My USC Transfer Experience Through The Marshall Pathways Program
by Kayla Bowens ‘25
My college application process started in November of 2020 and ended around mid-January of 2021. Even with a clear goal, I applied to anywhere and everywhere – in-state, out of state, Ivy League, state schools, and so many places in-between. I was anxious to get my college decisions, but as rejections from the more prestigious schools, like USC, started rolling in, I grew apathetic to the new rejection letters that I received.
Naturally, I began exploring the colleges I was accepted to, California State University Northridge and Oregon State University were my top choices. During this time, my dad asked me if I actually read my letter from USC. This was a laughable question. Why would I want to read the rejection letter that told me it was a difficult decision and to not be discouraged? Despite these feelings, I read through the letter and discovered that I could potentially transfer to USC as a Business Administration major through the Marshall School of Business after a year of community college because of a program called the Marshall Pathways Program (MPP). I didn’t know about this program before applying, but I immediately jumped at the chance without considering the risks.
After graduating high school, I was assigned a transfer advisor from USC while I embarked on my freshman year at community college who would guide me through class selection to make sure I took transferable courses. I would also get support in completing the transfer application. My advisor was an accomplished USC faculty member who’d held many positions at USC and is a Marshall DEI Fellow. She was there for me throughout my entire transfer process and eventually became an inspirational and invigorating mentor through my time at USC.
In August of 2021, I started taking classes at College of the Canyons, which is the biggest community college in my hometown, Santa Clarita. In that time, I completed general education classes and some of the math courses required to transfer. During this time, I also prioritized my transfer application and writing my personal statement, which was a very nerve-racking process. My application was due mid-February of 2022, and I didn’t get my acceptance letter until mid-June.
While it was not guaranteed that I would get into USC, even after participating in the program, I realized I hadn’t applied to any other universities. I still remember the moment I was accepted. I was in line at the Starbucks drive-thru with my best friend and started to cry when I saw “Congratulations” on my screen. For the first time in forever, I felt like I was doing something I was meant to do. Thankfully, everything worked out in my favor, but if it hadn’t, it would’ve set back my academic plans significantly. In hindsight, it might have been smart to have backup plans.
I’m now a junior business major also pursuing a cinematic arts minor. I love exploring different career fields and being surrounded by so many successful and inspiring individuals. I’m a part of a few clubs including a salsa performance team called Breakon2, the Trojan Real Estate Association (TREA), and Trojan Charisma. So after a little over a year at USC, I can confidently say that I can’t see myself anywhere else. Trust the process and don’t let fear hold you back!
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