The time to transfer is just right around the corner for many Bakersfield College students. For some students, transferring sounds very complicated, while for others it is a huge change they have always waited for.
“Being at BC is one of the best decisions I have made in my life, but it is time for me to move on to a higher level, and I am really happy about it,” said Debbie Koch, 22, a current BC student. “I am transferring to Cal State (Bakersfield) because it will be easier for me because I cannot afford moving out, and the school is right by my house.”
One of the BC student counselors, Barbara Braid, who is in charge of guiding students at BC who plan to transfer, said that an average of 1,500 students transfer each year from BC.
“Transferring could be very simple; students must have their general classes done, and it just depends on the school and if the major is competitive,” said Braid.
Many BC students, according to Braid, prefer to transfer to places that are out of town and those close to the beach.
However, she does not think there is a most desirable place for students in general to transfer because the requirements and personal choices are different for each person.
“I am going to Cal Poly because I heard it’s a good school for engineering, and I heard that school really helps people out,” stated Daniel Figueroa, who is in his third semester at BC, majoring in engineering.
It can also be very complicated for some students to move on by transferring out of BC.
“The transferring process is very exhausting, I am very stressed out with all this situation, I’d rather stay here, but I know I have to leave. The school that I consider to be best to transfer to is the one I am going to, San Diego State,” said Nora Brener, 22, BC student majoring in chemistry.
As Braid mentioned, “there are always opportunities for students everywhere, they just have to really focus on what they want to do. I don’t think there is really a best place to transfer, but a lot of students who transfer from here go to CSUB, UC Berkeley, Davis and Cal Poly, it just depends on how impacted the school is.”
Overall, according to Braid, out of all the students transferring, most of them might be going to Cal State Bakersfield because it is close.