Kalama Hines
@KHines_Express
Students were given the opportunity to query LPC graduates on how their time at Las Positas has helped them in their experience at a university.
On Wednesday, March 25, the Biology Club hosted a panel of Las Positas Alumnus.
The panel consisted of 12 LPC graduates who have gone on to study at some of the many prestigious four-year colleges in California.
The panelists, who were introduced to a room of about 30 current students by first name, fielded questions about being a transfer student at some of the well-known UCs and CSUs.
“There have been so may times…” said UC Berkeley graduate Stephanie, “where I have felt more prepared than my peers because of the education I got here (at LPC).”
The overall stance of the panel was that attending community college, Las Positas in particular, served as a huge benefit to the university experience.
At one point or another the entire panel sang the praises of the faculty and staff of Las Positas. Though they did point out that the work of a university professor comes with the demand of several hundred students in each class.
Daniel, who is currently enrolled at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), compared the classes at LPC, as well as their instructors, to high school. But he clarified that the statement was meant with the utmost respect. In his opinion, the instructors he had while at LPC were there, not just to teach, but to help. The professors of UCSB, on the other hand, focus transmitting lessons and do not worry about aiding their students.
As advice to those in attendance, the panel had several points of emphasis.
Yasmin, who is currently enrolled at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, said that success all comes down to planning and time management. UC San Diego student, Thomas, seconded the sentiment.
“A lot of professors just run through everything,” Thomas said, “they give a lecture, but no homework. Its all up to you to study.”
UC Berkeley graduate, Ryan, also alerted the group that the curve system is something that needs to be taken into account.
“There is no ‘I know all the material, I’m done, I’ll get an A,’” Ryan said.
He continued to say that students do not compete against the material, they are competing with the material and their classmates. And again, Ryan pointed to proper time management being the key to collegiate success.
The panel also tackled some of the lighter aspects of life at a university.
UC Berkeley graduate, Stephanie, discussed the lack of diversity at Berkeley. Her anecdote about being the only student in a class of 300 to be a community college transfer and a parent was met with boisterous laughter.
While the panel agreed that transfer students will struggle to find friends, and more importantly study partners, they did provide tips on accomplishing exactly that.
A concept that nearly the entire panel agreed upon was the advantages of joining clubs. Several panelists said campus clubs give transfers the opportunity to find fellow students with common interests.
Though involvement in clubs provide students with activities to get away from studies, and access to a study group, the focus of most questions were what an individual student must do to succeed.
UC Davis student, Julia, said that direction is the most important aspect of college life.
“Once you have a direction its so much easier.”
