Transfer Summer Start Mentorship Program

Kaissel Bermudo
Mentor
International Studies, Class of 2014
Kaissel transferred to UCI in fall 2012
(From Garden Grove, CA).

Working as a mentor with the Transfer Summer Start Program will help me gain the leadership skills I need to succeed in the future. As a transfer student myself, I feel as if the interaction between students and mentors is extremely valuable and worthwhile. By becoming a direct source of information for incoming transfer students, I hope to help them ease into the university life and appease their fears or concerns. Attending a university for the first time can be daunting, and I will do what I can to make that transition easier.
kbermudo@uci.edu

Vaughn Byers
Mentor
Criminology, Law and Society, and Urban Studies double major, Class of 2015
Vaughn was a Transfer Summer Start participant in 2012.
(From Los Angeles, CA)

I took a very non-traditional transfer path, and I wanted to make sure I was successful in the new and sometimes unforgiving academic environment of UCI. I truly benefited from the Transfer Summer Start Program last summer. I feel like I was able to get a "sneak-peak" at the demands of a rigorous quarter system. I learned what it takes to remain successful academically, while remembering the importance of a healthy social life. I enjoyed my Transfer Summer Start experience. I think the Program gave me a head start in a very short race. I would describe the program as a "transfer immersion" that illuminates a variety of pathways to ensure transfer students succeed and grow throughout their time at UCI.
vbyers@uci.edu

Paige Craun
Mentor
Psychology & Social Behavior; Criminology (Minor), Class of 2015
Paige was a Transfer Summer Start participant in 2012.
(From Oceanside, CA)

I chose to participate in the Transfer Summer Start Program in order to ease the transition from the safety of my community college to the foreign and mysterious world that is the UC system. While it may seem difficult to end your summer break early, attending this program was the best decision I have made and I highly recommend it to any incoming transfer students. In addition to orienting myself to campus, meeting faculty, and learning of all the resources UCI has to offer, the Transfer Summer Start Program allowed me to participate in many fun events over the summer that facilitated friendships extending beyond the completion of the program. I hope to share what I have learned during my first year at UCI and provide a similarly meaningful experience to the transfers in the 2013 program.
pcraun@uci.edu

Suzy Khrom
Mentor
Psychology & Social Behavior; Criminology (Minor), Class of 2014
Suzy was a Transfer Summer Start participant in 2012.
(From Los Angeles, CA)

The Transfer Summer Start Program was a wonderful experience as an incoming transfer. My smooth transition into UCI was made possible by all the supportive faculty, mentors and friends I met in the program. Not only was the program extremely resourceful, but socially rewarding! 
skhrom@uci.edu

Joseph Razo
Mentor
Psychology & Social Behavior, Class of 2014
Joseph was a Transfer Summer Start participant in 2012.
(From Fresno, CA)

One thing I found to always be true—whether I was transitioning between military, civilian, or student life—is  that in order to make a smooth transition you must do two things: Learn about the resources available to you and establish a positive social network. Deciding to participate in the Summer Start Program last year was one of the best decisions I've ever made because it allowed me to do just that. I became very familiar with the campus; I met great staff members, and learned about resources that I would have never known existed had I not gone through the program. I also met a lot of great people along the way who I still maintain close friendships with. I hope you all have a great summer and I look forward to meeting you all.
jmrazo@uci.edu