Interview with Maria

SEP Transfer Orientation

Spring 2008

My name is Maria Garcia. I’m a transfer from Chemeketa Community College. I went to the Salem campus and I got my Associates degree there and then transferred to Western.

Q: How does Western compare to your previous college experience?

It’s not that big of difference because the campus isn’t that big compared to others. But it is as far as classes because they are more challenging compared to Chemeketa. And it’s a lot… well just because I’m a transfer student so I’m just working on my major classes. It’s a lot different than working on the electives and lower division (classes) at Chemeketa.

During high school for the last two years I was taking college prep classes through a program I was in at school, at Linfield, at the Portland campus. I think that helped me a lot. And I think going to Chemeketa and kind of taking a little bit of everything to see what I liked the most also helped me when I came to Western, choosing a major and minor.

I was worried about really landing on the right major for me. I think I changed it like three times because I was worried and then I didn’t know what the class expectations were going to be. But I think that was one of the things I was really worried about at the beginning, staying on-track and taking the right classes, making sure I was going to graduate on-time.

Q: What do you consider to be the most positive aspect of your transition to Western?

I would have to say it was a lot of the advising I had through SEP and through my major advisor. The help I got through the SEP program, not just staying on track but other aspects of being here as a student: personal health, educational, things like that.

Q: For your first year what resources have you found to support you through your challenges for this first year?

Well, the SEP program has helped me a lot, the advising. And taking the opportunities to like speak to your advisor and keeping in contact with them I think.

Q: Are you in any clubs?

I’m in the MEChA Club and I was involved in the MSU club as well during the beginning of the year, but then I got busier the last two terms, and then with MEChA, so I wasn’t as involved with MSU later on.

Q: What resources have you used through SEP?

I’ve used the advising and then I had a theater arts class fall term and they provided like passes to some of the plays on campus.

Q: If you had one piece of advice for students that are transferring from Chemeketa or any other two year community college, what would you tell them?

I would say to establish a good start with an advisor to help you, because if you’re transferring you are probably close to being done and just so you know what you’re doing from the beginning and you don’t get off-track.