Different paths: The community college transfer experience


asu  student walking down palm walk on a sunny day

Mother of three Cassandra Pena went from getting her GED at 27 to earning her master's degree at Arizona State University. Roman Sierra started taking college courses while he was still in high school. Lorena Austin never felt like college was right for her — until she found her calling in public service.

And they all started on their paths toward becoming thriving Sun Devils at community colleges. 

ASU offers a wealth of resources to transfer students: Transfer student ambassadors, who transferred to ASU from an Arizona community college, are eager to help new transfer students as they transition from the community college to the university. A transfer guide allows students to track their college credits and create a degree map. Transfer specialists are there every step of the way to guide students through the process. Transfer pathway programs. Financial aid and scholarship assistance. 

It's all here to ensure broad access to quality education for any who seek to succeed.

To celebrate National Transfer Student Week, ASU Now spoke with several transfer students about their experiences:

Video by Deanna Dent/ASU Now

And hear more about individual students' stories: Lorena Austin | Heather Barnes | Cassandra Pena | Roman Sierra

More Sun Devil community

 

People working at a table filled with printed materials in a well-lit room, two women in the foreground are smiling at the camera.

ASU Alumni Association celebrates back-to-school with teacher packs

With a new school year right around the corner, the ASU Alumni Association is once again gearing up to provide Sun Devil Teacher Packs to K–12 alumni educators around the world.These complimentary…

ASU sign against a blue sky

ASU among elite universities in scholarship program for Peruvian students

Among the thousands of first-year Sun Devils arriving at Arizona State University for the fall semester will be eight students who have traveled nearly 4,000 miles from their native Peru.The eight…

Elderly man waving to a crowd as he stands on a football field next to two servicemembers at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Gregory Melikian remembered for ‘steadfast dedication to critical language and global engagement’

Gregory Melikian, U.S. Army veteran, community leader and longtime benefactor of Arizona State University, passed away peacefully on July 14.Two weeks earlier, with Emma, his wife of 70 years, and…