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Student Profiles

“What surprised me most about campus is how accessible everything is. The campus is very pedestrian-friendly, unlike most community colleges. Food, football, friends, bookstores and groceries are all within walking distance.”
Morgan — Transferred from Grand Rapids Community College Movement Science – ’10
	Why did you decide to transfer to U-M? The University of Michigan has an excellent reputation and is very well respected. I wanted to transfer to a school that I knew would prepare me for "the real world" both academically and socially. Everyone that sees a U-M diploma knows what it takes to be accepted and how much work is required to graduate. Plus, the campus environment is too awesome to pass up. Where else can you go on Saturday afternoon and sing Hail To The Victors with 108,000 other people? What do you plan to do with a degree from U-M? After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in movement science from Kinesiology, I plan to attend graduate school to get my Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). I want to do physical therapy/rehabilitation for dancers.
How has your transition to U-M been? The transition to U-M has been everything I could have hoped for. Everyone on campus was very willing to help - especially when I told them I was new. I made lots of new friends from all walks of life, many of them other transfer students and International students, so we were all in the same boat as the new kids on campus. But even people that have been here since Freshman year welcome welcomed me in as one of the Wolverines. What is one thing that surprised you about campus? What surprised me most about campus is how accessible everything is. The campus is very pedestrian-friendly, unlike most community colleges. Food, football, friends, bookstores and groceries are all within walking distance. What advice do you have for prospective community college transfer students? I would advise community college students to not feel intimidated. The University of Michigan has accepted and wants YOU. That was half the battle. Once on campus, put yourself out there. Be sociable and try and meet as many people as you can. These will be friendships you'll keep for life. Lastly, manage your time wisely. While the football tailgates, parties and extracurricular clubs may be enticing, remember that you are also here study. So find a balance between school and play that works for you and make it routine. It will make life a lot less stressful and much more fun!

“I have found a home here at the University of Michigan and am looking forward to continuing my graduate studies at the Dental School here as well.”
Faith — Transferred from Washtenaw Community College Women’s Studies – ’09
Can you describe your path to U-M? Life is often hard to predict. Beginning in middle school, my career goal has focused on becoming a dentist. I grew up in San Diego, CA and after high school decided to join the U.S. Army. After serving, I attended a small private university in Orange County, CA for two years before deciding its academics do not provide the training necessary for dental school. A friend and former graduate student at the University of Michigan recommended I look into their undergraduate programs, and I was inspired by the rigorous curriculum. Once I moved to Ann Arbor, MI, I continued studying math and science full-time at Washtenaw Community College to strengthen these disciplinary foundations while anticipating my acceptance into U-M.
What unique opportunities have you had at U-M? The summer following my acceptance to U-M, I was fortunate to participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), which gives students opportunity to select from hundreds of research projects on campus. The option to conduct research as an undergraduate has been truly fruitful and appreciated, as it has had profound influence on my development as a student and as a future oral health practitioner. How has your transition to U-M been? The counselors and advisors on campus and in my department have been phenomenal providing answers to any and all questions. In addition, the professors and graduate students continue to challenge and inspire me intellectually. I have found a home here at the University of Michigan and am looking forward to continuing my graduate studies at the Dental School here, as well.

“Being a married non-traditional student presents many challenges especially when both husband and wife are attending school full-time with children! However, at the University of Michigan, there is a wide range of support and resources available that made the transition a smooth one.”
Torianto — Transferred from Southwestern Michigan College Political Science – ’09
	Can you describe your path to U-M? My path to the University of Michigan was by default. Growing up in Michigan, I dreamed of one day becoming a Wolverine but honestly did not think it was a realistic goal. After several years in the workforce, I decided that in order to attain economic autonomy and take care of my family, a college education was essential. Therefore, I enrolled in the local community college and excelled in my studies, all while working full-time. After graduating, I applied and was accepted into Indiana University in Bloomington. Within three weeks of preparing to leave for Bloomington, my honor society adviser contacted me regarding the University of Michigan. She had recently attended a conference where representatives from the University of Michigan discussed their desire to see more talented community college students apply. For some reason, I think it was divine intervention, she said that I came to mind and she thought that I should apply.
Instead of going to Bloomington, I decided to take a chance and apply to Michigan. This decision was a difficult seeing that I had to move my wife and three children. However, I took the chance and moved to Kalamazoo where I attended Western Michigan University for a semester while waiting to see my fate. To make a long story short, I was accepted and the rest is history! What unique opportunities have you had at U-M? I was one of the first students to participate in undergraduate research with a law professor through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). This program allows students the opportunity to work with professors and select from many different research projects throughout the campus. I was also selected as a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar where I continued working with the same law professor on a criminal law research project. The opportunity to conduct research with a professor at the law school was an invaluable experience as he has been a mentor to me throughout my collegiate experience. How has your transition to U-M been? The transition to the University was greater than anything I could have imagined. Being a married non-traditional student presents many challenges especially when both husband and wife are attending school full-time with children! However, at the University of Michigan, there is a wide range of support and resources available that made the transition a smooth one. In fact, I cannot imagine the transition being any better than what it has been. I am fortunate to have great counselors and advisors who have been instrumental in my success. The opportunities to interact with alumni and participate in programs specifically for non-traditional students such as myself have made this an experience of a lifetime. Michigan has opened my eyes and expanded my worldview. I have developed relationships with people from China, Japan and many other parts of the world. My advice to non-traditional students is to utilize the abundant wealth of resources the university has and get involved on campus. If you are willing to work hard, you will succeed. Go Blue for life!

“My advice is to avoid working too much during the school year, because you will have a lot on your plate here. In general, students have to be diligent, work hard, and plan their time well in order to be successful.”
Jason — Transferred from Mid Michigan Community College Psychology – ’09
Why did you decide to transfer to U-M? It was my plan from the start to transfer to a four year university after getting my Associate’s Degree. Though I was originally thinking about transferring to MSU, my uncle suggested that I apply to U of M, and so I decided I’d give it a shot. The rest is history. How has your transition to U-M been? I visited a friend that goes to school here every year, so as far as knowing my way around Ann Arbor, I didn’t have too much trouble. However, the first week of classes was somewhat of a wake-up call. At U-M, you have to be on the ball in all of your classes, starting from day one. The start of every semester is rough, but after a few weeks, I had it under control.
What advice do you have for prospective community college transfer students? The workload here at U-M is heavy. Holding a job that requires you to work many hours alongside academic work can be a huge burden. My advice is to avoid working too much during the school year, because you will have a lot on your plate here. In general, students have to be diligent, work hard, and plan their time well in order to be successful. Finding that delicate balance between free time and study time is key.

“As a non-traditional student I wasn’t sure how I would fit in at U-M, but found the student body and teachers to be very supportive.”
Kathy — Transferred from Oakland Community College Movement Science – ’09
	Can you describe your path to U-M? After high school, I went to the Air Force and then began a long career in industrial sales while raising a family. In my mid-forties I decided to switch careers and enrolled in Oakland Community College. At that time my intention was to become a personal trainer to help others become healthy after successfully losing forty pounds myself. After a year or so of studying at OCC, I set my sights on the University of Michigan and began regular communication with an academic advisor in Kinesiology where I decided to study movement science. What do you plan to do with a degree from U-M? After graduation, I plan on enrolling in graduate school and want to teach movement science at the college level... maybe even here at U-M!
How has your transition to U-M been? The hurdles I anticipated at Michigan ended up being much easier than expected. I found that registering for classes was very simple. In addition, the student body was very welcoming. As a non-traditional student I wasn’t sure how I would fit in at U-M, but found the student body and teachers to be very supportive. Academically, I’ve had to study much harder at U-M. At community college, I had a 3.9 GPA, but at Michigan the workload is heavier. To get an “A” here is much harder to achieve. Another adjustment was getting around campus. As a commuting student, finding parking isn’t always easy. Nevertheless, finding my way around campus was not as difficult as I expected with the help of campus maps. The major difference is that everything isn’t all in one building or in close proximity. There is much more walking across campus to get from one class or meeting to the next. What advice do you have for prospective community college transfer students? Regarding transfer credits, it is important for community college students to review the U-M transfer guides and keep their syllabi and course descriptions because I found that many classes transferred because I took the time to petition the classes and had the documents to support the petitions.

“Be politely tenacious, this is your life and your education if you don’t go to bat for you no one else will ever know that you are a person worth going to bat for.”
Monica — Transferred from Jackson Community College LSA Undeclared – ’11
Why did you decide to transfer to U-M? I had thought quite hard about transferring here but was uncertain. I thought, quite wrongly I must add, that I would not be welcomed due to my poor farming background. This changed however when I attended a gathering for prospective transfer students with one of my friends. I found that the university was warm and welcoming and what I had thought would make it difficult to succeed was actually a benefit. This university really is concerned with rewarding hard work and celebrating and valuing a diverse student body. Not only that, but with the Organization for Adult and Transfer Students (OATS) in existence there is a direct link to other transfer students and a strong social outlet which is vital to success as a new student.
All in all I applied to U-M only. I know that one is not supposed to put all ones eggs in a single basket, so to speak, but because of its sense of challenge and the values that it holds U-M was and is the best choice for me. What do you plan to do with a degree from U-M? I am hoping to get into an excellent graduate school and from there teach English in the US in winters and, I have added this since coming here, possibly in developing countries in the summers. I love the written word and it is hard not to realize the current usefulness of the English language in a global sense. So, perhaps I can make some positive additions to the world using my native tongue and in the process learn about other cultures and pick up a few new languages myself. How has your transfer to U-M been? A little rocky at first, but with some wonderful assistance it has turned out to be far better than anything I could have hoped for. I remember the first time I realized that I was a student here, this was my school, I was sitting in the Fish Bowl (computer lab) printing something out for a class. I think the person next to me must have wondered why I was smiling so widely. Sometimes you just have to jump because it really will work out. If you think you can’t you really actually can. What is one of the things that surprised you about campus? How easy everything was to find. I went around the day before classes started and tracked down all my rooms and I have not been lost since. What advice do you have for prospective community college students? On the application for admission always explain yourself but be concise, stick to the word limits they give you as much as possible in your essays and if there is an event offered for prospective transfers always go; information is invaluable get as much of it as you can. Once you have been accepted, go to the Center for the Education of Women (CEW). They help not only women, but men as well. I advise you to get an appointment with a counselor and go over your plans. This will help focus you more than anything. Plus the center has resources that can put you in contact with the people who can help you with whatever your unique challenges might be. Be politely tenacious, this is your life and your education if you don’t go to bat for you no one else will ever know that you are a person worth going to bat for.

“The University of Michigan was at the top of my list due to its diverse campus and outstanding academic reputation.”
Kelly — Transferred from Lansing Community College Neuroscience – ’10
Why did you choose to begin your academic career at a community college? I grew up in Laingsburg, Michigan. Despite graduating in the top ten from Laingsburg High School, I chose to begin my career at LCC because I felt a smaller institution would allow me to transition to the rigors of university life more smoothly. While attending LCC, I participated in Varsity Cross Country and Track. I also accepted a scholarship through the Leadership Academy at LCC. As a member of the Leadership Academy, I performed 50 hours of community service a semester, participated in weekly meetings with the president of LCC and the school board, and worked with students to make changes around campus. Why did you decide to transfer to U-M? The University of Michigan was at the top of my list due to its diverse campus and outstanding academic reputation.
What do you plan to do with a degree from U-M? After graduating from U of M with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience, I plan to attend graduate school and pursue a Master’s degree in Forensics. I will also continue my military career as a commissioned officer in either Military Intelligence or Military Police. What activities are you involved in at U-M? I joined the Army ROTC program and the Run Club. I’m currently a contracted Cadet, on my way to becoming an Officer for the United States Army. This summer I also graduated the Army Basic Airborne Course at Ft. Benning, Georgia.

“The diversity in opinion, thought, experience, background, and culture is unbelievable at the University of Michigan.”
Adam — Transferred from Kalamazoo Valley Community College Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Degree (ID) in Physics – ’10
	Why did you decide to transfer to U-M? Having grown up in Paw Paw, Michigan, I always dreamt of becoming a surgeon. However, when I graduated high school, I attended a small private college and had a terrible experience. So, I returned to the Kalamazoo area, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) was the natural choice for furthering my education, for several reasons. Originally, I intended on attending Western Michigan University and remaining close to my family. However, one of my academic advisors at KVCC suggested I look into the University of Michigan. Taking his advice, I began to look into what the University of Michigan had to offer me (both as a student as well as future physician).
Hands down, the most significant contributor to my decision of transferring to U-M was the opportunity to do meaningful research in a medically related field. Gene therapy, biomechanics, cancer, stems cells, medicinal pharmaceuticals, kinesiology and movement sciences, chemistry, physics, English, biology – these are a fraction of the areas of research in which students are able to get involved. Something I wish I would have known prior to my transfer, is to utilize the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) because it is a much easier and more convenient way to get involved in research. What do you plan to do with a degree from U-M? My goal immediately following graduation from U-M is to be accepted into a highly competitive, extremely coveted position working with the National Institute of Health doing medical research. I will have degrees in chemistry and physics which I believe will prepare me for anything thrown at me during the interim between my graduation and medical school, which is my long term goal. Duke University has one of the most successful and competitive medical schools in the country, accepting approximately one hundred new students each year out of an applicant pool of greater than five thousand. My goal is to become one of those one hundred new students. Following my graduation from medical school, I plan to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon. How has your transition to U-M been? Prior to my transfer, I held down a full-time job, tutored WMU students in organic chemistry, took at least sixteen credits each semester, and was able to maintain a high grade point average. So, when I transferred to U of M, I did not have any concerns about my abilities as a student and anticipated doing very well since I did not intend on having a job during school. However, I was not prepared for the pace of the classes, the new environment, the lack of having a social life, not having any previously established relationships, or the type of information I was expected to have already learned. My first semester here at the U of M was a difficult transition because I did not have a concept of the resources which were available to me as a student (partially due to refusing to seek them out). My adjustment difficulties were short lived through my first semester, and after seeking out some of the wonderful resources around campus, my social life, studying skills, academic standing, and life in general, dramatically improved. In my second semester, I am proud to report, I posted the grades which I had prior to my transfer. The difficulties I experienced in my transition have been evaluated, noted, and used as the foundation for the very first student organization designed by, operated by, and meant for transfer students. The Organization for Adult and Transfer Students (OATS) is an organization for transfer students and non-traditional students on campus. OATS was developed to help incoming transfer and non-traditional students during their transition to the the University of Michigan. OATS serves as a common ground for incoming and existing transfer and non-traditional students. As transfer and non-traditional students, the experiences shared by these populations are different and unique in comparison to incoming freshmen. Being the President and founder of OATS, my goal is to prevent any and all incoming transfer students from experiencing a semester similar to my first semester. So, when you transfer to the University of Michigan remember, OATS is here for you to ask questions, learn about resources, meet people in the same situation, and excel in all aspects of your experience here at U of M. What is one thing that surprised you about campus? The diversity in opinion, thought, experience, background, and culture is unbelievable at the University of Michigan. Classical symphonies, piano concertos, ballets, musicals, plays, comedians, lecturers–I have attended numerous concerts held at Hill Auditorium, ballets in the Power Center, and musicals in the Michigan League and, every time, I walk away speechless. The opportunity to attend academic lectures on topics from political reform, to medically related topics, to the science behind humor is more than abundant. Recently, I was able to attend the North American Congress of Biomechanics (NACOB) which is a week where hundreds of medical doctors and research professors gather to discuss the various topics of their research. I was able to listen to Swedish, Canadian, German, and Chinese scientists’ lectures as well as see how research is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural experience. It was one of the highlights of my academic experience!