f A e Lif
o t w s! o s H e : c C o C r P H ter f er
s n a r T r u o Y n i Be g
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By Estefano Torres Editor
tudents who have entered the final phase of their journey here at HCC may begin to ask themselves an all-too-familiar question that has long persisted ever since the arrival on campus for their first day: “So now what?”
semester considering transfer. He meets with many universities outside of HCC to gather this transfer information. Sanders suggests that, before beginning the process of transferring, students gain an idea of what exactly their short term and long term goals are.
Many students throughout their final semester at HCC desire to expand their college experience elsewhere, but sometimes, it can be difficult to understand how the transfer process works when students are unsure of where to start.
“I tell students to look at their major and if you aren’t sure what to do, it’s okay,” said Sanders.
“I am interested in transferring to another university because I want to be able to adjust to a different atmosphere . . . compared to going to a community college,” shared HCC student Gabriella Castorina, who is one of many HCC students who wish to expand their education by transferring to a four-year university.
“Start looking at who you want to be and where you want to be three to four years from now and start talking with and visiting colleges of your interests.”
“It is really important
Of course, students have their own goals when it comes to selecting a school or university of choice, and many of these colleges can have their own specific requirements for transferring. However, we all start somewhere when met with a challenge, so a few general, basic tips and advice on how to start your own transfer process should give you a smooth start on planning your next step in your education after HCC.
to do your research into your preferred college to find out about certain requirements.”
The actual process of transferring your credits to your dream university might sound agonizingly complicated of a task to handle all on your own, but not if you are aware of the resources and staff around campus that are there to lend a helping hand. WHERE TO START: Randy Sanders is a core academic advisor and the transfer specialist at HCC–located in Lafayette Hall B136–who puts together plenty of transfer resources for students in their last
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HORIZONS Spring 2022
From experience, I can personally confirm that it could be difficult when you consider giving up your dream careers to better adjust to the expectations of your dream colleges. I sometimes think about my own abilities in writing and career dreams and what I will earn from them, and I believe that changing yourself to pursue something you are not passionate about is unacceptable! “Think about what is going to make you happy . . . what do you want to give back to the community, what’s going to give you joy?” said Sanders. “The physical stuff, the money and all that, is not everything to life. It’s that simple,” he adds.
Castorina, who has been through the process as a student herself, also has advice for future students in regard to their passion and interests: “Please select the right university that you feel would be beneficial for yourself. Remember, you need to do what’s best and appropriate for yourself.” After you are certain of what you want to do, begin to consider some other basic aspects of the transfer process before truly getting into it. Alexander LaTouche, a Guided Pathways Advisor at HCC, wishes
