Submission: Transfer students deserve more representation

Over the years, the number of transfer students applying to UCLA has grown at a steady rate.

However, despite the growing number of applicants to this esteemed university, quality representation for admitted transfer students has been limited. This can be seen through the lack of transfer student housing, the fact that transfer orientation lasts only one day instead of a few compared to freshmen orientation, the lack of new student advisors and mentors qualified to help transfer students, and much more. Compared to their traditional student counterparts, transfer students are at a disadvantage due to this lack of resources.

This disadvantage can potentially have a negative effect on the transfer student experience at UCLA as a whole and can affect the reputation of UCLA in the long run. Without quality resources, transfer student grades can plummet, their mental health may be affected in a negative way, and in worse cases, it may lead to transfer students dropping out or transferring to another university. As more transfer students experience these problems, UCLA could see a less diverse student body, lower grade averages and less promising individuals in prestigious student programs.

UCLA’s transfer students deserve quality representation across the board so that they have the best chance at success. This change can be made possible only if all organizations, both on campus and those that serve UCLA students, restructure their groups to include more transfer students. And with greater transfer student representation in campus organizations, this will provide transfer students more opportunities for success as well as the ability to contribute more to UCLA during their time here.

Transfer Pride Week is a week dedicated to celebrating one of the biggest and most diverse communities on our campus: the transfer community. The week will consist of an on-campus resource fair, Toast to Transfers Mixer and many other events to highlight the transfer community. Get all the information at transfers.ucla.edu.

Farmer is the director of external affairs for the Transfer Student Representative’s office in the Undergraduate Students Association Council.

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5 Comments

  1. I transferred to UCLA from Santa Monica College. I used to be all about the transfer “community”. But as I’ve carried on with my studies, I’ve begun to realize the function of a transfer community has waned. A sense of community and solidarity belongs to underrepresented communities that require representation. The “transfer student” doesn’t require any more representation than anyone else. Indeed the fact that a “community” has been created for someone like me only makes me feel more unrelatable to the general student body.

    I’ll admit I voted for a transfer representative, but only before I realized what many were trying to convince the student body: that a transfer representative not only would serve a purpose that shouldn’t exist, but that they would use their position to engage in partisan quibbling.

    To be clear, transfers often have fundamentally different life experiences than freshmen. We’re married, we’re parents, we’re veterans, and so it makes sense to acknowledge that we have needs others don’t. Many of the problems we have are remedied by having the Bruin Resource Center. But to suggest we need anything more–like a “pride week”–is dumb. We’re just like the rest of the non-transfer student body. I think we should act like it, rather than acting entitled.

    1. We transfers DO deserve representation! We make up 1/3 of the student population and we barely got a transfer representative this school year (about time). Our stories and experiences matter too; I dislike that you want us to forget the unique experiences that shape who we are.
      I’m proud to be a transfer student and I’m proud that there’s a supportive community that is there for me. I would’ve felt lost were it not for this very community. Who are you to say that we don’t deserve a community?

      1. Where do we draw the line? Don’t international students deserve a seat or several? But wait, what about Chinese students? Oh no, we’ve forgotten disabled students. And I can’t believe we would ignore the experiences of single moms by not allowing them their own representative.

        Nobody is suggesting we shouldn’t appreciate the life experiences and contributions of students who once transferred to UCLA. But simply because we are here doesn’t mean we need greater representation.

        1. I understand what you’re trying to say, but the fact is our needs aren’t being met. Transfer students don’t get the same treatment as traditional students (and this goes for international students too) and it’s harmful for us, especially because we have different experiences. The BRC may help with some things, but not all. They pointed out just a few of the examples in the article (things that I feel are important at the start of the transfer process since it sets up how well we do our first quarter. I personally found the experiences lacking and it made me feel less supported at the time). The consolation for internationals, disabled students, and veterans though are that there are centers that focus on making adjustment easier along with plenty of resources they are provided. Transfer students don’t have that yet (not here anyway).

          What I’m trying to say though is what I believe the author meant by ‘more representation’ is that we need equal representation as traditional students, because clearly we’re not getting the same quality treatment as them. We’re already treated differently as it is by almost everyone (sorry to break it to you but that’s reality), but they can at least make more of an effort to give us similar experiences as traditional students upon our entrance to the campus. That way we at least have more support than we do now. And the more support we have at the start, the more likelihood we’ll succeed since we’re only here for two short years.

          Final note: I also don’t believe we need a ‘pride week’ per say, but it still is a fun little thought to bring transfers together. I just hope that their resource fair proves helpful for transfers struggling through the transfer process right now. First quarter was rough for some people I know.

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