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I’m currently living the American dream. As a child who grew up in an obscure Southeast Asian nation, I often imagined what it would be like to study in the United States. My brother was the first member of the family to study abroad in the United States, at a prominent and welcoming college, Los Angeles Pierce College. Because of him, I have also had the fantastic chance to study here, and as soon as I arrived, I knew this was where I belonged.

Pierce College is an immense campus, with beautifully cultivated gardens filled with blossoming flowers, which helped me connect to nature itself. More importantly, the campus consists of several offices devoted to student support. Personally, International Student Services (ISS) was the most crucial for me to get started. They helped me when I first applied for admission, through my college career and up until now. The counselors were supportive, compassionate, and thoughtful of my career aspirations. They helped me ignite the passion that I had kept under a rock and provided me with various pathways to achieve my dream

I also have discovered that Pierce has high transfer rates compared to other colleges within СÀ¶ÊÓƵ, with my dream school UCLA, and other prestigious universities. I had always assumed what my dream was impossible, but it turns out that nothing is impossible at Pierce College. It hasn’t been long since I started at Pierce; but all the students, staff, and animals (we have a farm!) have included me as part of their big family. They have provided me with warmth and support, even though I am an international student, who is still homesick, Pierce has become like a second home to me.

Furthermore, Pierce is one of the most affordable institutions in southern California, and it is in an area without danger or violence. There are honorable sheriffs who are constantly alert and aware of all situations. Pierce has a safe atmosphere, and it is a college that offers many opportunities for everybody. The Center for Academic Success is another unique service provided by Pierce. In addition, the resources are entirely free of charge. The CAS tutors provide their time and effort for the students who need their help. These students, like myself, have used this benefit to study more effectively to ace our classes. Furthermore, due to the encouragement I received, I have applied to become a tutor for the upcoming semester, having discovered a new interest I wish to pursue. Not only is the CAS free for all students, but tutors are also well compensated as part of on-campus employment.

I am delighted I selected Pierce College to begin my undergraduate studies. I look forward to seeing what it has in store for the next several years before I transfer to ULCA. For my fellow prospective international students, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed if you decide to attend Pierce College since it is a school where you may discover a new door to your hidden capabilities.

I always wanted to study in the United States, but I didn’t think my English was good enough so, it felt like I couldn’t accomplish my dream. Fortunately, I found Los Angeles Pierce College on the internet about 2 years ago when I was in Thailand.

I started working on my dream by researching Pierce’s website, noting the English proficiency requirement, IELTS minimum score was 4.5. I searched further and found that the tuition is much less compared to similar universities. Even though I am not planning to transfer to a UC because of the high tuition, I saw by the high acceptance rates for Pierce students that we can get into UCLA and other UCs, which is very appealing to me.

I found that one of the things that international students can take advantage of is learning English by taking ESL classes. Students can prepare to learn English step by step.

I could not imagine how difficult it would have been if I had to take English 101 my first semester like in a university.

I have been using Pierce’s tutors for almost every class that I have taken since my first semester. Pierce’s Center for Academic Success is an amazing resource for students. To be honest, the Tutoring Center at Pierce College offers the best in-person and online tutoring in the Los Angeles Community College District.

I will transfer next year with 3 Associate degrees and transfer to CSU as a Junior! I will finally take the last step to complete my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

I had friends in Iran who graduated from Pierce, and, thanks to them, I found this awesome college. I chose Pierce College because my friends told me about the high quality of their academic programs and classes at Pierce.

The fact that Pierce is a community college, and not a university, helps international students, like me, to experience college life and complete the first two years of my undergraduate degree at a fraction of the cost of a university.

Deciding to apply to a US college as an international student is quite a huge step but Pierce College soothes the transition. As an international student, you do not stand out and you are never looked on as an outsider, international students easily blend in with our diverse student body. I am a tutor leader for the Center for Academic Success, and I have never been counted out in our community. So, I really feel like part of the team.

Pierce feels like home to me now and will always have a special place in my mind and memory. It is the bridge between you and a university and while exposing you to American culture and lifestyle at the same time.

Immediately prior to attending Pierce College, I had just graduated from high school in Vietnam and was working day and night to improve my English skills. After first coming to America as an international student, I feared that English would be an insurmountable obstacle to realizing my dream. But by seeking help at school and persisting every day in my craft, I was able to overcome the language barrier and succeed academically.

I had incredibly knowledgeable and kind professors who were willing to answer any questions I had and showed great compassion for me as an international student. I also sought assistance in a variety of courses at Pierce College's Center for Academic Success (CAS), where I was later hired as a math tutor. In my second semester of tutoring, I was promoted to Math Tutor Leader and held that position for many years.

I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to work while attending school to support myself and develop my professional as well as interpersonal skills. My other favorite thing about Pierce is its library, which is conveniently located next to the tutoring center. You will find plenty of quiet, well-equipped study areas there, including rooms that you can reserve for group sessions. I also very often used counseling services provided by International Student Services; I was guided through my academic journey by kind and helpful staff.

Eventually, I was able to transfer to UCLA and recently graduated with a B.S. in Psychobiology. I will always cherish my time at Pierce College, and I believe that Pierce would be a fantastic choice for any international student!