Simeone Miller

What advice would you give to new transfer students coming to CSUSB?

One piece of advice I would give to new transfer students who are joining the Pack is to communicate with your professors. They are there to help you and provide you with the tools and resources you need to succeed, both personally and professionally. Sometimes, that connection you'll develop with them can really pay off in connecting you with internships, letters of recommendation, and research opportunities.

Why are you proud to be a transfer student? Provide highlights of your college career so far.

I am proud to be a transfer student because I am part of that group of students who fought against that stigma that community college students are those people who just could not cut it in high school and were not smart enough to attend a 4-year university. Instead, I've gotten a better grasp of my specific field and what I can do with it to the point that I've developed skills and connections that have benefitted me professionally. One example is that within just a few weeks of starting at CSUSB, I was able to get an unpaid job as a research assistant at the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism where I've been privileged to learn research methodology and other tools that will better prepare me for law school or graduate school.

What was the most challenging part of being a transfer student? How did you overcome it?

The most challenging part of being a transfer student was feeling like I didn't belong because some of my classes did not have any transfer students in them all. While that was rare, it felt uncomfortable since most of those people had been at CSUSB since the beginning and experienced things that I maybe hadn't because I was at Chaffey. Nonetheless, I overcame it by just remembering that regardless of where I started, I'm on the same educational journey as them. The only difference is that I took a different step starting out than they did.

What were your reasons for transferring? Have you achieved your objectives?

My reasons for transferring was because CSUSB has a lot more of what I am looking for in terms of the Political Science Department that offers a lot of the curriculum that I'm looking to focus on. It is also very close to home, which works well for my schedule since my work was so far away from Chaffey. That in mind, I would say I have definitely achieved my objective because my schedule is more manageable and I am taking classes like National Security Policy that will prepare me for a future career in the law, law enforcement or intelligence.

How has CSUSB helped you attain your academic and personal goals as a transfer student?

CSUSB has helped me attain my academic goals as a transfer student by connecting with research opportunities like the one I have as a research assistant for one of the research centers on campus.

What is the best part of being a transfer student? What makes transfer students special?

The best part about being a transfer student is that I am coming in with some exceptional professional experience that is supported by an Associate's Degree. That already puts me ahead of some of my peers who are not transfer students that may not have that to add to their resume, which can help me get other jobs and internships because I can certifiably prove with it that I am decently well-versed in a field. I think what makes transfer students special is that we started from what can arguably be seen as the bottom and we climbed up to the top, which has made us humble. We are also more appreciative of the opportunities that community college afforded us such as giving us more time to understand what we are doing in our majors by the time we get to a 4-year university and be confident in that.