For anyone who has never walked it, the path from a state college to a major university appears straight and smooth. It鈥檚 assumed to go like this: a student earns a two-year degree at a state school, moves onto a university campus for years three and four, and finishes up the requirements for a bachelor鈥檚 degree. Easy as that.
Reality, however, isn鈥檛 always so simple.
鈥淚t can be a real struggle when you鈥檙e in that gap,鈥� says Esteban Baez Sola, referring to the transfer process. The gap for him loomed large after he鈥檇 completed his associate鈥檚 degree from Valencia College in April 2023.
鈥淚 found myself suddenly facing a lot of questions. … It was kind of overwhelming until I found .鈥� 鈥� Esteban Baez Sola, transfer student
鈥淚 found myself suddenly facing a lot of questions,鈥� says Baez Sola, an integrative general studies major. Where could I go from there and feel humanized and not like a number? Would my credits transfer? What would I major in? Where would I live? It was kind of overwhelming until I found DirectConnect to 麻豆原创.鈥�
Baez Sola will soon become a 麻豆原创 alumnus, joining graduates around the world who are grateful for the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program and how it streamlined their transfer process, guiding them along the path to earning a 麻豆原创 degree. The program, launched in 2006, guarantees admission to 麻豆原创 for any student with an A.A. or A.S. from one of six partner state colleges, consistent with university policy. However, with approximately 4,200 degrees awarded each year to DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 students say it’s much more than the guaranteed admission. It鈥檚 the simplification of the life transition. It鈥檚 the peace of mind knowing the journey to graduation will be more focused and less time-consuming. Perhaps most important of all are the academic success coaches who come alongside each student when they need it most.
Beth Ganz is one of those coaches in the 麻豆原创 Transfer Center.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell you how many students every week tell me, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know what to do next,鈥� 鈥� Ganz says. 鈥淵ou never know what they might be going through. What they need most is a person to make the transition less intimidating so they can graduate in a timely manner.鈥�
Ganz knows first-hand what it鈥檚 like. She prefaces conversations by saying, 鈥淢y own path is different.鈥�
鈥淎 lot of universities try to emulate our DirectConnect program, but it works here because students and coaches see it as more than a process. It鈥檚 also personal.鈥� 鈥� Beth Ganz, academic success coach
After high school, she attended Palm Beach State College and then transferred once, twice, three times, eventually earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Florida Atlantic University. Ganz never forgot what it was like to be a transfer student. It鈥檚 why she accepted a position as an academic success coach shortly after DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 welcomed its first students. Since then, she鈥檚 advised thousands of transfer students, including her own son.
鈥淚 bring a 鈥榤om鈥� element into this because it鈥檚 who I am,鈥� Ganz says. 鈥淲ith each transfer student, I think about how I鈥檇 want my own children to be counseled through the obstacles they鈥檙e facing.鈥�
There鈥檚 a misperception that the obstacles are always related to academics when, in fact, they鈥檙e often related to life. Ganz is among a handful coaches who help transfer students navigate housing, paperwork, language differences, selecting a major, even general fear. They鈥檝e helped those same students thrive and go on to careers as doctors, nurses, executives in hospitality, engineers in the space program, business owners, and researchers and developers in the tech sector.
鈥淎 lot of universities try to emulate our DirectConnect program,鈥� Ganz says, 鈥渂ut it works here because students and coaches see it as more than a process. It鈥檚 also personal.鈥�
Haileigh Galloway 鈥�23 graduated from 麻豆原创 with a degree in psychology before landing a position as a clinical research coordinator at Nationwide Children鈥檚 Hospital (NCH) in Ohio 鈥� the same hospital where she and her brother and sister were treated for medical issues as kids. Galloway sees her research at NCH as a big step closer to medical school and part of 鈥淕od鈥檚 plan for my life.鈥�
Do not believe, however, that the steps have always been perfectly laid out for Galloway.
鈥淕rowing up, I thought my path would be more direct,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut I鈥檝e learned that education doesn鈥檛 necessarily work that way.鈥�
Galloway was homeschooled, earning an A.A. while dual enrolled at Eastern Florida. After accepting her high school diploma and her A.A., she entered a small private university to finish her bachelor鈥檚 degree.
鈥淚鈥檇 considered 麻豆原创 my dream school for a long time,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut my parents and I thought it might be too big for an introverted 17-year-old. As it turned out, the smaller college wasn鈥檛 for me, so after a lot of praying I took the leap and transferred to 麻豆原创.鈥�
鈥淕rowing up, I thought my path would be more direct, but I鈥檝e learned that education doesn鈥檛 necessarily work that way.鈥� 鈥� Haileigh Galloway 鈥�23, alum and former DirectConnect student
Looking back at her steps, Galloway says it was easily the best decision because two things happened. First, she found a research opportunity at 麻豆原创. And second, she became a PeerKnight coach.
鈥淚 knew from my own experience what it鈥檚 like to go from a smaller school to this physically imposing university,鈥� she says. 鈥淏eing a coach made me a better listener and made me more empathetic because each situation is unique. Sometimes a student just needs to know they aren鈥檛 alone before they鈥檙e offered solutions. I really believe being a PeerKnight will make me a better doctor.鈥�
Galloway鈥檚 story points to the core value propositions of DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 beyond guaranteed enrollment. Transfer students are given a clear path to graduation and a relationship. You鈥檇 never suspect today, for example, that Baez Sola ever wrestled with either of those. Truth is, he was filled with angst. Shortly after enrolling at 麻豆原创 through DirectConnect, he started working for ConeXiones, a peer-support program within DirectConnect. He also learned hands-on entrepreneurship through 麻豆原创’s Blackstone Launchpad and business practices through the university鈥檚 Professional Selling Program. He鈥檚 now interviewing for jobs well ahead of his projected graduation. He even has a new vision: to create a business and encourage people facing difficult questions on their own academic and life journeys.
鈥淚 want to do for others what was done for me through DirectConnect,鈥� Baez Sola says. 鈥淭he people in this program made me feel important when I needed that. They helped me find a network of friends and colleagues. They steered me onto a path of success. And I鈥檓 sure I speak for thousands of others when I say they made me excited about my future.鈥�
