Bruin Day for Transfers welcomes students, helps alleviate concerns

UCLA has been Shaina Kashani’s dream university since her freshman year in high school. She said she was determined to register at UCLA and learn about her new college life at Bruin Day for Transfers on Saturday.

More than 6,000 people registered to participate in this year’s Bruin Day for Transfers, more than 2,000 of whom were admitted transfer students, said Maria Blandizzi, the interim dean of students at UCLA. In addition, 20 to 30 student groups registered to have booths that specifically serve transfer students. UCLA held Bruin Day for Transfers this year for the second time, she added.

This year, Negeen Sadeghi-Movahed, the undergraduate student government transfer student representative, joined Patricia Turner, the dean and vice provost for undergraduate education, in the opening remarks for the first time.

Students, parents and friends took part in campus and housing tours, which included the Wooden Center and fraternity and sorority rows, among other aspects of university life. They also attended professors’ lectures and open house presentations on topics such as financial aid and campus resources.

Kashani, a prospective English student who is transferring from Pierce College in Los Angeles, said she was concerned about essay writing and the heavy reading load, but administrators at the English department’s booth in Wilson Plaza introduced her to programs that could help her with her academic writing.

Other admitted transfer students said they also found helpful information.

Zi Lin, an admitted transfer student from Diablo Valley College, said she used the opportunity to ask questions about studying and living at UCLA rather than deciding whether to enroll.

Another admitted student, Roland Truong agreed that the day’s events helped him better envision his time at UCLA and dissolved his concerns about enrolling.

“I’m intimidated by the classes, but I’m excited for the challenge,” said Truong, who is transferring from East Los Angeles College.

Truong said financial aid was his main concern, but he was optimistic after the staff at the financial aid booth told him about the available resources. He added he was glad to have met mentors at the Southeast Asian Transfer Enrichment Day, a daylong orientation that took place Friday.

Student organizations represented at the fair, like the Undergraduate Students Association Council transfer student representative office, specifically aimed to address the needs of the transfer students. Volunteers at the organizations’ booths distributed fliers and told passing students about their clubs.

Raye Reusi, a third-year business economics transfer student who is a member of the Pilipino Transfer Student Partnership, said being a transfer student can be daunting. She said the organization helped her adjust to life on campus.

Reusi found out about the organization at Bruin Day for Transfers last year. She said it showed her new ways to use resources and connected her with students who came from similar backgrounds. She said her experiences inspired her to help incoming transfer students at this year’s event.

“I already felt at home,” Reusi said. “It convinced me to (commit to) UCLA knowing that there is a family waiting for me.”