Reflecting on her two years at Las Positas College, Stephanie McManus never imagined she would be completing her degree at Columbia University, nearly 3,000 miles from home.
Like many students, McManus had dreams of attending a four-year university out of high school, but financial constraints and navigating the admissions process as a first-generation student made her goal seem impossible. By the end of her senior year in high school, the political science major opted to stay in the Tri-Valley, enrolling in Las Positas College in Aug. 2023, resigned.
“There’s obviously a stigma that comes with community college,” McManus said. “I’ve heard some people call it ‘lost potential college’ — like the acronym for LPC.”
As the cost of college continues to increase nationwide, many students are making similar choices to McManus’s: enrolling in community colleges and taking advantage of cheaper — or even free — tuition.
Despite her initial reluctance, McManus said that her experience at LPC proved to be more enriching than she would have ever thought. She credits her experiences with the Honors program as being crucial to her success.
“ I could not have asked for anything better. The professors (were) so overqualified,” McManus said. ”They are not only passionate about what they teach, but they’re also passionate about helping students …”
Nicole Sahrling, a current psychology major and Regents Scholar at the UC San Diego, said that LPC helped her find her bearings after taking a break from traditional schooling. After graduating from Cupertino High School, Sahrling was given an opportunity to continue her ballet career. Shortly after, Sahrling moved across the world to Bulgaria, achieving her lifelong dream of becoming a professional dancer. After dancing for a year, Sahrling retired and enrolled at LPC.
Sahrling quickly became involved in several clubs on campus, including the Honors Transfer Program and the Psychology Club. She said that these programs, along with the faculty and students, at LPC made it easy for her to transfer.
“(These programs were) super helpful in my transfer experience,” Sahrling said.
Students like Sahrling and McManus said that LPC has given them the opportunity to immerse themselves in rigorous academics and programs, while benefitting from the affordability and specialized support provided at two-year institutions.
And while their stories may be strikingly familiar to many California students hoping to continue their education, transferring from LPC boasts a unique advantage: a higher than average transfer rates and a pathway some of the state’s — and nation’s– most prestigious institutions.
According to the transfer center at LPC, the average transfer rate is approximately 47%, while the statewide rate is just below 38%. Many credit the college’s academic programs, facilities and faculty with creating an environment that fosters success.
In addition, LPC (and several other two year colleges) have several guaranteed transfer pathways, allowing direct admission to certain four year institutions as long as applicants meet certain requirements. For example, the University of California system offers transfer students guaranteed admission to six different UC campuses. The California State University system has a similar program for students applying to non-impacted majors.
LPC’s Honors Transfer Program also boasts impressive transfer rates for the institution, in part due to UCLA’s Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). The program, which is offered at 55 of the 116 community colleges in the state, allows for “priority transfer admission consideration to the UCLA College of Letters and Sciences.” According to Irena Keller, a psychology professor and director of the Honors Transfer Program at LPC, last year, 26 out of 34 students that applied to UCLA under TAP were accepted, which is just over 74%. For LPC students that did not complete the TAP certification process or weren’t involved in the Honors Program, the admissions rate was around 17%, stated Keller.
Other students were also admitted into high-ranking universities nationwide, including UC Berkeley, Stanford, Yale and Georgia Tech.
As community colleges statewide continue to struggle with enrollment, retention and transfer rates after the coronavirus pandemic, Las Positas remains committed to ensuring and developing new pathways for students to continue their degrees if they wish. More recently, in 2024, LPC announced a transfer partnership with UC Merced.
McManus noted that programs like this were integral to student success and ability to transfer to four-year institutions.
“ I think (LPC) prepared me extremely well,” said McManus. “I genuinely do feel prepared to battle whatever comes my way.”
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TOP PHOTO: Las Positas’ transfer rate is close to 50 percent, which is well above the California average. (Photo courtesy of Envato Elements)
Raina Dent is an alumni of The Express staff who currently studies at UC Berkeley. Follow her on X, formally Twitter, @_rainasafiya
