This is a one part interview with Akaysha shares her high school experience as well as her transfer from CC to UCSB.
Transcript
Kamila
Hey college kids.
Kamila
Welcome back to my podcast.
Kamila
Who cares about College in today’s episode I’ll be interviewing Acacia, so if you could introduce yourself.
Akaysha
Hi, I’m Acacia.
Akaysha
I’m gonna be going to UCSB.
Kamila
All right, so let’s get.
Akaysha
Yeah, sorry you know your major.
Akaysha
Uhm yeah, I’m gonna be going.
Akaysha
To film and media I’m looking into.
Akaysha
A minor in creative writing.
Akaysha
Yes, that’s it.
Kamila
Alright, so let’s get into your demographics, so I mentioned to you before.
Kamila
Like you know, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, so can you share like those basic things that the admissions officers saw when they open your application?
Akaysha
Yeah, so when I first applied I’m.
Akaysha
I am just.
Akaysha
Like I like I have, I’m a.
Akaysha
Full white person.
Akaysha
I for.
Akaysha
Uhm gender.
Akaysha
I put just a neutral.
Akaysha
I don’t even believe I put a just declined to answer basically.
Akaysha
I’m not sure.
Akaysha
And then sexual orientation.
Akaysha
I did the same thing where I.
Akaysha
Declined to answer.
Akaysha
For a religioni.
Akaysha
I believe it was.
Akaysha
’cause a lot of my family is Jewish and I think I’d put that in there, but I could be wrong.
Akaysha
’cause I do not actually practice that religion.
Kamila
And then what about your relative socioeconomic status upon application?
Akaysha
Uhm so my.
Akaysha
I don’t make a lot of money, my both my parents are.
Akaysha
They’re divorced, but the the parent that I do rely on is.
Akaysha
Uhm, disabled and retired so.
Akaysha
On the scale, I think.
Akaysha
I think I made.
Akaysha
Not enough to be considered.
Akaysha
Upper like upper class, you know, but I’m not like.
Akaysha
On the low brow quotation marks side.
Kamila
So you would just put yourself at like a normal middle class.
Akaysha
I would say no.
Akaysha
Middle Class A little below.
Kamila
OK, so let’s get into #1. The I guess dynamic around college for you growing up and when you went into college application.
Kamila
So can you give us an idea of maybe your family’s expectations for you in college you know, did they expect you get no high?
Kamila
School as well.
Kamila
Like, do they expect you to get really good grades in high school?
Kamila
Get into like a really good university?
Kamila
Would you be like the first in your family to go to university?
Kamila
Did you have any siblings that went so well?
Kamila
We like the expectations and the dynamics with college.
Kamila
For you.
Akaysha
Umso expectations I did have the older sibling who performed poorly in high school.
Akaysha
Uhm, then he moved on to Community College and ended up.
Akaysha
Quitting about a year end and.
Akaysha
And then a lot of it was placed on me where I had to get good grades, but I.
Akaysha
I was I was not able to do that at all. Uhm, I believe I graduated with a 2.8 and then waited a 3.0 uhm. I really struggled. I’m not going.
Akaysha
Well, I uh parents wise my dad was in the military and then once he came out of that he had enough money to attend school.
Akaysha
His major words in case theology I believe and and then my mom.
Akaysha
Never went to college, but she did end up attending and graduating.
Akaysha
Actually when I was around.
Akaysha
3rd and 4th grade.
Kamila
And then what about like?
Kamila
I know throughout the high school process, college is like different like freshman year.
Kamila
You don’t really think much about it.
Kamila
Maybe it’s in the back of your mind and then junior year it’s like, oh God, next year I’m applying the church.
Kamila
Was to get in somewhere.
Kamila
So for you was that kind of the case?
Kamila
Where you were like.
Kamila
Kind of relaxed and stuff about, call it you didn’t think about it till Junior.
Kamila
Yeah, or was it more?
Kamila
Like every time you did something, every grade you got every class you decided it was like oh is this going to look good on my college application?
Kamila
Like were you actively thinking about it or was it more God?
Kamila
It’s coming up on me?
Akaysha
I was very much the opposite, uh, which is a little weird.
Akaysha
When I first entered high school, I was stressed about moving forward.
Akaysha
Where I like.
Akaysha
Now, I wouldn’t use this, but back then I was like I’m I’m too stupid to be like to get the grades I need to move forward.
Akaysha
Now I know that’s not true I just.
Akaysha
In getting proper help.
Akaysha
And then as time went on, I began to, I guess, care less and less.
Akaysha
Not ’cause I didn’t want to go, just ’cause it wasn’t a priority.
Akaysha
And in my household, it wasn’t something that was like pushed on me so heavily is expected of me, but there’s never a.
Akaysha
A large amount of pressure ’cause it just wasn’t.
Akaysha
It was more.
Akaysha
Let’s pass high school.
Akaysha
OK, you did.
Akaysha
It great.
Akaysha
OK, now what are you gonna do so I almost didn’t even go to a Community College ’cause I’m doing I’m taking.
Akaysha
I took two years of.
Akaysha
Community College and I’m transferring over I.
Akaysha
I almost even do that ’cause there was no one.
Akaysha
Kinda holding my hand when that whole process began.
Kamila
All right, and we’re going to talk about your Community College like.
Kamila
But I want.
Kamila
To get through like the high school portion first.
Kamila
Yeah so for.
Kamila
Your high school.
Kamila
What kind of high school did you go to?
Kamila
Was it public, private and then if it is public, was it on?
Kamila
Like was it on the side where the resources were there for you, like there were APS, there were counselors or was it more like?
Kamila
You guys really didn’t know what you were doing.
Kamila
There wasn’t much guidance and there wasn’t sort of this atmosphere where you know in some schools it’s like yes we need to work hard.
Kamila
We need to get into like the top schools.
Kamila
There’s a lot of competition, so we were like what was your high school.
Akaysha
So I went to high school 2-3 actually.
Akaysha
They’re all in Ventura.
Akaysha
Uh, near UCSB a couple miles away and so the first one I went to is just very.
Akaysha
Average public school.
Akaysha
There’s it’s Buena high school.
Akaysha
There was really nothing to it, I believe.
Akaysha
At least I went there until.
Akaysha
Uh, my my junior year.
Akaysha
And I did take some like I well, I took tests to get into AP classes, uhm?
Akaysha
But I got into them and then right when I went to the meeting where it’s like, oh, here’s the summer plans they chose to do like the work for summer.
Akaysha
I went to my counselor and dropped them right away because I was.
Akaysha
Like this is.
Akaysha
So much, and I don’t think I can do this at all.
Akaysha
I’m not even gonna risk yet.
Kamila
Wait can I pause you for a second?
Akaysha
So got in.
Kamila
Did you say you had to take tests?
Akaysha
Oh yeah, yeah.
Kamila
To get into AP classes.
Akaysha
Yes, it was like a yeah well yeah.
Kamila
Really, I.
Kamila
I thought you could just enroll.
Akaysha
That I.
Akaysha
Really, that I don’t know.
Akaysha
I ’cause I’ve never experienced anything other than that.
Akaysha
So is that not normal?
Kamila
No, I mean in my.
Kamila
School, it’s honestly like.
Kamila
A pathway said to you take this like test in fifth grade.
Kamila
Well, you do one in 3rd grade for math and then fifth grade for all your other main subjects and that puts you on a certain pathway for middle school.
Kamila
So in middle school there’s some variation in the classes like.
Kamila
You know someone I could be taking geometry and someone else in my grades taking algebra one or something like that.
Kamila
So like you take those tests in elementary school, it places you and then you kind of just follow that pathway into high school.
Kamila
So if you’re ahead in middle school then you’re going to be able to take a lot of AP’s in high school. I didn’t know there any schools like tests or something.
Akaysha
OK yeah, so I had to take a test it was it was super like.
Akaysha
I mean it wasn’t simple but it was just like a normal like.
Akaysha
Lighten essay.
Akaysha
Here’s some filling bubble like sheets.
Akaysha
You’re good.
Akaysha
You’re not good, uh, I ended up passing the history one and then English or being diagnosed like just enough.
Akaysha
Where, like on the cusp of up passing, but I didn’t so I didn’t pass that one and I didn’t apply.
Akaysha
For any others.
Akaysha
Uhm, I do know what you’re talking about though.
Akaysha
’cause I in middle school.
Akaysha
I was on the.
Akaysha
Lower UM, basically a year behind in math, where I don’t remember the exact name of it.
Akaysha
And then once I hit high school I was in math readiness which is just 8th grade math in 9th grade.
Akaysha
That’s the only like linear coursework that you didn’t have to.
Akaysha
Take tests again.
Akaysha
To, uh, because no one wants to.
Akaysha
Test go to the lower class.
Kamila
I’ve never heard of like a.
Kamila
I mean even in our school.
Kamila
Like if you think you’re ahead in math or something.
Kamila
I don’t know, maybe there is a test, I’m not sure I I this.
Kamila
Person I never heard of that.
Akaysha
I have no clue.
Akaysha
Yeah, uhm.
Kamila
Alright, so can you tell us what was your GPA yard to list? Your GPA was a 2.8 unweighted and then waited. It was a 3.0 right?
Kamila
Yes, all right? OK, we can get into your essay TACT now.
Kamila
If you took either whichever one you took, can you tell us which ones you took, whether you did any preparations for them, and then what was your score in the end?
Akaysha
I did take a practice a CT, but I ended up moving schools before I could take the test in the school.
Akaysha
I ended up going to was a.
Akaysha
Man, I’m getting the word.
Akaysha
Independent study, so we didn’t take any, UM, testing at all, so I actually took the practice, but then didn’t actually end up taking any of the final real ones.
Kamila
And one thing you mentioned is you’ve been to three high schools with yeah school years.
Kamila
If yeah, comfortable sharing enough to share, but is there like a reason why you had to switch high schools?
Akaysha
I was I was missing a lot of school.
Akaysha
Basically ’cause I I have a few.
Akaysha
Health issues and that and I also just I didn’t go a lot, I just it was like.
Akaysha
Not for me at the time, UM, so I ended up going to independent study ’cause you only have to show up once a week, like physically.
Akaysha
And I was just going to so many doctor appointments and I.
Akaysha
Was like.
Akaysha
Yeah, my parents were getting on like letters in the mail.
Akaysha
Saying that like.
Akaysha
Oh hey, your kids listen too much, you know and.
Akaysha
And then from there.
Akaysha
I I got lonely at independent study school, so I went to a continuation school.
Akaysha
Because I wasn’t able to end up at my the one I originally began at, ’cause I was too far ahead at that point.
Akaysha
So it’s just, uh?
Akaysha
There’s a lot.
Akaysha
I don’t know why I did it.
Akaysha
Now that I look back I’m like she just stayed at the independent study.
Akaysha
It doesn’t matter how lonely I was.
Kamila
And then I have a question, so I’ve never heard of the independent study school.
Kamila
I think I understand the idea of it.
Kamila
Can you explain?
Kamila
I know moving like physically moving houses and like state and stuff does have an effect on a person number one with their performance at school because it is like a lot of stress, like with the like the sudden chat.
Kamila
Did it like like affect you and your performance and like just you know your overall like life and like academics moving high schools like that?
Kamila
’cause I know it wasn’t.
Kamila
It was your choice.
Kamila
It was like your.
Kamila
Parents moved states yeah.
Akaysha
Yeah, it was all three of them were my choice.
Akaysha
You know some events brought them about, but in the end I had the final decision.
Akaysha
I don’t think it was very.
Akaysha
I wasn’t very stressed about it the the process of moving though like turning in documents was a little strenuous for both me and my dad ’cause he had to help me.
Akaysha
The Independent study school was actually.
Akaysha
It was it wasn’t difficult as difficult as some people make it seem.
Akaysha
’cause you’re basically teaching yourself.
Akaysha
They give you a packet textbook and they go like.
Akaysha
Yeah, this many weeks.
Akaysha
I believe it’s two to three so like finish this for.
Akaysha
Semesters worth or sometimes less.
Akaysha
It matters how fast you move.
Akaysha
Then you move at your own pace.
Akaysha
You have to take a test in the classroom.
Akaysha
And that’s about it.
Akaysha
And you don’t change teachers.
Akaysha
You’re the same one like each time.
Akaysha
So it’s very it was it wasn’t very stressful moving to the independent study ’cause I was just that like home.
Akaysha
So it wasn’t much.
Kamila
And then your third school, which is the school you were at when you applied when you were like in the college process.
Kamila
That would be the third high school, right?
Kamila
Like the.
Akaysha
Yeah, so that’s the one I graduated from, right?
Kamila
Alright, so let’s get into.
Kamila
We talked about your school, your stats and stuff like that.
Kamila
Let’s get onto any extra curriculars you did in high school so.
Kamila
Let’s start with this.
Kamila
You said you were like you want to pursue film.
Kamila
When you enter, I always want to USB USCB or something, but it’s UCSB, but in high school did you have any idea?
Kamila
Any sort of interest or what you wanted to do when you went to college or was.
Kamila
It all like I don’t know.
Akaysha
Uhm, I did.
Akaysha
Uh, for a really long time, even before high school wanted to be a private detective.
Akaysha
I didn’t realize I didn’t realize you had to be on the police force for a really long time beforehand though, so then I was like, oh man, I don’t.
Akaysha
I just wanna be detective.
Akaysha
I don’t wanna do all that.
Akaysha
And that happened.
Akaysha
I figured that out around the application time.
Akaysha
Uhm, so before film even came into my mind, I took criminal justice classes.
Akaysha
Uhm, at the.
Akaysha
Yeah, that’s that’s just criminal justice classes.
Akaysha
And then once I hit the third high school and I started to.
Akaysha
Look more into film.
Akaysha
I took a.
Akaysha
I believe it was called.
Akaysha
It was a I don’t remember exact name.
Akaysha
But it was a like a a news.
Akaysha
Drone and filmmaking glass.
Akaysha
There’s a lot combined into one, but it wasn’t really my thing.
Akaysha
’cause I was just like we did a lot of drone.
Akaysha
Work so everyone like drones and like.
Akaysha
You know, I don’t care about this, actually, uhm.
Kamila
And then, in terms of extracurriculars, what extracurriculars did you have in high school?
Akaysha
I was.
Akaysha
On soccer for three years then.
Akaysha
4th year I got hurt and that was all.
Akaysha
So at the first school they let me continue to do soccer there.
Akaysha
I did track for one year, wasn’t into it.
Akaysha
And then I did a few.
Akaysha
I was into it like a mentoring program as a mentor at the middle school.
Akaysha
That was right next to where I was.
Akaysha
That was about half year.
Akaysha
That was really fun.
Akaysha
I like that and it was good for I took it initially.
Akaysha
Just ’cause like I’m bored.
Akaysha
Might as well, but it was.
Akaysha
Looking now I’m like oh that looks really good on paper.
Akaysha
Uhm, is there anything else they did?
Akaysha
Oh and then I I volunteered in like voting polls a couple times, which is through the school and I that was all just ’cause like Colonel injustice thing where it’s like that’s you know I’ll take partner.
Kamila
All right, so come application time college application time.
Kamila
Can you tell me how you made a college list like chose which colleges to apply to?
Akaysha
Yeah, so I use the app Eureka.
Akaysha
I don’t know if you’ve heard of that.
Akaysha
It’s basically what you could do is you could pick like.
Akaysha
What major you’re looking for?
Akaysha
What’s a a?
Akaysha
A lot of other things, but that’s basically what I looked at was made during state and I know other options.
Akaysha
Equal core is like.
Akaysha
How big of a area is it?
Akaysha
Is it city?
Akaysha
Is it woodsy?
Akaysha
Everything like that.
Akaysha
Uhm, so I use that app and through the.
Akaysha
School that my school counselor gave to me.
Akaysha
And I mostly it was obviously the places.
Akaysha
Where film and media and.
Akaysha
Everything about is buried, so is.
Akaysha
California and New York.
Akaysha
I believe like two were in Baltimore like that, so it’s like I like criminal justice still and that’s a great place for stuff like that I believe.
Akaysha
Just want to build in space there and then.
Akaysha
It’s like media.
Akaysha
Too, so that’s basically was how it bounced.
Akaysha
Up and then I narrow it down by.
Akaysha
Cost wise like OK, this is in New York, can I afford this though like?
Akaysha
In NYC, probably not.
Akaysha
And why you and why you probably not the.
Akaysha
Cunei believes you and why those the soonest.
Akaysha
I could afford ’cause they were all four.
Akaysha
People with the like a little less money.
Akaysha
In California, was actually the only one I did apply to.
Akaysha
Here was UCSB.
Kamila
All right, so you have your call.
Akaysha
Is yeah.
Kamila
Yeah, you have your colleges.
Kamila
You told us like what you were looking for now.
Kamila
I’m fairly certain UCSB is on the California system, right?
Kamila
It’s one of the UC schools.
Kamila
Yeah, OK so besides that, the others were probably common app and even the well, no.
Kamila
Actually the UC system is really weird and how they do their college.
Kamila
Apps, yeah, but everyone else probably had like at least common app or coalition and you had a big personal essay to write about 506 hundred words. So can you tell us not necessarily the problem, but what did you choose to write?
Akaysha
Oh, it’s.
Kamila
And you’d have to go.
Kamila
In detail, if you’re not comfortable.
Akaysha
Uhm, yeah.
Kamila
But like the general idea and why you were trying to take away from it.
Akaysha
I, for some of them I couldn’t choose the whole like the main fault for each one you know, like.
Akaysha
Although I chose the same problem which.
Akaysha
Was choose your own.
Akaysha
Yeah, and I.
Akaysha
I basically just copy and paste.
Akaysha
It you know, ’cause like you know, I’m not gonna write like 8 unique essays.
Akaysha
They can’t do that, but if you it was like I applied for Boston University and I wrote a whole thing about ’cause I liked the production companies around there and I wrote a whole like.
Akaysha
I think I went over the limit at first whole like.
Akaysha
Uh, I say about production there and like I would love to do that if you guys accept me then I could help your economy or something.
Akaysha
I don’t know like I didn’t say that, but it’s basically I could help like I would say in Boston and I would.
Akaysha
Be work there.
Akaysha
So that’s why I should be accepted, I wasn’t.
Kamila
Is Boston known on the common app?
Akaysha
It is not.
Akaysha
No, I don’t believe it is.
Akaysha
And if it is ’cause.
Akaysha
It bears was really weird, too, like Newsies was strange, but so is Boston’s I’m. I’m not quite sure why I I mostly wrote about ’cause I.
Akaysha
The reason why I did have so many high schools was health issues, and it was either like I didn’t get along with the staff ’cause I was missing so much school and I, you know, give them notes and they would kind of be like.
Akaysha
Lou, but not kind.
Akaysha
And I wrote about my experience in like working, not working with but being in the health system ’cause it’s.
Akaysha
Insane like it’s it’s little it’s tricky to like.
Akaysha
Keep yourself in the health system in a way where.
Akaysha
You get help.
Akaysha
Sorry, I don’t even know how.
Akaysha
To word it, that’s how I really got on.
Kamila
Not, I don’t understand that even those of us who are not a big part of it understand how much of a struggle it can be.
Akaysha
Steering like yeah.
Kamila
So that’s OK.
Kamila
So you wrote about your experience with your health care issues.
Kamila
And like you know you going through the system and it not being.
Kamila
The best that could be right?
Kamila
So those are that I’m not going to go through supplemental essays ’cause I think let’s get pretty redundant.
Kamila
And most colleges also have the same ones, so let’s go on to acceptance, waitlisted, and then rejected from.
Kamila
Can you tell us which schools were accepted from waitlisted from and rejected from?
Akaysha
Yes, so I went.
Akaysha
I applied to 8 school which is I feel like a large amount but I was really nervous ’cause I was like.
Akaysha
I I was like this.
Akaysha
Is worth spending the amount of money that.
Akaysha
It is to apply.
Akaysha
Because I do not want to get rejected by every single one of them, that was my main fear.
Akaysha
Uhm, so I applied to.
Akaysha
Uh, first will say UCSB.
Akaysha
And then it.
Akaysha
Is Boston University?
Akaysha
University of Baltimore, which is really great for law.
Akaysha
It is University of Baltimore in Baltimore County, which is a whole different one is super confusing so.
Kamila
You mean leaving UMBC?
Akaysha
I ended up actually.
Akaysha
Yes yes OK.
Kamila
University of Maryland in Baltimore County.
Akaysha
So there’s there’s two.
Akaysha
Yeah, yeah, there’s I couldn’t remember the name, but I was like, I know they sounded exactly the same and I’d always get mixed.
Akaysha
Up up
Akaysha
And then CUNY Hunter, CUNY, Brooklyn.
Akaysha
Sunni Buffalo.
Akaysha
Oh, and then Florida.
Akaysha
Southern University, which is a private school.
Akaysha
So those are the ones there’s nine, actually.
Kamila
OK.
Kamila
And then which ones did you get accepted, waitlisted, and then rejected from?
Akaysha
I got accepted by all them except Boston University.
Akaysha
Cuny, hunter.
Akaysha
The rest I got accepted into.
Akaysha
There was no wait list, but those two I did did decline, which was fine.
Akaysha
’cause I was like, you know.
Akaysha
Anything good for me?
Akaysha
I got a bunch.
Akaysha
This is cool.
Akaysha
Now I have choices.
Kamila
OK, and then so obviously you got into a good amount of school so you had a good amount of options.
Kamila
Why did you decide to choose Community College for your first two years?
Akaysha
Uhm, oh, so I actually attended.
Akaysha
Community College.
Akaysha
Before I applied for other colleges.
Kamila
Oh, this is yeah, so high school Community College OK OK, so yeah I.
Akaysha
Spoke and why did you use that route?
Kamila
OK, so why did you choose Community College over like applying to?
Kamila
Or maybe you did apply over going to like a four year institution.
Akaysha
Uhm, so right when I graduated, my dad moved and I had with them ’cause I’m like.
Akaysha
You know?
Akaysha
I don’t have money.
Akaysha
And I basically I wasn’t even gonna apply for Community College ’cause like there’s so much going on, I don’t even know what I’m doing.
Akaysha
But I did ’cause I was like I’m going to be bored if I’m doing nothing and I couldn’t work, so it was.
Akaysha
202020.
Akaysha
21 or on that time, so it’s like.
Akaysha
If I’m in really.
Akaysha
Good job, you know.
Akaysha
So I went to the college just ’cause like you know I’ll be bored also I don’t have money.
Akaysha
To go to a four year.
Akaysha
There’s like there was no savings for.
Akaysha
Me in that area.
Akaysha
Like most people.
Akaysha
And then.
Akaysha
I applied for a four year ’cause it was like, well, if I’m here already, I’m gonna like get the full thing.
Akaysha
I’m not just gonna go associates I wanna like just finish it off and get it done.
Kamila
OK I want.
Kamila
To talk a little bit about your Community College experience, how we jump right into colleges.
Kamila
I didn’t want to do that, but alright.
Kamila
So Community College experience.
Kamila
Can you explain what the structure of Community College is?
Kamila
Like what what classes do you take?
Kamila
What makes it different?
Kamila
Apart from being only two years long instead of like a traditional four year degree?
Kamila
Can you explain what you do in Community College and how you’re able to like?
Kamila
Find a major and then also we’ll talk.
Kamila
About that first.
Kamila
Then we’ll get into like transitioning to a four year institution.
Akaysha
So when I started Community College, I basically went I the first semester I took just a bunch of random classes ’cause I did not know what I was doing.
Akaysha
I wasn’t really getting assistance from any of the.
Akaysha
Uh, counselors or any centers like that, and then the second semester I like, I looked into the.
Akaysha
I get see which is further you see and and it’s kind of like that I get see.
Kamila
What did you say?
Akaysha
Elaborate please, oh uhm, I don’t know the exact meaning of it.
Akaysha
’cause it’s.
Akaysha
I don’t know that what it means.
Akaysha
I can’t remember, but it’s basically where it’s you.
Akaysha
Fill out your like your A through G requirements and then like two years or two semesters of like English, 1 semester of math.
Akaysha
And then you move on to like.
Akaysha
If you’re going to.
Akaysha
Go into major.
Akaysha
You should probably take some of.
Akaysha
These so they fill out these.
Akaysha
Apartments as well.
Akaysha
So when I first started Community College, I was not like taking any of the prerequisites or or a through.
Akaysha
Geez, I was just.
Akaysha
Taking stuff that I had.
Akaysha
Like this seems fun.
Akaysha
In the end, I didn’t waste my time completely ’cause I ended up. I think taking three classes that like ended up filling out a 3G requirements from a few of them, but it’s still. It could have been bad.
Akaysha
It could end up a little.
Akaysha
So, so that’s what that was.
Akaysha
But once I hit my second semester, that’s when I looked at that chart and I was like, OK, I’ll just follow this.
Akaysha
Because I just I like.
Akaysha
I just was not getting help.
Akaysha
I was just.
Akaysha
Kinda Googling things and you’re.
Akaysha
Like OK, I hope I’m right.
Akaysha
Uhm, so I wrote all my classes down and like.
Akaysha
What I should take?
Akaysha
And I did exactly that, and now I’m here.
Kamila
Yep, oh you did something right right?
Kamila
Yeah, a lot of things right?
Kamila
So OK, what you said you were criminal.
Kamila
You want you like criminal justice.
Kamila
But then you also like had some interest in film.
Kamila
Where did where at what point in Community College you know?
Kamila
Obviously this has to be before you take your prerequisites.
Kamila
What time in Community College did you find the lies like?
Kamila
Oh yes, I want to go into film.
Kamila
Uhm, like what did you realize?
Kamila
Was it a class?
Kamila
Was it an extracurricular or something?
Akaysha
It was at the end of my first year I.
Akaysha
’cause I was kind of debating which one ’cause I already knew like I liked both.
Akaysha
I like both of the different aspects of both, but I was kind of just.
Akaysha
Panicking ’cause.
Akaysha
I was like the April G right?
Akaysha
And I was like OK well I have to start filling out like prerequisites for these majors and I don’t know what I’m gonna do.
Akaysha
And I just like made a.
Akaysha
Pros and cons and.
Akaysha
Made like.
Akaysha
What jobs can you do that was one big one where it’s like?
Akaysha
What is the?
Akaysha
Job you’d like in.
Akaysha
This field, what’s the highest paying job even though?
Akaysha
Like I’m not.
Akaysha
Searching for that really just.
Akaysha
What do you like about this and end up, whereas like, criminal justice?
Akaysha
I think it if I.
Akaysha
And some like.
Akaysha
Devote some aspect of my life to this.
Akaysha
I’m gonna have a heart attack like I’m gonna get just so stressed out.
Akaysha
Not seeing this film some of the hours when you’re just starting out like it’s.
Akaysha
Like insane, it isn’t saying how much they overworked people, but I was like if I devote my life to criminal justice, I will be so.
Akaysha
Stressed all the time.
Akaysha
Now bad this isn’t fair, but it’s like.
Akaysha
It’s a system that I can’t change, so.
Kamila
Alright, so you just had on film at the end of your first year and then, as you mentioned, you had to do your prerequisites before you transferred.
Kamila
Just to clarify, like I’ve interviewed some people who have transitioned community to like traditional for years, so I know a little bit about like, you know, the application and what you need, but can you tell us about your experience #1?
Kamila
Is it like a college application where you need obviously your grades, your classes, extracurriculars, write essays, letters of REC?
Kamila
Like do you are you giving the same essay prompts?
Kamila
For example as a High School graduate?
Kamila
Would going into like.
Kamila
And for university, so can you walk us through like what the requirements were, and then we’ll talk about your process specifically.
Akaysha
Yeah, so it the requirements were about the same.
Akaysha
I believe as when people go from high school to the four year I use the common app for.
Akaysha
Practically all them, the the ones that allowed me to do that and it was just I needed.
Akaysha
2 to one.
Akaysha
Letters of recommendations which I got from same teachers.
Akaysha
Over and over.
Akaysha
Uh, God bless them.
Akaysha
’cause I’m I was stressed about that.
Akaysha
And I it was just the same thing. Probably right? Like a essay prompt, 507 hundred words uhm?
Akaysha
And just transcripts which the the only difference between if you’re applying as a high schooler and or a Community College person is you just have to take extra step and ask the CC.
Akaysha
Or you know transcripts.
Kamila
All right, so let’s get to your specific.
Kamila
Experience we talked about your classes, extracurriculars wise, what did you?
Kamila
Perhaps this was after you decided you wanted to do film.
Kamila
What were the extracurriculars that you did for Community College transfer application?
Akaysha
Uhm, I ended up not being able to ’cause.
Akaysha
I just it I I graduated in 2020. So Oh yeah yeah the the year one year that I was in it was like well I’m not doing anything.
Akaysha
You know, I’m just gonna take classes and I’ll focus on that.
Akaysha
And then the second rise.
Akaysha
Then it was.
Akaysha
Thanks, that was.
Akaysha
This last, you know, 2 semesters.
Akaysha
Things you know began to open.
Akaysha
Up, but I still like.
Akaysha
Doing it mostly online ’cause it.
Akaysha
Was so.
Akaysha
Uh, like not sorry I’m having a hard time finding work.
Akaysha
Oh, they didn’t have every yeah they didn’t.
Akaysha
Have everything in line basically where I like class.
Akaysha
We cancelled one day could cancelled like 2 weeks so it’s like I’m saying do some lines they don’t have to stress out about.
Akaysha
Not being able to go because some issues you know.
Kamila
Alright, and you already told us about your rec letter and then for your essays.
Akaysha
You told me.
Kamila
The essay.
Kamila
Sorry, can you hear?
Akaysha
Me yeah, sorry.
Akaysha
Sorry someone was coming up.
Akaysha
To me, OK.
Akaysha
Alright, no I’m good.
Kamila
Alright, so you told, I believe the essay you told us working with the health care system that was high school into Community College.
Kamila
That was in high school.
Akaysha
That was that was that was in Community College I for high school.
Kamila
Oh, OK.
Akaysha
I did not apply for anything.
Akaysha
I was just going out into the world.
Akaysha
Actually graduated.
Akaysha
Not implying anything kind of just there.
Kamila
OK OK, OK.
Kamila
So we’ve gone through as we’ve basically gone through everything that you had for Community College.
Kamila
You told us which schools you apply to and such so.
Kamila
I think we can.
Kamila
Let’s talk a little bit about why you chose UCSB.
Kamila
We can talk about your like future prospects.
Kamila
What you hope to accomplish there and then we’ll wrap up.
Kamila
So can you tell us whether you got into six schools just like you got options?
Kamila
So why did you choose UCSB?
Akaysha
So mostly it was because of financial reasons.
Akaysha
I get, uh, since my dad was in military, I get a.
Akaysha
Dependent by benefits from California ’cause I graduated high school from there.
Akaysha
So that was one aspect where.
Akaysha
It’s like OK, the government gave me a lot of money to go here.
Akaysha
I should probably take.
Akaysha
It, uh?
Akaysha
A few other reasons.
Akaysha
Were I I lived like I said in Ventura pretty long time and that’s
Akaysha
3050 miles away from ESP in Santa Barbara, so I knew the area and I was kind of like I don’t want any.
Akaysha
Or need any changes right now like I I.
Akaysha
I just want to.
Akaysha
Stay in a place I’m familiar with and a place that I won’t know everybody but at least I’ll.
Akaysha
If needed, I’ll know some people if I have to fall back on something.
Kamila
Yeah alright yeah.
Kamila
Saying home just makes so much sense instead of like going out and venturing out like I’m in the same situation too, I’m like.
Kamila
I know I don’t really want to be in Maryland all the time, but.
Kamila
It’s just it is what it is.
Kamila
So alright, you said you’re going into films.
Kamila
You’re going to go into UCSB with film.
Kamila
Let’s see, OK, so are you going to jump straight into like film classes like?
Kamila
What kind of classes are you going to take?
Kamila
And film is not something like math where you go learn about formulas and like how to plug stuff in and do like is it more like interactive you guys?
Akaysha
So for a lot.
Akaysha
Of schools, it matters what the majors name is.
Akaysha
It’s like you see speed.
Akaysha
Since it’s such a dumb.
Akaysha
Research based school would be film studies, so it’s for the classes.
Akaysha
Examples would be like.
Akaysha
Introduction to Belle Navarre, where you’re just like looking at one specific genre, and you’re.
Akaysha
Picking a piece.
Akaysha
Every single part.
Akaysha
Of it so.
Akaysha
That’s probably what I would begin in.
Akaysha
I know I do have a few production classes which will I would I want to take.
Akaysha
But mostly it’s felt study, so I’m just like studying.
Akaysha
You know?
Kamila
All right, all right.
Kamila
Let’s wrap up here.
Kamila
Let’s give two pieces of advice, so one is for high school students.
Kamila
This can be specifics, regrets that you have or just general life invite advice you would give to like a 16 year old in high school and then #2.
Kamila
Well, let’s see.
Kamila
You’re not in like a four year university, so you can’t give advice about like a four year college experience, but for a Community College.
Kamila
Maybe someone who’s listening right now who’s in Community College?
Kamila
What advice would you give them so one for high school students?
Kamila
Again, general life advice specific to school and your regrets you have.
Kamila
And the same thing for Community College.
Akaysha
Yeah, for high school students.
Akaysha
The best advice I could give, I guess, is.
Akaysha
You should try hard, but not overly so where you hate your life.
Akaysha
’cause you’re and you’re just gonna end up burning yourself out, but you gotta find a good medium which is not a like easy task to do.
Akaysha
But it’s something people should practice.
Akaysha
From high school.
Kamila
And then for Community College students.
Akaysha
Yeah, for Community College.
Akaysha
Really, really, really try to take the correct classes.
Akaysha
’cause there’s no point wasting your time running energy on something that won’t help you in the long run unless you really like the subject.
Kamila
Right and one thing I’m curious about, like what was was their specific motivator for you to because you said you weren’t even sure like you weren’t sure about going to Community College and you had some hesitations about applying to or transferring to a four year university, what made you like change your mind about like pursuing it?
Akaysha
I there.
Akaysha
Yeah, it was kind of the same reason why people joined the army where it’s like I gotta get something to keep me on track right now, but I’m not joining like I’m not joining the military.
Akaysha
But I gotta have something like to put my mind to to have a goal ’cause.
Akaysha
I’m not a person who should be goalless, ’cause I end up going insane just.
Akaysha
Throwing my life away.
Kamila
All right, understandable there.
Kamila
Well thank you Acacia for coming onto my podcast.
Kamila
You’re in California, right?
Akaysha
I’m I live.
Akaysha
In Florida, right?
Akaysha
Now, but I’m going back to California.
Akaysha
Soon Oh my.
Kamila
Life is crazy.
Kamila
So you say, so you’re Eastern Time right now, alright?
Akaysha
Have a good evening?
Akaysha
Yeah thank you bye bye.