From Community College to Ivy League: My Transfer Journey

When I enrolled in my local community college, I felt like a failure. Two years later, I transferred to Cornell. Here is how.

The Hidden Advantages

Smaller Classes: With 20 students instead of 200, I built real relationships with professors

Teaching-Focused Faculty: They had more time to invest in students

Diverse Classmates: I learned alongside returning adults, veterans, and parents

Time to Mature: At 18, I was not ready for independence. Two years later, I was.

Building a Transfer-Ready Profile

Academic Excellence: My final GPA was 3.95

Leadership and Involvement: I became president of the Honors Society

Intentional Course Selection: I researched requirements carefully

My Message to Community College Students

Your path is not lesser - it is different. The degree I received says Cornell. But who I became started at that community college.