|
Veronica Soto, Imperial Valley College Transfer Center director, speaks about how IVC students can transfer to different universities and how the counseling office helps them do so. (BRANDY RONEK PHOTO / January 19, 2013) |
IMPERIAL — When Arlene Dominguez missed the opportunity to transfer to the university of her choice last year, she could not have been more upset.
“I just missed the deadline,” Dominguez, an Imperial Valley College student, said.
“I had to spend another year (at IVC) because I wasn’t aware of when things were due or how tedious the process could be.”
This year, however, Dominguez is aware of nearly every deadline that pertains to her and she said she is excited to enter the next phase of her education.
“In the end I guess it was OK that I had to stay,” said Dominguez, a 25-year-old Brawley resident. “I am more mature and I know what I want to study. That wasn’t really the case last year.”
Despite staying on top of most deadlines, Dominguez said there are a few things that can get passed her.
“Once you finish your applications there are so many other things that you have to follow up on,” she said. “I’m glad that we’re always getting emails from the college reminding us about deadlines and other important information.”
It was through one of these emails that Dominguez found out about the many workshops the college was holding over winter break.
“This time around the transfer process was easy for me,” Dominguez said. “I completed the first one at school, which is usually the hardest, and someone was here to help make sure I did them correctly.”
Like Dominguez, a number of students took advantage of the different workshops and completed their supplemental applications in a timely manner.
Supplemental applications or secondary applications are required of transfer students hoping to enter certain universities in the state.
For 20-year-old Vivian Leyva, the opportunity to complete her supplemental application to San Diego State University before the Jan. 23 deadline was a relief off her shoulders.
“I’m just glad it’s done,” Leyva said. “The application process itself isn’t necessarily hard, but following up with transcripts and others requirements is a little stressful.”
Leyva said she hopes to earn a doctorate degree someday and teach archaeology.
“It’s something that I find very interesting,” Leyva said. “I’ll be graduating (from IVC) with an associate’s degree in anthropology so the idea to study archaeology came from there.”
While some students are looking forward to the opportunity to leave the Imperial Valley, others like Agustin Gutierrez are happy to stay in the area.
“I have a nine-month old daughter so I’m going to transfer to (San Diego State University-Imperial Valley Campus),” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said his transfer application process wasn’t too cumbersome due to the constant reminders he received via email.
“The emails could not be more specific,” Gutierrez said. “I got a little behind on mine, but I made the time to get it done.”
Gutierrez, like most students, said he can breathe a little easier knowing a majority of his paperwork is out of the way.
“Now that the application is out of the way I can focus on my classes this semester,” he said. “I still have to pass them in order to be accepted. It’s almost like the requirements never end.”
To comment on this story click here to be directed to Facebook.
