The Skyline College transfer fair allowed students to walk through the dining hall and find information about transferring to a four-year school.
The event was held March 13 and hosted over 15 private colleges. The setup had representatives from schools like DeVry, University of San Francisco and Academy of Art University among many others.
The Transfer Center is using this fair to focus on private schools and trying to get across to students that private schools are also a possibility; especially with the Transfer Articulation Agreement that Skyline shares not only with UCs and CSUs but also with many local private universities.
This helps students understand the classes and requirements needed in advance and allows them some peace of mind. Private schools can vary in what they ask for in a person looking to move to a four-year university and this concrete agreement makes the transition much simpler.
“Public colleges are becoming more and more difficult to move through in a timely manner because of impaction,” said Suzanne Poma, Counselor within the Transfer Center. “So it’s great for [students] to learn about private school options.”
It’s the biggest transfer center event of the spring semester but they also have a large amount of resources available to students year-round. They have representatives visit from schools like UC Davis, UC Berkeley and CSU East Bay making it very easy to get your questions answered. Many helpful targeted workshops are held as well as some partnering up with other centers on campus like the upcoming financial aid workshop.
The Transfer Center offers the Faculty and Staff Transfer Advocates Program, where instructors from Skyline help students by giving advice and information based on their education experiences. Almost all departments on campus are represented in the program and it allows students to find mentorship in a person who has successfully completed the path they want to pursue.
San Francisco State University has teamed up with Skyline to offer the Transfer Articulation Bridge Program. Giving students a unique opportunity to become part of the school they plan of joining years in advance.
TAB is available to first generation, low income and underrepresented students who want to transfer. What’s offered is a free introductory class from SFSU worth 3 credits and connections to the University’s faculty which is invaluable.
“We give information to the students,” said James Rodriguez, Transfer Outreach Ambassador. “Basically our goal as a Transfer Center is that we help students reach their goals of where they want to eventually be.”
Rodriguez is currently working on a dual Associates degree and is working toward being admitted to San Francisco State University for a degree in Business Administration.
One of the schools represented at the event was Menlo College, a small business school located in Silicon Valley.
“This has been the best fair I’ve been to so fair,” said Priscilla Casanova de Souza, director of admissions at Menlo College. “The students are knowledgeable; they are all really truly interested in transferring. I’m quite proud of the job the transfer center has done with this fair, encouraging students to transfer and to look into private schools.”
Casanova de Souza explained that Menlo is a school with only about 700 students and class sizes of 15. With 90 to 100 transfer students admitted each year, she attributed approximately 30 of those to the San Mateo Community College District. She explained that her relationship with the Transfer Center and how she is able to meet with students one on one and stay in touch with them.
The Transfer Center is vital to any student looking to move to a 4 year university after their time at Skyline. It has avenues for anyone to find what school and path they are able to pursue.
