On April 16th, Skyline College MESA students traveled together on BART to UC Berkeley for a full-day visit organized around the transfer experience of STEM students. The day started with a transfer information presentation in Dwinelle Hall covering the application process, financial aid, housing, and resources available to UC transfer students.
“I learned about the educational and social experiences that are specific to Berkeley students, information about the application process, financial aid, resources for transfer students, and the UC system in general,” said Sofia Sustal, a Skyline MESA student interested in Environmental Engineering.
Students then heard from a STEM student panel featuring two current UC Berkeley STEM students who had recently transferred from community colleges, including one from College of San Mateo. They talked openly about the challenges of adjusting to Berkeley, what helped them succeed, and what they wished they had known. Their advice: go to office hours (professors are approachable, even if few students show up), join clubs, form study groups, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. They also pushed back on Berkeley’s reputation for being cutthroat: yes, the people around you are talented, but people are more willing to support each other than the stereotype suggests. Sofia reflected that “CalNerds and the student speakers’ resources made me want to look more into research opportunities and mentorships.”
The panel was followed by a student-led campus tour guided by three recent community college transfers, including a Skyline alum! Students had a say in where the tour went, leading to stops based on their interests, including the Valley Life Sciences Building, where a cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton is on display in the atrium. “The best part was the student-led tour because it was tailored to our group’s interests,” said Sofia. “I am not a chemistry major, but I tutor it, and I love the subject, and going to the chemistry building was really cool.”
The day ended with lunch at Crossroads dining hall. “I would recommend this field trip because it was fun and you get to know more about the UC,” said Samanta Chang, a Skyline MESA student studying Computer Science and Data Science. “My favorite part was the food in the dining hall.”
MESA has more field trips planned for next semester. These visits are a great way to explore your options, ask questions in a low-pressure setting, and connect with students who have already transferred.
MESA – Math, Engineering, Science Achievement – is an academic enrichment program that helps educationally underrepresented students excel in math and science and graduate from college with degrees in calculus-based fields. Founded in 1970, the MESA program serves pre-college, community college, and university students at over 100 sites throughout California. Skyline College’s MESA Program is part of the MESA California Community College Programs (MCCP).
Interested in future MESA events and opportunities? Stop by the MESA Center in 7-309, visit www.skylinecollege.edu/mesa or email skymesa@smccd.edu.
