in landscape design, but currently only has plans to start her own business with a nursery.
With the closure of most in-person classes for the entire California State University system, she is looking into other alternatives, such as deferring her enrollment to save up money in the meantime.
It has not been much easier for those who are transferring to an out-of-state university.
Student Desiree Madrigal is transferring to Portland State University as a speech and hearing pathology major. She fell in love with the campus and appreciated how quickly she would be able to finish the speech pathology program there, as the recent changes made to the course requirements for PCC’s program would have prolonged her degree completion.
“Setting up appointments with financial aid has also been difficult,” said Desiree Madrigal.
“One of the issues I’m struggling with is understanding [the] out-of-state tuition cost…and the different types of loans,” said Madrigal. “Setting up appointments with financial aid has also been difficult.”
She is currently a preschool teacher and intended on continuing her job in Portland. However, the nation’s current circumstances regarding employment are not favorable to those looking for new job opportunities.
The online transition has been particularly difficult because she is a learner who prefers to be in class to interact with others. Most of her current professors are not conducting courses through Zoom. Consequently, there are fewer opportunities to communicate when she has trouble understanding the material.
Student Lisa Wu is also transferring out-of-state, but her intended major heavily relies on face-to-face interaction. As nursing students, part of her schooling requires in-person training in hospitals.
Wu will be attending New York University’s (NYU) Rory Meyers School of Nursing.
“I knew that I wanted to do something fulfilling and beneficial to society,” said Wu. “Not only would I be able to immerse myself in science, I would be contributing to the lives of others as well.”
She decided that NYU was an ideal environment because she wanted to step out of her comfort zone and experience life beyond L.A. Experiencing the dorm life is a large part of this, which is another aspect that is heavily affected by COVID-19.
No official announcements have been made on behalf of the university regarding the state of Fall 2020, but its intentions are to have in-person instruction. At its peak, New York was one of the most infected regions of the U.S.
As a nursing student, clinicals in hospitals are opportunities for Wu to have hands-on experience before graduating. While she appreciates the safety precautions that are in place to limit the spread of the virus, it introduces problems surrounding effective education while ensuring student safety.
Health officials have already spoken about the implications of a second wave of COVID-19 that will rear up in the fall. It is unknown what the long-term effects of the infection will be, but it can certainly be said that the entire country — even the world — is collectively experiencing the unfortunate aftermath of such a uniquely unprecedented situation.
“[Students] need to realize that these are very uncertain times all over the world and that they are not alone,” said Tameka Alexander.
“We want students to avail themselves of all of the many services available on campus to meet their needs,” said Alexander, “whether it be the Food Pantry, the Health Center, Financial Aid Office, Career Center or any of our own services. We want them to let us help them work through these problems. We do not want them to give up. They need to realize that these are very uncertain times all over the world and that they are not alone … We’ve got you!”
