By Jonathan Friedman
Lookout Staff
November
11, 2009 --
Santa Monica College topped the list
of transfer institutions sending students to the University
of California system for the 2008-09 school year. This marked
the 19th consecutive year SMC was first in that category.
SMC was also the leader on several other transfer lists,
including to the UC and California State systems combined,
to the University of Southern California and African-American
students to the UC system.
"In these difficult times, it's great to see the transfer
option is viable and supported by SMC's class offerings
and student support services," said Dan Nannini, SMC
Transfer Center coordinator, in a press release issued by
the college.
Combined UC-CSU transfers from SMC totaled 1,930. This put
the school slightly ahead of the next biggest feeder, which
sent 1,858.
Those going to UC schools from SMC totaled 919, with the
most (516) moving on to UCLA. San Diego, Berkley and Irvine
were the next most popular UC destinations. SMC’s
transfer amount to UC schools put it far above the competitors,
with the closest feeder schools sending 675 and 634 students,
respectively.
Thirty-two of the SMC transfers to UC campuses are African-American.
SMC also transferred one student this fall to CalTech, which
accepts only about six community college students per year.
In addition, the college sends about 15 students each year
to the Ivy League’s Columbia University in New York.
Nannini said in the SMC press release that the school’s
strong transfer record is due to SMC’s ability to
keep its transfer reputation in the spotlight. Also, the
college recruits good students and giving strong academic
counseling to students that helps make them attractive to
admissions offices. SMC also has outstanding professors,
Nannini said.
Nannini notedthe SMC Transfer Center’s college fair,
which he said is one of the largest in the state. This fall,
representatives from 110 colleges and universities throughout
the nation came to the SMC Transfer Fair to recruit students.
The Transfer Center also conducts workshops, holds weekly
visits from four-year institutions and has a close working
relationship with UC and CSU to make sure SMC students get
credit for their classes.
